Tips for Saving Money at the Gas Pump

Whether driving cross-town or cross-country, everybody wants to save money at the pump. Regardless of the make and model, your car’s estimated gas mileage is exactly what the term implies . . . an estimate. Very important variables are how you drive, which type of fuel and how you maintain your vehicle. ChoiceAutoInsurance.com offers you the following tips to help you drive down the cost of driving:

Let’s start with your vehicle’s gas tank. Because making the right choice at the gas pump is an important first step to keeping your car running efficiently and economically, be sure to follow your owner’s manual recommendation for the right octane level for your car. Using a higher-octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit and costs you more at the pump. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher-octane gas is a waste of money.

Be skeptical about any gizmo or gadget that promises to improve your gas mileage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tested over 100 supposed gas-saving devices, including “mixture enhancers” and fuel line magnets, and found that very few provided any fuel economy benefits. Those devices that did work provided only a slight improvement in gas mileage. In fact, some products may even damage your car’s engine or cause a substantial increase in exhaust emissions.

When it comes to stretching your gas budget, how you drive can be almost as important as how far you drive. Try to stay within the posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Also, avoid unnecessary idling as it wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. You can further improve in-town gas mileage by up to five percent by driving “gently”. Harsh acceleration wears on your engine and your pocket book. An additional consideration involves utilizing overdrive gears and cruise control functions when appropriate as they significantly improve fuel economy when you’re driving on the highway.

You don’t have to be a professional mechanic to keep your engine purring at its fuel-efficient best. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual and changing your oil regularly can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine. You should also note that motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy. If you check and replace air filters regularly, you could increase gas mileage up to 10 percent. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to two percent; so removing non-essential stuff can save you at the pump. An additional piece of advice, keep your tires filled to the recommended air pressure level.

ChoiceAutoInsurance.com reminds you that the only sure-fire “equipment” guaranteed to get more from a gallon of gas is a fuel-conscious driver behind the wheel. Keeping that in mind, try to combine errands when out on the road and also consider car-pooling when convenient.

For the best auto quotes on the cheapest auto insurance rates, use ChoiceAutoInsurance.com to save money on auto insurance.

Get the best deal on your insurance today!

Top Carriers compete for your business here

Sitefinity ASP.NET CMS