10 Simple Behavioral Changes That Save Gas
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Who would have ever thought that gas prices would almost triple in the last 4 years? When my family and I last moved, gasoline was around $1.39 per gallon. Today, we’re excited to find it for less than $3.50. Even though it’s high, it still isn’t at a record high when adjusted for inflation. Still, I’m looking for every avenue possible to save a couple of bucks at the pump.
Here’s a few things you and I can do to ease the pain at th pump:
1. Plan your route to maximize your RIGHT turns. Companies such as UPS and FedEx have discovered that planning their delivery routes to maximize right turns has lowered their fuel expense. Since drivers are able to make a right turn even if the stop light is red, maximizing right turns results in less idle time. When a vehicle is idling, it’s getting zero miles per gallon. We aren’t used to planning our routes as consumers, but altering this behavior can save quite a bit of gas.
Also plan your trips better by combining errands. Making unnecessary trips only wastes gasoline. So don’t drive unless you have to.
2. Use smooth starts and stops. You’re not at the Talladega 500. Unless you have a true medical emergency, jackrabbit driving only saves a few minutes anyway, but it costs you significantly more in fuel. Some experts say you can save up to 33 percent in fuel by altering this one behavior.
3. Keep it under 60, even on the interstate. According to the EPA, you can assume that each 5 m.p.h. you drive over 60 m.p.h. is like paying an additional 20 to 25 cents per gallon of gas. Wow!
4. Check your tire pressure every couple of days. If you drive with underinflated tires, it’s like running laps around a track while wearing 10 pound shoes. Underinflated tires can guzzle 4% to 10% out of a car’s potential gas mileage. Check inside your glove box, inside the door frame, or the owner’s manual for the correct tire pressure and remember that it may be different for front and rear tires. Check the pressure when the tires are cold. When you have to replace your tires, buy the set with the least amount of rolling resistance to further increase your fuel savings.
5. Go ahead and stop on those yellow lights. Research shows that drivers tend to stomp on the accelerator to get through a yellow light more quickly and this uses far more gasoline than idling at the light.
6. Drop some weight. Every extra 100 pounds drops your MPG’s by a couple of percentage points. Those golf bags, tools, bowling balls, books, and other miscellaneous things you keep in the trunk are costing you big bucks.
7. Change those dirty filters. According to the FTC, changing your air filter alone could increase your miles per gallon by 10 percent.
8. Change your oil. Dirty oil increases the resistance on the inside of your engine and more resistance equals poorer gas mileage. Use the lightest grade of oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. A multi-viscosity oil such as 5W30 can save gas compared with regular 30-weight oil because it creates less friction. The engine doesn’t have to work as hard.
9. Cars run more efficiently when they are kept in tune. It often makes sense to get them tuned more often than the manufacturer recommends. But don’t worry, you might can do some of the work yourself. For example, spark plugs can be easily checked and cleaned or replaced, and the simple act of pouring a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner in the gas tank every six months or so can help the engine maintain peak efficiency.
10. Coast whenever possible. Don’t accelerate up to a stop. Use gravity and inertia to help increase your MPG’s.
Here’s what other blogs and websites are saying:
The Dough Roller has a list of 25 ways to save money on gas.
Check out Daily Fuel Economy’s Tip for the top 10 ways to reduce your gasoline consumption.
Moolanomy has 34 ways to save money on car expenses. If you liked this post, would you consider buying me a cup of coffee? Sphere: Related Content
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Instead, most of the time it’s dangerous to go 60 on the interstates, especially when people blow by you at 75 or 80.
It’s crazy isn’t it? I find that in most larger cities I too have to drive faster than I’d like, but on most longer drives I can slow it down a bit. Believe me, when my family and I drive the 24 hours we’re going for our trip to Yellowstone this summer, I’ll be taking it nice and slow, gentle and steady!
http://youngandfrugal.com/2008/05/01/ten-tips-for-saving-money-on-gas/
Saving money at the pump seems to be on everyone’s mind these days.
[...] Ron over at the Wisdom Journal has a great post about how behavioral changes can save you money on gas. [...]
Wow, 50 percent?
I’ve heard that some companies are making their delivery drivers check air pressure TWICE every day.
LOL! I never saw that one coming…
Put the car in neutral when I’m stopped at an intersection. Of course, I still have my foot on the brake.
Ride my bike.
Take the bus.
I got the numbers info from USA Today.
And if we stopped sending what oil we do have to other countries….our prices would drop dramatically.
God Bless America!!!
[...] Plan your route in 10 Simple Behavioral Changes That Save Gas [...]
[...] I found two blog posts in particular interesting: Ron over at The Wisdom Journal’s entry on “10 Simple Behavioral Changes That Save Gas” and DR over at The Dough Roller’s entry on “25 Ways to Save Money on Gas“. Both [...]
[...] How to spend less on gas By Jeff 10 Simple Changes That Save Gas | The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] 10 Simple Behavioral Changes That Save Gas @ The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] are 10 Simple Behavioral Changes That Save Gas. I particularly like coasting whenever possible, but I admit that I find it difficult to stay at [...]
One thing to keep in mind about ANWR, it was first proposed in 1994. We would have been getting oil and natural gas from it for the last four years if we had tapped it then. Russia is drilling in the Caspian Sea to produce oil in about 20 years. The US doesn’t have that much foresight.
I agree about alternative energy sources. I’d be willing to bet that some company in the not so distant future will come up with something. I just wish I knew which one so I could invest today!
[...] add up. Come up with a realistic way for your kids to share in the expenses and encourage them to drive frugally. If parents agree to help with insurance costs, and any repairs, kids should pay for gasoline and [...]
[...] your driving habits to save on gas expenses. Cut out “jackrabbit” starts and heavy [...]
[...] doom and gloom about $4, $5, or $6 gas prices, I’ve begun to see some positives, and not just changes in people’s behavior, or in learning how to hedge against high gas prices. Here’s what I see as the potential [...]
Here is a site I came across that could make a difference. The site is GasBankUSA located at http://www.gasbankusa.com and discusses fixed price gasoline and locking in a price even if gas goes up.
[...] are a couple simple ideas on how to lower your gas costs. There are many other lists on the internet which are a lot more comprehensive but I’ve tried to stick with a few solid [...]