Smart Strategies to Lower Your Fuel Costs When Gas Prices Rise

Watching the numbers tick higher at the gas pump can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, you do not have to be at the mercy of rising fuel prices. By making a few simple changes to your daily driving habits and vehicle maintenance routines, you can significantly cut your fuel costs and keep more money in your wallet.

Optimize Your Daily Driving Habits

How you drive has a massive impact on how much fuel your vehicle consumes. Adjusting your behavior behind the wheel is one of the fastest ways to see savings.

Ease Up on the Pedal

Aggressive driving, which includes rapid acceleration and hard braking, wastes a significant amount of gas. According to the US Department of Energy, smooth driving can improve your highway fuel economy by 15 to 30 percent and your city mileage by 10 to 40 percent. Treat your gas pedal and brake pedal gently to maximize your tank.

Watch Your Highway Speed

While it is tempting to speed on the highway, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 miles per hour. As a general rule of thumb, every 5 miles per hour you drive over 50 is equivalent to paying an extra 30 cents per gallon for gas. Sticking to the speed limit is safer and much more cost effective.

Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling gets zero miles per gallon. If you are waiting in a school pickup line or sitting in a parked car for more than 60 seconds, turn off your engine. An idling engine can consume a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on your engine size and whether the air conditioning is running.

Keep Up with Vehicle Maintenance

A well maintained car operates more efficiently, which directly translates to better gas mileage.

Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly

Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder to push the car forward. Keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3 percent. Always check the sticker located on the driver side door jamb for the correct tire pressure, rather than the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall.

You can improve your gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent simply by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, if your owner manual calls for 5W-30 motor oil, using 10W-30 can actually lower your fuel economy. Look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to ensure it contains friction reducing additives.

Use Technology to Shop Smart

You no longer have to drive around town wasting gas just to find the cheapest station.

Download Fuel Price Apps

Apps like GasBuddy and Waze rely on crowdsourced data to show you the current gas prices at stations in your immediate area. Prices can easily vary by 20 cents or more per gallon within just a few blocks. Checking an app before you fill up ensures you are always getting the best local rate.

Leverage Grocery Store Rewards

Many major supermarket chains offer fuel reward programs. Stores like Kroger, Safeway, and Stop & Shop allow you to accumulate points based on your grocery purchases, which can then be redeemed for significant discounts at their affiliated gas stations. Maximizing these points can sometimes save you up to a dollar per gallon on a fill up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does buying premium gas make my car more fuel efficient?

No. Unless your vehicle manufacturer specifically requires premium fuel, putting premium gas in a car designed for regular unleaded will not improve your fuel economy or performance. It will only cost you more money.

Is it better to roll down the windows or use the air conditioning?

This depends on your speed. At low speeds around town, rolling down the windows is more fuel efficient. However, at highway speeds, open windows create aerodynamic drag that forces the engine to work harder. When driving on the highway, using the air conditioning is actually the more fuel efficient choice.