10 Tips on improving your gas mileage
1. Find the places near you that offer the cheapest gas and shop there first. AAA updates gas prices daily. Click here for the latest prices. Prices are nearly 40% higher than they were a year ago. The AAA's web site also provides regional gas prices. GasPriceWatch.com, has more than 130,000 gas-price "spotters" that track local prices and regularly update the site's data. Also check out GasBuddy.com, a portal site that connects approximately 170 regional gas-tracking web sites.
2. Buy gas from busy gas stations. Stations that are consistently busy have their tanks refilled regularly, which means the fuel is more likely to be fresh. Fresh gas has more power than gas that has become contaminated by sitting in infrequently used tanks.
3. Fill up on weekdays because prices usually rise on the weekend. The cheapest times to buy gas are typically Tuesday midday or Wednesday morning.
4. Fill up at night because pumps deliver more gas when temperatures are lower.
5. Avoid gas stations near freeways, however, because prices are often higher there.
6. Keep your gas cap on tight. Tightening the gas cap on your car will prevent gas from evaporating and escaping into the air. If you've lost your gas cap, buy a new one ASAP.
7. Don't overbuy. Unless your owner's manual says you must use a higher grade (which very few cars actually do), buy regular gasoline. Costlier high-octane gas does not improve the performance of your vehicle.
8. Avoid running on empty. You may think you're using very little gas when your car is on empty, but you're actually using more gas because your vehicle is running less efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in a normal fashion. The best time to replenish your gas tank is when you have half a tank or less left, or when you find a gas price that you just cant pass up.
9. Park in the shade. This minimizes fuel evaporation and helps keep your car cool in the summer.
And the number 10 best way to save at the gas pump is
10. Use a rebate or discount gas card to make your purchases!
When used correctly, gas credit cards will save you money. Gas stations used to charge a higher price for credit purchases, but stopped when consumers complained. Instead of lowering credit purchase prices, the gas stations raised the price of cash purchases to the credit price. Now you can beat the gas stations at their own game. By using a gas rebate credit card you can get up to 10% cash back.
Don't have a gas credit or rebate card? Click Here for the best deals!
Not sure what your Fuel Economy is (miles per gallons)? Click here to use my free Mileage calculator.
