Sometimes it feels like a guessing game when pulling up to the pump. Will the number be higher or lower today? It makes it challenging to budget for gas when you can’t predict the amount that will come out of your pockets. Fortunately, if you follow these easy steps, you might find a few extra dollars in your wallet.
Do the math. The next time you fill up the tank, record the odometer reading and reset your trip gauge to zero. From then on, every time you fill the tank, divide the miles you traveled between fill-up by the quantity of gas you bought. This is the miles per gallon or mpg .
For example: You traveled 300 miles and put in 10 gallons of gas. 300 ÷ 10 = 30 mpg.
Not happy with the miles per gallon your car is getting?
Check out the suggestions below.
Continue to track your mileage use with the formula above
to determine if the experiments are yielding positive results.
Slow Down. According to the Car Care Council there is an aerodynamic drag on your car that, at 70 mph, is double the drag then at 50 mph. Slowing down can increase your mileage. Each mph driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 ¢ per gallon down the fuel tank.
Drive kindly. Don’t be that impatient person who passes everyone. All that rapid and hard braking wastes a lot of gas. This bad habit can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% in the city driving, which can result in 7 to 49 ¢ per gallon.
Avoid excessive idling. You get zero miles per gallon when the car is not moving and it burns more gas than restarting the engine.
Minimize air conditioning. In city driving using the air conditioner in hot weather can increase your fuel consumption more than 20%. An efficient way to utilize the A/C is to periodically turn it off and use the air vent s to circulate air.
Travel Smart. Using a roof rack or a carrier gives you additional cargo space, however a loaded rack decreases fuel efficiency by 5%! Try to squeeze that extra luggage inside the car, rather than on top. But, make sure you empty out the trunk afterwards because carrying around it ems that weight at least 100 pounds will reduce fuel efficiency by 1 to 2%.
Check your tire pressure . By keeping your tires infl ated to the proper pressure, they will wear longer and can improve your gas mileage by over 3%. Check the tire pressure (including the spare) at least once a month and before every long trip.
Are you in alignment? Wheels that are aligned will reduce tire wear, give you better gas mileage, and improve handling.
Check the gas cap . The CCC reports that approximately 17% of vehicles on the road have caps that are damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
Is your air filter dirty? The air filter is easily accessible and simple to change. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter can improve your gas mileage by as much as 10%, which is a savings of about 15 ¢ per gallon.
Give your car a day at the “car spa” approximately every 30,000 miles. Spark plugs and sensors need to be changed regularly. Replacing a failed oxygen sensor could improve your gas mileage as much as 40%!
Know how to handle the gas pumps . Once the gas pump turns off, don’t add a couple more splashes to even up the dollar amount. Most newer cars don’t have room for more gas and anything else you put in will end up on the ground. And, in warmer weather, fuel expands and can cause an overflow.
If you take these simple steps you will get the best bang for your buck out of every drop of gasoline that you put in your tank!