We just returned from vacation. While gas prices are a bit better – at least in our part of the country (Memphis), when we drove to Florida, we noticed about a 20 cent per gallon increase.
If you still have some traveling plans, there are a few ways you can save on gas:
Clean out your car. I bowl in a league each week and I am bad about carrying my bowling ball in my car constantly. But, 250 extra pounds will lose a gallon of gas a mile for you. So, take out the stuff you don’t use daily.
It may not be something you think about, but buying gas when the temperature is cooler. If you purchase gas in the early morning or after sunset, it will reduce the gas evaporation.
I’ve said it before in blogs – don’t sit idle! The rule of thumb is that if you are going to sit for more than 60 seconds, turn the car off. Not only will you save gas, you will also save the environment.
Try to time your purchases so you buy gas on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 a.m. Why? Because gas prices usually rise after Thursday because stations know that consumers travel more on the weekends. And that means no buying gas on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday if you can help it because prices may be higher. The 10 a.m. time is when many gas station owners change their prices.
While some people think rolling down the windows helps them save gas, keep them up if possible. Driving with the windows down can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. But, you can roll the windows down when you are in stop-and-go traffic. If you do and shut off the air conditioner, you can save on gas.
Download one of the many gas locator apps for your phone. This can tell you the cheapest gas prices near you.
Check your tire pressure. If your tire pressure is low, it can cause the roll resistance to increase, thus taking more gas for you to get where you are going.
And finally, just slow down a bit. Going the speed limit versus miles over the limit can save you gas.