Get the Most Out of Your Gas

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Many people are complaining about the high gas prices and the slippery economy. A lot of average working class individuals and families are facing more difficult times than ever trying to make due, but even if you are not one of those bothered by current situations it never hurts to save a couple extra dollars, right? There are a lot of people who simply recommend buying a smaller car, this is a true and effective long term technique but you need some useful ideas you can implement now with your current vehicle. We are going to show you some basic, proven methods you can use to cut down on your fuel costs and keep some extra cash in your pocket. Those dollars you save can quickly add up.

You don't need to be a car mechanic to get the most out of your car. In fact, anyone who can drive their car is sure enough able to benefit from this advice. A little bit of preventative measure and some basic maintenance can go a long way and save you a lot of money both in the repair shop and at the gas tank.

Maintenance

This is probably one of the strongest ways to cut down on your overall fuel costs. Maintaining your car will keep it running in optimal performance, streamlining your overall fuel usage. Surprisingly most people fail this very basic first point, they either don't know how to maintain their vehicle, forget to maintain it or simply are too lazy to do so. Break this negative habit. Regular checkups and tuning can go a long way.

Tires are probably the easiest part of your car to maintain so pump up your tires. Under-inflated tires not only wear down faster but they also lower your car's gas mileage because they increase the overall resistance your car (and hence your engine) needs to overcome. Maintaining even a steady speed becomes increasingly difficult for you engine and car. Experts estimate that your gas mileage may suffer by as much as 10-15% and if you don't like paying extra for the gas you are really not going to like paying extra for replacing your tires when they blow.

Air filters are another common problem many people neglect to check. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter because when your engine's air filter becomes clogged your engine needs to work harder much harder which means more gas consumption and hence your car becomes less fuel-efficient. A clogged air filter should be changed about every 3000 miles, depending on your vehicle and the recommendations in your owners manual. This is relatively cheap to replace and can increase your gas mileage by 10% or more. It is recommended that you check your air filter at each oil change. An easy way to do this is to remove the air filter from its casing and shine a flashlight on it. If most of the light is able to get through, your air filter is fine; however, if the light cannot get through then it is time for you to change your filter.

Tuning a car engine that is out of tune or has that has failed an emissions test can increase your overall gas mileage by an additional 5-10%. Not surprisingly regular tune-ups are neglected by the average driver until a small problem has become significantly worse - do not let yourself become one of these people. Remember, you want optimal performance out of your vehicle because that will translate into savings. It is also recommended that you look out for worn out spark plugs because a worn out, misfiring spark plug cause your car to become up to 35% less efficient. Failure to do these things could easily become a burden on your pocketbook.

Filling up

When you are filling up your tank DON'T top up. Once the gas hose clicks - you are done. Any attempts to 'top up' are simply wasted dollars, as much of the gas simply sits in the hose and waits for the next person. Any 'extra' that you do get does not do you any justice because you need extra room in your gas tank for the gasoline to expand. When you top off your tank, the limited space you create in your tank may cause the gas to evaporate into your vehicle's vapor collection system. This will cause the system to work improperly making your vehicle run poorly with high gas emissions. Simply put, it is wasted money and bad for the environment.

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 User Comments:

eric

Jun 11, 2011 2:57 AM

i'm in high school and i have a 1981 f250 with a 5.7L V8. it uses a lot of gas, but i have a business towing large trailers for people (who usually drive eco-cars), so my customers pay for my gas.
i drive my truck everywhere i will never buy an "eco car." besides pretty much all eco cars in north america are automatic which is really lame. i drive only manual. do you?

NeetNort Jones

May 9, 2011 10:17 PM

just walk it's cheapear and it's "Green"

tightforcash

Oct 15, 2008 8:32 PM

i hear you can run a car on cooking oil

greeny

Oct 13, 2008 2:21 AM

i bike ride.

truck-stop-pop

Oct 11, 2008 11:22 PM

Man, im never topping off again... of course i mean that only in terms of filling my car with gas. ;)

avid

Oct 10, 2008 7:49 PM

the part about tire inflation is sooo true
i inflated my tires, and got like 460km on a full tank, whereas i used to get like 420!

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