The Future is Bright, Indiana

10 Ways to Save Money on Gasoline

1.  Change your air filter regularly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing a dirty air filter can improve your gas mileage by up to 10%.  At $3+ per gallon of gas that could mean up to $5.00 of savings every time you fill your tank!

2.  Replace worn spark plugs. According to AAA, old or dirty spark plugs can reduce fuel economy by 30%.  Changing spark plugs in accordance with a vehicle’s owner manual will not only help drivers see a difference in vehicle performance, but can also provide a savings at the gas pump.

3.  Keep your tires properly inflated and balanced.  This can improve fuel economy by up to one mile per gallon.  Depending on the size of your fuel tank that could mean an extra 20 miles per tank!

4.  Tighten your gas cap.  147 million gallons of gasoline evaporate each year because fuel caps are damaged, loose or missing. So when you are finished fuelling, be sure to tighten the cap.

5.  Avoid aggressive driving.  Speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking can lower your gas mileage by 33%.  Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.  Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $.10 per gallon of gas.

6.  Use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.  You can improve you gas mileage by 1-2 percent.

7.  Avoid excess idling.  Idling gets zero miles per gallon.  Additionally your vehicle uses more gas to idle than it does to restart the engine.  So if you plan to sit for an extended period of time, turn your engine off.

8.  Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so carrying around excess weight will affect your mileage.  Empty out your trunk of all unnecessary items.  An extra 100 pounds of weight in your trunk will reduce your vehicles fuel economy by 1-2 percent.

9.  Don’t bother topping off when filling your car’s gas tank.  The additional gas has the potential to leak out if overfilled.

10.  Don’t pay more for premium grade gasoline if you vehicle does not require it.  The more expensive gas will cost you more money without boosting performance or fuel economy.