How to Save Money From Gas

[gaven]

Gas prices keep going up, and the money in our wallet keeps evaporating more quickly. There are many ways you can spend less money on gas and reduce your overall fuel consumption. But, you must think it through and begin formulating new plans! One technique that has been around for a while but has drawn more attention recently is hypermiling. However, use your head because some hypermiling techniques are illegal and extremely dangerous.

[FrugalDad123]

hypermiling? I'll have to google that.

[LttlDriver]

or just drive a car that gets 40 mpg

[mom-from-missouri]

With out meaning to sound rude the science have said the second post if untrue. The tanks are so far underground and covered it makes no difference.

In Missouri, tanks are above ground, so in some areas I can see that would make a difference.

[DebtAssistance]

If you drive a manual you can have some fun. Try to coast as much as possible like if you're on a downhill, place it in neutral. Try to have it in 5th in the city. Modifying your car gives you more power. With more power it requires less fuel to do the same thing.

There are so many different tips and tricks for different types of vehicles. I too agree it is easier to play around and save money with a standard than an automatic but if anyone else has tips to share, I think the way we drive has a great deal to do with how much gas we use.

[FinancialFreedom]

In my area, grocery stores team up with gas companies and the more groceries you buy, the more points you get. You then can redeem those points at the gas pump and it will take so many cents off per gallon. This is probably the best way to save up on gas.

[Wino]

Only drive downhill. This can be accomplished by living in my father's elementary school, and working at his old house, as he had to walk to school through snow, uphill both ways when he was in school.

[JoeP]

I over-inflate my tires by 3-4 pounds to reduce friction.

Other tips: keep engine air filter clean, empty trunk, coast as much as possible, maintain a constant speed with enough cushion in front to coast instead of having to brake often, gentle acceleration, combine trips, keep windows rolled up at higher speeds, don't drive aggressively.

[ernies]

These are some great tips, all I really do is use my rewards card to save money on gas. Still I saved 40 cents a gallon last time so it was definitively worth it.

[DebtAssistance]

Save Money on Gas

I over-inflate my tires by 3-4 pounds to reduce friction.

Other tips: keep engine air filter clean, empty trunk, coast as much as possible, maintain a constant speed with enough cushion in front to coast instead of having to brake often, gentle acceleration, combine trips, keep windows rolled up at higher speeds, don't drive aggressively.

These are some awesome tips! I'll have to bookmark this one to remember them all! Most of them are common sense but I never would even think of like keeping the windows rolled up and keeping the trunk empty. Thanks for these Joe!

While everyone is talking about points. A Costco card is only about $50 a year and I don't just save that on groceries but in Gas alone!

[BudgetSurgeon]

Gas prices keep going up, and the money in our wallet keeps evaporating quicker.

Steps
1. Drive less
2. Find good prices where you can get the best deal
3.Apply for a credit card which offers gas savings when you use the card for purchases
4. Check the web for deals. With the ever increasing gas prices, use the Internet to find the cheapest gas near you
5. Determine whether gas with ethanol is right for your vehicle

Don't get crazy in your search for cheaper gas stations. read

Here's a snippet from my book that you might find helpful:

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There are many individual things that one can do to increase automobile mileage, which will result in cost savings. Some of these tips include the following:

·Morning Fill-ups – Buy gasoline for your car in the morning (preferably near dawn), when the
gas is cold and dense. Gas is sold by volume, and when gas is warm, it expands. So, if you
buy it cold, when it warms up later on, you will have more gasoline available to you.

·Inflate Tires – Always inflate tires to their required pressure. Under-inflated tires reduce
gas mileage.

·Change Oil Regularly – Change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or so to keep your engine
clean, and to help prolong its use.

·Change Air Filter Regularly – You should replace your air filter every 15,000 miles or so. An
air filter provides clean air to a vehicle’s carburetor or fuel injection system. If it
becomes dirty this can cause your car to run less smoothly and reduce gas mileage.

·Remove Excess Weight from Trunk – Excess weight in your car can result in reduced gas mileage.
It is estimated that every 100 pounds of extra weight results in 2% fuel economy reduction.

·Use Air Conditioning over Open Windows on Highway – Use your air conditioner over open windows
while driving on a highway since open windows cause drag, which negatively effects gas mileage.

·Use Open Windows over Air Conditioning with Local Driving – Open your windows, rather than use
air conditioning, for local driving. This will result in gasoline savings.

·Do Not Exceed Speed Limit – Every mile per hour that you drive over 60 MPH is like paying 20
cents more for a gallon of gas, as of this writing.

·Avoid Quick Starts and Stops – This can decrease gas mileage by up to 5%.

·Plan for More Efficient Routes – A little trip planning can save you miles on travel, and will
save you on gasoline cost.

·Split Unleaded/Premium Gas – If your car requires Premium gasoline, consider filling it up with
half a tank of Premium gas, and half a tank of Unleaded gas (which costs less), unless your
automobile manufacturer strictly forbids this (or it voids your warranty). If your engine does
not ping after providing this gasoline mix, your car performs as well, and your mileage does
not suffer accordingly, this may be a cheaper gasoline option for you, rather than strictly
using Premium gasoline.
================================================== =========================================

[rossmel]

Great saving advice on here.

[segmond]

biggest way is to buy a gas efficient car.
the next is to drive less, don't drive if you can walk.
then plan your routes when you do drive so you can do multiple things at once.

[Rainbow Traveller]

1) Slow and steady wins the race: Gasoline mileage drops off in most cars once you're going faster than about 60 mph (see chart at right). For every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you're essentially paying an extra 24 cents per gallon of gas. Try using cruise control on interstates and other highways to maintain a constant speed. It can also help to use your car's overdrive gears, which save fuel and engine wear by reducing your speed.

2) Be cool in traffic: Aggressive driving — speeding, swerving, sudden acceleration and braking — is not only dangerous, it can lower your gas mileage 33 percent on highways and 5 percent on city streets. Revving your engine while stopped is even more wasteful.

3) But not too cool: Air conditioning can be a big drain on gasoline, so make sure you don't just leave it on absentmindedly, and certainly don't leave it on while windows are open, even if they're just cracked. You can improve your fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic by turning off the A/C and rolling down the windows instead, but that's not necessarily always the best idea. When driving above 55 mph, especially for long periods on highways, the opposite is true — open windows make a vehicle less aerodynamic by letting in air, which increases air resistance and decreases fuel efficiency. On long road trips, using air conditioning could actually improve your mileage by up to 20 percent.

4) Don't just sit there: On top of pointlessly pumping out greenhouse gases without actually getting you anywhere (as the public-service announcement at right points out), idling automobiles also contribute to ground-level ozone, airborne particulate matter and other near-surface air pollution. These emissions can aggravate asthma and even hinder breathing in otherwise healthy people, especially children and the elderly. If you're just idling to warm up your car in winter, it still only needs to run about a minute. Anything beyond that is just wasting gas.

5) Stay in tune: Fixing a car that needs a tuneup or has failed an emissions test can improve its fuel efficiency by an average of 4 percent. More serious problems, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can reduce mileage by up to 40 percent. And don't forget to get regular oil changes based on the manufacturer's recommendations (or you could look into installing an Electro-Lube Oil Refiner, which reportedly eliminates the need for oil changes while boosting efficiency 3 to 4 percent).

6) Get pumped: Keeping a car's tires properly inflated can improve fuel efficiency by about 3.3 percent. It's also safer and lengthens the lifespan of your tires, since underinflated tires lose their tread quickly in addition to wasting fuel. Regular checkups for your tires' alignment and balance aren't a bad idea, either.

7) Take a load off: While it mainly affects smaller cars, carrying extra weight means burning extra gasoline, no matter how big your vehicle is. On average, you may be cutting your fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent for every 100 extra pounds you haul.

8) Develop motor skills: Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can boost mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Try to also use the lowest grade of gasoline that's appropriate for your car, since high-octane grades cost several cents more per gallon. Check your owner's manual to be sure, but as long as your engine doesn't start knocking, you're probably OK. Switching from premium to regular gasoline would save hundreds of dollars every year.

9) There's a cap for that: Gasoline can evaporate from a vehicle's fuel tank if it's able to find an opening, which is bad for your wallet and your lungs. Make sure your gas tank's cap is tightened securely after you fill up, and if the cap's threading is stripped or it fits too loosely, you might want to buy a new one.

10) Join the masses: Carpool or, even better, don't take a car at all — walk, ride a bike or take mass transit. It saves you money, improves your personal health and helps the planet by keeping greenhouse gases out of its atmosphere. See MNN's guide to greening your commute for more ideas.

[wilddeuce]

get discount gift cards, use Costco gas

First, if you live close by Costco that sells gas, fill up there. You don't need to be a Costco member. However, Costco accepts Amex or Costco gift cards.

Second, I buy discount Exxon/Mobile/Shell/Sunoco/BP gift cards from cardpool.com, abcgiftcards.com and plasticjungle. Typically you can get 2-3% off. Not great, but you still get CC points. In addition, I live in NYC area and often go to NJ to fill up. NJ has cheaper gas, but they also often has a cash and credit card prices. CC price is higher. GCs are treated as cash, so another win situation.