Save Gas, Save Money

There are easy ways to save gas and money at the pump other than simply switching a hybrid vehicle. Small changes in daily driving habits add up to larges amounts of energy saved throughout the year. 

Eliminating aggressive driving habits is not only good for your health and safety, but also for your gas tank.  Most engines use more gas with consistent punctuated acceleration and braking as opposed to a gradual change in speed. Moreover, use the gas pedal and brake pedal less when it can be done. It is energy efficient to get into the habit of coasting to red lights instead of braking suddenly.  Conversely, it is useful to use cruise control when traveling on the highway in lieu of stepping on the gas pedal and accidentally changing speeds.

Tire pressure is also directly related to gas consumption.  Poorly inflated tires can lead to a decrease of as much as 30% fuel efficiency. Checking inflation takes only a matters of minutes.  A good habit to get into is to visibly inspecting your tires before driving.  When filling up at the gas station, it is wise to take a few extra minutes and manually check the air pressure to ensure the tires are properly inflated.

Another easy way to improve efficiency is to literally light your car’s load. Be sure to remove any unnecessary items from the trunk or backseat that are heavy and may weigh down the car. An extra 100 pounds that is removed can increase the car’s economy by up to 2%.

Lastly, the easiest way to save gas is to simply shut off the car when it’s not moving.  That is, no more idling. While waiting to pick someone up or spending time at a drive-thru ATM, avoiding to idle for more than a few minutes avoids costs.

Gas prices show no signs of drastically falling anytime soon. These measures are easy, and each individual act may not seem to add up to a lot.  But these acts over a year and beyond save serious amounts of gas and money. And what’s more, if every driver takes these steps to increase his or her car’s fuel efficiency, the cost at the pump, and the demand will gas will be lessened. 

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