34 Ways to Save Money at the Gas Pump:
by Nick Harter, President, Indiana's Green Network, Inc.

Gas prices are going up, there's no getting around that.  We have seen prices rise from under a buck a gallon to over $3 a gallon in some parts of the U.S.  The purpose of this article is to give you some relief from the rising prices, and the extra expense.

This article also has a dual purpose.  Not only will you save money you would have spent on gas, by simply implementing some of these tips, but you'll also be helping the environment.  If you improve your gas mileage by only 3 miles per gallon, you'll be preventing over 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, not to mention all the other harmful chemicals produced by burning gasoline.

This article will include some tips and advice on how to improve your gas mileage, as well as some general information about gasoline and vehicles.

I hope you the best success in obtaining better fuel efficiency while saving money at the same time!

1. Fill-up early in the morning or late at night - Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures.  Since gas pumps are set to measure the volume of the fuel that you pump and not the density, you could get more gas for your money!

2. Check for prices online before going out - There are several sites online that help you find the cheapest gas in your area.  I like GasBuddy.com.  All you have to do is put in your zip code and it pulls up the cheapest gas stations in your area.

3. Shop at grocery stores that have gas pumps - Many grocery stores and big chain stores like Walmart offer discounts for shopping with them and buying gas at their gas stations.  Look into these kinds of deals in your local area.  In my city, Kroger, Scotts, and Walmart all have deals like this.

4. Turn the nozzle - When you have finished filling up your gas tank, try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees.  This will drain a bit more gas into your tank, and in some cases up to an entire half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer.

5. Avoid "topping off" - When you purchase just a bit of gas at the gas station, the pump doesn't have enough time to really activate, resulting in short bursts of fuel that may short change you from the amount of gas that you are purchasing.

6. Avoid running your gas tank too close to empty - You may think that you are using very little gas when your car is on empty, but you are in fact using more gas because your vehicle is running less efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in a normal fashion.

7. Avoid buying gas from a just replenished gas station - When a gas station has its underground tanks filled, the particles at the bottom of the tank are stirred up.  These particles can become mixed in with the gas that you are putting into your car, which can lead to efficiency problems.  The particles can clog your fuel filter, causing your car to stall and start with some difficulty.

8. Keep your engine properly maintained - Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.  Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

9. Check the alignment of your car - Improper alignment will cause a certain amount of engine drag, which will increase the amount of gas that you're using.

10. Rotate your tires - When you regularly rotate your tires and check them for uneven use and wear, you will find that you are saving money on both tires and gas.

11. Get your car washed - You can reduce the amount of drag on your car when you keep the exterior clean and waxed.  It may seem like a small thing to do, and you most likely won't notice any difference at all in your fuel consumption, but keep in mind that ever little bit helps.

12. Remove snow tires - When it isn't winter and there is no snow on the ground, you should replace your winter tires with summer tires or all season radials.  Snow tires are heavier and weigh down the car as well as have deep treads which will reduce gas mileage.

13. Avoid rough roads - Driving on rough roads, such as those made of gravel or dirt, will reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 30%.

14. Check and replace air filters regularly - Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

15. Keep tires properly inflated - You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

16. Use the recommended grade of motor oil - You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

17. Drive sensibly - Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

18. Observe the speed limit - While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

19. Remove excess weight - Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

20. Avoid excessive idling - Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

21. Use cruise control - Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

22. Use overdrive gears - When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

23. Turn off your car - Studies show that it's more fuel efficient to turn off your car than it is to let it idle for much longer than 45 seconds.

24. Avoid sudden stops and turns - Studies indicate that when you brake gradually, start slowly, and avoid those sudden stops that you can increase your fuel efficiency.

25. Accelerate before hills - If you are approaching a hill, try to accelerate before you reach the hill.  This will help you use up less gas while you are climbing the hill.

26. Avoid fast driving in lower gears - If you drive at fast speeds using the wrong and often lower gears, you will reduce your fuel economy by as much as 40%.

27. Keep your foot off the brake - Try to avoid the habit of keeping your foot on the brake, even lightly, when you are driving.  When you rest your foot on the brake, you use more gas than you would otherwise, and you will wear out your brakes much sooner.

28. Tighten the gas cap - It may seem like a small thing to do, but tightening your gas cap will prevent gas from evaporating and escaping into the air.

29. Plan ahead and combine trips - Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.  With a little planning, you can avoid retracing your route and reduce the distance you travel as well. You'll not only save fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

30. Commuting - If you can stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours, you'll spend less time sitting in traffic and consume less fuel.  If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.  Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it.

31. Use public transportation - Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you. The American Public Transit Transportation Association has links to information about public transportation in your state.

32. Traveling - A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible.

33. Buy a more efficient vehicle - Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you'll make.  The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $663 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.65).  That's $3,313 extra in fuel costs over five years!

34. Walk or Bike - You'll save all your gas when you walk or bike!

© Copyright 2007 Indiana's Green Network, Inc.

Nick Harter is President of Indiana's Green Network, Inc., a non-profit organization specializing in energy conservation education.