Save Money on Gasoline. 10 Hacks that Will Save You Money

Can you imagine your life without a car? I realize in some major cities very few people own a car, but the odds are if you are reading this article, you aren’t one of them. 

I can’t imagine life without my car. But how can we guarantee more miles per gallon, and save money on gasoline? We will share with you 10 proven tips in this article.

Your car gives you the luxury of going places fast, well, not during rush hour, but still an efficient way. However, like all good things, it has a cost unless your car is electric and super eco-friendly, you most definitely spend a lot of money on gas. There is a direct connection between mileage and the frequency of maintenance services, so the more you drive, the more it costs you.

So the Save Your Bucks Team has put together 10 life hacks that will help you cut not only fuel but also maintenance costs.

First, let’s do some brainstorming. Why is gas so expensive? If you are thinking because oil is, that’s right. Crude oil to be precise makes up 72% of gasoline price. We pay the remaining 28% for distribution, refining, and taxes.

The reasons for gas prices to rise are the weakening dollar natural disasters and simple rules of supply and demand. Prices rise when demand is bigger than supply prices usually drop in the winter when fewer people are traveling across the country. We can hardly affect any of the things we just mentioned, but we can affect our choice when buying a car.

Some cars are less fuel-efficient than others, but we still love them and want to have them. They are ultra-high-end luxury cars, large vans and SUVs.

Sports cars are already very expensive themselves and also require you to feed their turbocharged engines, which create more horsepower. If you don’t have a sports car, but paying for gas is still a nightmare, then you probably own one of the best-selling cars in America. Toyota Camry, Corolla, Prius and Honda civic accord and CRV.

Well, we hate to tell you this, but your car is a gas guzzler. Does it mean you have to replace it? Maybe in the future when the time is right, but for now we are going to offer you a solution. Here is a list of 10 driving hacks that will save you money on gasoline.

1. Don’t Put the Pedal on the Metal

We can see a lot of drivers on the roads who just love to slam on the acceleration. But in driving school, we were told that acceleration and braking should be done smoothly. It was not just because the driving instructor hated your on and off abrupt driving style or was afraid you would damage their car. It was a valuable fuel-saving lesson.

It is a good idea to travel at a constant speed of around 50 miles per hour and in the highest gear. The next time you want to get in front of that annoying car in a traffic jam. Remember, it will probably not take you any further than the traffic lights anyway and your gas bill will not please you later.

When you accelerate sharply, it makes your car consume more energy. So, fuel consumption also increases. If your car has an automatic gearbox, it will do all the hard work for you because your car knows best.

2. Use Cruise Control on the Highway

Your vehicle will consume much less fuel if you follow speed limits and use cruise control rather than accelerating on each open road you come upon. In case you are very new to the driving world. Cruise control is a smart system that automatically controls the speed of your vehicle.

Most cars use about 20% less fuel. If you drive at 55 miles per hour compared to 70 miles per hour to cope with wind drag, your car has to increase engine speed, while also increasing fuel consumption. Come to think of it as speeding ever really helped you? It might save you a few minutes, but it will also cost you and increase your chances of getting in an accident. Be smart about it.

3. Undergo Servicing on Time

Careful driving won’ help you save much money if your car burns oil, has imbalanced tires and loose belts. Have you ever read your owner’s manual? Most definitely not! Because who likes owner’s manuals? Well, consult it before something terrible happens, not after. It will tell you how often you should tune up your car, change belts and oil. In fact, the oil filter and oil should be changed every 4,500 miles according to most experts.

Choose the correct oil, by the way, it is also written in your manual. Don’t forget to replace the plugs and air filter to avoid additional expenses. Do this on time, otherwise, it can lead to engine failure and that kind of repair is expensive. Don’t put it off until tomorrow and create a maintenance schedule. Your car will say thank you for that.

4. Turn off the Air Conditioning

Using the AC in your car or not is a matter of choice. Some people are so used to air cooling systems on, they are afraid of overheating even in cool weather. For some, it’s just an instinct to turn it on while inside the vehicle. Everyone must decide for themselves; which is more important, Comfort or fuel economy.

With the air conditioner turned on, fuel consumption increases by 15% on average, the other electrical appliances are not so fuelable. So if you turn off the air condition, you will save approximately one gallon of gasoline per 100 miles. Try some natural tricks to keep your car cool. Simply try to park it in the shade and roll the windows down for a bit so the air can flow in and out.

5. Make Your Route Logistically Efficient

If you plan your route efficiently, it will help you save money on gasoline expenses, especially during the winter months. A cold engine will consume more fuel for the first five miles. Try to combine all your daily errands into one big trip, try not to warm up the engine a few times a day.

We all mentioned we are great at multitasking in our cars, so this is a good time to show off you can actually do it. Drop your mail off at the post office, get your coat from the dry cleaners and drive yourself to the gym all in one trip. We believe you can do it. We are halfway through the list, have you received any gasoline savings tips you can use so far?

6. Don’t Drive When It Rains

Rain might seem romantic as you are listening to it from the comfort of your home or even your car. Raindrops keep falling on my head tune plays in your mind. You are inspired and ready to hit the roads. However, it is a good idea not to drive in the rain.

First of all, there is a high risk of an accident. Apart from that, fuel consumption also gets higher on dry days. The vehicle consumes a lot of energy when accelerating to cope with the wind drag. On rainy days, the water resistance on the road is even higher while your tires normally just move the car. Wet weather makes them do an extra job. They must also carry on through the precipitation on the road. Water makes the tires transmission, oil and axle oils cool down and become less efficient.

7. Monitor Your Tire Pressure

Properly inflated tires provide an optimal breaking path. It might sound strange, but it’s true. To get the best out of your car, get the highest possible pressure in your tires. That will make your rolling resistance and gas mileage better. If the tires are under-inflated by at least 0.1 ATM, it can cost fuel consumption to increase by two to 3%. That’s why it’s not enough to pump up your tires just once, monitor the level of pressure in the tires and keep it following the recommended level, especially in cold weather.

8. Remove Unnecessary Weight

Some drivers prefer to carry everything in their car regardless of whether they need it or not. Are you one of them? It’s okay to admit it. Hit thumbs up if you have your entire life in your trunk. However, it is better to unload it and keep only necessary things such as a spare wheel, a tire Jack and car keys. The more weight your vehicle carries; the more fuel it consumes.

9. Monitor Gas Prices

Today, the internet offers us a solution to almost any problem that is logical and easy. To save gas money, look for affordable gas. Websites like gas buddy and gas price watch will help you keep an eye out for the best gas prices around you. Gas buddy is also available as an app for your phone. Plus, there are more mobile apps you can try, so that you don’t have to drive 12 miles from your home to save a penny a gallon.

10. Always stay alert. On the road

This life hack sounds like common sense and you cannot possibly overrate common sense. If you stay alert on the road, you won’t have to hit the brakes abruptly because you will see obstacles and danger coming your way. If you pay attention to the traffic lights and road signs along the route you take daily, you will also spare some time and annoying stops.

You might even guess when the traffic lights turned green or red and adjust your speed to fit it. Watching fellow driver’s actions can also help when their brake lights turn on, you can get ready to hit the brake smoothly.

If you are reading this article, then there is a good chance you have heard about STAR TRON ENZYME Fuel additive. This product has created quite a buzz and me and many other gas mileage nerds have been getting awesome results with this product.

Did you find our tips useful? You can leave your comment or additional tips below, or in our Save Your Bucks Facebook Group.