How to Save Money on Gas

Do you know when drivers waste the most gasoline (and therefore the most money)? It is when they are sitting in traffic waiting for everyone else to move. That is classic rush hour syndrome, is it not? So here is a great tip on how to save on gas: don’t drive in rush hour traffic.

Of course, that is easier said than done. But you have options to consider.

How to Avoid Rush Hour Traffic

Take the bus or train. If you live in a major metropolitan area and work across town from your home, you may be able to hit the park-and-ride service every day. By using mass transit you not only avoid driving in rush hour you can find ways to relax while on your way to and from work.

But don’t worry. You don’t necessarily have to condemn yourself to a lifetime of mass transiting. You can also consider car-pooling with a friend or neighbor. Each of you can take turns driving the other to work.

Or you can change your work schedule so that you go into work before or after rush hour. That way you can zip right across town and avoid all that traffic. But getting up early is not for everyone.

How to Save on Gas Anytime

If you ever see a discount gas card for sale at a local store, consider buying it. Discount gas cards definitely save you money.

Also, get used to searching for local deals on gas with a Website like Gas Buddy. Consumers report recent prices they paid for their gas. You’ll usually find pretty good deals this way.

Some consumerists tell you to “improve your driving” and “keep your tires inflated” but neither tip actually guarantees you’ll save money on gas. Good driving is wise because it helps reduce accidents and wear-and-tear on vehicles (and roads). So you should always strive to be a good driver. It may even help you save money on insurance. But don’t plan on it saving you money on gas.

Instead, learn when your favorite gas station DOES NOT have a line of vehicles waiting to gas up. Try to schedule your stops so that you don’t have to wait for a pump or wait to pay. Get in, get out, and keep your engine’s idling time down.

Engine idle time burns up a lot of gasoline. Figuring out ways to schedule your trips to allow for a minimum of engine idling time is one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make for saving money on gas.

You should also consider buying a fuel-efficient car the next time you buy a new vehicle. Some people are large enough that they need to compromise on fuel economy. Tall men, especially, have difficulty fitting into economy class cars. So be practical while searching for improved fuel efficiency.

How to Change your Gas Use Habits

It isn’t all about price and fuel efficiency. We do other things to waste money on gas. Here is a brief list.

Reduce drag Believe it or not, driving a grimy car or stacking things on top of your car creates drag. That means the air pushes back against your car more than the car was intended for; the increased drag forces your engine to work harder.

Clean the Pollen Off Your Car Most people say you should wait but pollen dries and hardens on your car, increasing drag. Pollen can also get inside your car and make you miserable. And if you’re sneezing as you drive you’re not driving safely. Having an allergy attack while driving is not only dangerous, it won’t help your gas mileage either. But read on for another benefit of cleaning the car often.

Keep Your Car Cool Most people blast the air conditioner on their faces when they get into a hot car. While this certainly cools YOU down it doesn’t do much for the car. The fast way to cool off the interior of a car is to point the vents up toward the center of the car ceiling. The cold air will push the hot air down away from passengers’ heads and you’ll all feel cooler sooner, thus needing less air conditioning sooner.

If you have access to a hose and temperatures are running above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you can cool the car off by as much as 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit just by quickly rinsing your car. You don’t need to spend more than 30-60 seconds doing this, walking around the car quickly. Keep the hose on the roof for about half the time the water flows down freely. Be sure to rinse the pollen off your car but don’t obsess over cleaning it.

The less you use your air conditioner the more gas you save. When you park your car in a large lot, try to park on the leeward side of a streetlight so that at least some shadow passes over your car. People fight over tree-shadowed spaces but if you can gauge where the sun will be in 30-60 minutes you might take a down-shade spot so that your car is cooler by the time you need it.

Using sun shades in your car may seem inconvenient but they can also help keep the inside of the car cooler by as much as 10 degrees. (Caution: Do NOT leave animals or children inside a car on hot days, even with the windows down, the air conditioner running, and sun shades.)