Tips to Save on Fuel

The price of fuel just continues to soar, and this may go on and on in the coming years. Since getting rid of your car is not a viable option, the best you could do is to follow some smart tips that can help you save on fuel. Here are some that you can start doing now.

Meet Proper Tire Pressure Requirement

On the inside portion of the driver’s door, you will find a list of ideal tire pressure based on the load of the car. Do not take this list for granted. Keeping your tire pumped will reduce the rolling resistance, which will in turn improve your gas mileage. Therefore, make it a habit to have the air pressure checked regularly as you gas up and try to meet the maximum required air pressure.

Travel Light

A heavier load would make your engine work harder. If you have some items on your trunk that do not necessarily have to be there in your trips, remove them now. Remember that your car is not a storage area. You should also consider installing lighter accessories. Some people who love some blaring music, for instance, usually have a large speaker installed on their trunks. Try to find an alternative speaker that can provide the same quality sound yet much lighter in weight.

Combine Your Trips

If you are going out to bring your clothes to the laundry shop, why not pass by the market on the way to buy your grocery and maybe even drop by the DVD store to rent out some movies for the weekend. Just imagine how much gas you will save if you combine your trips as opposed to going out and back home again for these errands.

Find an Alternative Route

Some streets are crowded at certain times of the day. Therefore, before going out, try to plan your route ahead depending on the level of traffic you anticipate on certain areas. It is better to go for a route that is a bit longer than stick to a shorter route that has heavy traffic and more stoplights. You will not only save on gas with this habit, you will also get to avoid being stressed out.

Keep Your Vehicle on Tip-Top Shape

A problem on the engine can cause it to work inefficiently. This means that it will be wasting more fuel to provide the same amount of output. Therefore, even if you do not sense any trouble while driving, make it a habit to have your car checked regularly. A well-maintained engine can also help you locate areas that need repairs before they become major problems.

Be Gentle on the Gas Pedal

Some people keep their feet on the gas pedal even if they see a red light straight ahead and just abruptly breaks to a stop. Such driving style is a gas-guzzler. Instead, start to shift down when you anticipate a traffic and coast to a stop.

These are very simple and very easy to do habits that you can start right away. Reducing your gas consumption by about 5% to 30% can accumulate to a few hundred dollars saved each year, which you can use for other useful projects.