Remember the days when friends could gather loose change and get enough money to buy gas and ride all night, or when families would go for a Sunday afternoon drive? Now families are struggling to put gas in their tanks to get back and forth to work.
The Federal Trade Commission offers some of these tricks to getting more gas for your money, and getting further on the fuel in your tank.
- Fill your tank earlier in the morning. The colder the ground the denser the fuel. Warmer gas expands and you get less for your money.
- Use the trigger at a slower mode, as the highest mode increases vapors and decreases the actual amount of gas going into your tank, but not what the pump is registering.
- It is better to fill your tank, when it is at the halfway mark, because there is less air in the tank.
- If the gasoline truck is loading the storage tanks, it may not be a good time to fuel up, as the sludge that normally settles on the bottom (of the storage tanks) may be pumped into your tank.
- Drive at or below the posted speeds. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 miles per hour.
- Avoid unnecessary idling. If you have to sit and wait for an extended period of time, turn the car off.
- Drive gently avoiding jack rabbit stops and starts, as quick stops and starts can burn up to 5% more gas.
- Using your overdrive gears and cruise control on the highway can save 2% on gas consumption.
- A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance which can increase gas consumption by 5%.
- Another extra 2% can be burned by carrying an additional 100 pounds of weight in the trunk.
- Improve gas mileage by 4% by keeping your engine tuned properly.
- Properly inflated and aligned tires can improve mileage by 3%.
- Clean air filters can make as much as a 10% difference in your mileage.
- Combining trips can save considerably in gas and time.
- Be aware of advertised “gas-saving gadgets”. Most do not work as advertised.
- For more information regarding alternative fuel vehicles call 1-800-423-1DOE or visit fueleconomy.gov.
