-
Step 1
For starters, try to find a gas station that does not add ethanol to their gas. Most gas pumps now say, "Includes up to 10% Ethanol." If you can find one that doesn't add ethanol, fill up there exclusively. Why? Ethanol is nothing but alcohol. It does not burn as efficiently as gasoline. With 10% ethanol, you gas mileage will suffer by 3-5%. So why do the oil companies add it to their gasoline? It's not cheaper to produce as some people think. The answer is government subsidies.
-
Step 2
If you are burning a 10% ethanol blend out of necessity, check your new gas mileage. If you're burning regular grade, try the next grade up and check your mileage again. The offset in price may be more than compensated by the increase in mileage with the higher grade.
-
Step 3
Now that you've done that, the next way to increase your mileage is to stop filling up your tank. Why? Gasoline weighs 6 pounds per gallon. If you have a 20 gallon tank, you're now driving around with an extra 120 pounds of weight, equivalent to having an extra passenger in your car. Don't fill up more than half full. And while you're at it, get rid of all that extra weight in your trunk you've been hauling around for no reason. It will make a difference. I also took the skid plate off my SUV. It weighed a good 50 pounds, and every time I got an oil change, they charged me a $10 skid plate charge to remove and re-install it. I never go off-roading anyway, so I got rid of it completely.
-
Step 4
Also remember that tires will naturally lose about a pound a month of air. So check your air pressure and you will not only increase your vehicle handling and the life of your tires, you'll increase your gas mileage as well.
Remember that running your AC hurts your gas mileage also. -
Step 5
If you commute to work, your biggest gas saver will come from experimenting with different departure times. In my experience, if I leave from the house just 10 minutes later than normal, It will take me an extra 20 minutes to get to work.
Also experiment with routes. I go home a different way than I go to work in the morning. I experimented with numerous routes both ways, and found what works best. I saved the best tip for last. This will be your biggest gas saver over time. Take your newspaper to work and have your morning cup of coffee there instead of at the kitchen table. After a couple of times it will become routine, and you'll never go back to the old way again. Also experiment with work departure times as well. Find that "sweet spot", and you'll be amazed at how much quicker you will arrive home, and how much gas you'll save.
Comments
designed2design said
on 9/3/2009 Check out this site I found that gives you free visa cards for buying gas as you normally do. I have been doing it for 5 months now and have received $125 in visa cards that I can use any where. www.getfreevisacards.com