15 Easy Ways to Save Fuel

Save fuel and avoid the pump

Well folks, its true.  Gas prices are on the rise again, as we knew they would be.  Despite the fact that the cost of a barrel of crude oil is in the $30 range, we are paying over $2.00 a gallon again.  Some estimate that we’ll be in the $3-4 range again by summer.  Big oil needs its money, so supply will be slashed to prop up those profits!

No need to despair.  You can fight back with these 15 ways to save fuel.

With the recession showing no signs of relief for months (if not years to come), we all need to make do with less.  Think of this list as your own personal coupon for 20% off your gas bill next month.

If you have additional tips, please be sure to share them in the comments below!

The first 6 tips will help you get better gas mileage and fuel up less often.

1.    Keep your tires properly inflated and check tire pressure once a month.  If your tires are flat, inflating them will reduce drag and improve efficiency.

2.    Drive the speed limit.  The faster you go, the more fuel you use.  Studies have shown that a vehicle traveling 100 miles at 55 mph, or traveling the same distance at 65 mph will have better overall mileage going slower.  In town, slow down and you’ll end up braking less, too.

3.    Regularly change your oil.  At least once a month, check the oil level of your engine.  Every 3,000 miles or 3 months (which ever comes first) have your oil changed.  Your engine will thank you for not having to work so hard.  Your wallet will thank you for the extra bucks over time.

4.    Tune up and maintain car as recommended by the manufacturer.  Just as regular oil changes will keep your engine running more smoothly, taking care of your car will help it last longer and go farther on less fuel.  Think of the investment as insurance – pay a little bit now and avoid major expenses and hassles later.  Aren’t you smart?

5.    Remove roof racks and other non-standard installations that cause drag and reduce mileage.  Obvious, but many people forget to consider this tip.

6.    Remove excess weight from the cargo or storage area. More weight means less efficiency.  Lighten up your vehicle and you’ll be spending less at the pump.

Carpooling is an easy way to save fuel

Aside from car care, you can also save fuel by minimizing the number of trips you take:

7.    Carpool.  Driving your kids to soccer practice?  Why not take the neighbor’s child along too?  Does your spouse work downtown like you?  Hitch a ride together and enjoy some time together that would otherwise be lost to the commute.  It doesn’t take long for 10 miles here, or 20 miles there to add up over a week’s time.

8.    Plan your trips ahead of time.  Sketch out a route for your errands, combine them all at the same time if possible, and look for the most direct ways to get there.  Stop driving back and forth all over town.  I’ll bet that you can cut off 10 miles driving distance each day!

9.  Shop online.  The Internet is a wonderful thing!  Stop your trips to the mall for holiday gifts or special occasions.  Finding free shipping offers can take your savings even further.  No need to hop in the car, if you plan ahead.  Trust me that shopping online is more efficient when it comes to comparing prices and discovering a broad range of options.

10.   Walk or bike as often as possible.  Have a quick, short trip to make?  Combine it with exercise.  Hop on your bicycle, or even better, take the dog for a walk to run your errand instead.  If its less than a mile, you should definitely reconsider driving!

Here’s a few last tips for those that want to Go the extra mile (or not!)  Some are pretty straightforward ways to save fuel and others require a bit more investment.    Depending on how much you hate paying high gas prices, you can some, or all of these!

11.    Fuel up in the morning when temperatures are low.  Gas expands during the day as temperatures rise.  Particularly in summer months, you can literally get more for your money if you visit the gas station early in the day.

12.  Park in the shade to reduce your need for air conditioning.  A/C sucks up a lot of energy.  Be smart and don’t make your vehicle work harder than it needs to.  You can also consider purchasing one of the windshield shades to keep temps lower inside.

13.    Consider driving a hybrid car.  Especially dedicated persons may wish to convert an existing car to a hybrid (plenty of DIY videos on youtube!)

14.    Plug-in your car!  Many vehicle manufacturers are coming out with plug-in electric hybrid models in the next year or two.  Some are already out there, and municipalities are responding by adding recharging stations for use.  With solar panels, you can literally drive on sunlight.

15.   Consider an electric scooter or motorcycle.  If you don’t need to drive children around, it is much cheaper and more environmentally-friendly to commute or run errands on a scooter or motorcycle.  Plus, they help you stay younger.  Or, you can at least look that way!

Stop despairing about high gas prices.  Take matters into your own hands and achieve better gas mileage, or just simply keep that car parked in the garage!

There are many ways to save fuel – which one will you use today?