How to Save Money on Gas
Change those spark plugs often!, Limit your driving., Find good gas prices., Take care of your car., Fill up efficiently., Top off the air in the tires every few weeks to the car manufacturer's recommended pressure.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Change those spark plugs often!
Platinum spark plugs may claim to last 100,000 miles (160,000 km), but they have been known to foul up at just 75,000 miles (121,000 km).Spark plugs are relatively inexpensive and (depending on the vehicle) easy to replace.
If you're not that handy or mechanically inclined, read some auto repair books or be-friend a mechanic. , This article includes ideas such as carpooling, combining trips and taking the first parking spot you find. , This article offers tips about making sure you are paying a competitive price for the gas you do buy.
Be sure to recognize the value of the gas you spend to go out of your way. , A properly maintained vehicle will run more efficiently and give you better mileage, which saves you money in gas. , This involves three things:
Consider whether to fill your tank up full or halfway.
Filling up your tank halfway will reduce your car's weight, increasing your mileage slightly.
However, if your nearest gas station is significantly out of the way of your daily route, make sure to take into account the gas spent driving to the station and the value of your time.
Don't top up your tank between fills.
It is wasted money and bad for the environment because it invariably forces liquid fuel into the evaporative emissions system, where it overwhelms circuits that route fuel tank vapors to the engine.Wait until you have a quarter tank, but don't push this any further.
Doing this can extend your gas mileage because you are hauling a lighter fuel load.
It also gives you the opportunity to buy more gas if you run across a bargain.
However, in cold weather, you run an increased risk of condensation in the fuel tank.
Running a car with less than a quarter tank can shorten the life of the electric fuel pump, and running on empty will often destroy the pump. , This is best done when the tires are cold (have not been driven on more than a mile or so).
It is proper for them to have a few psi higher pressure after extensive driving, but filling them hot should generally be avoided unless they are very low on air to avoid inaccuracy.
Excessive pressure adds very little efficiency and can cause bad handling and uneven tire wear.
Some gas stations, notably Sheetz gas stations, have air pumps that are free to use and automatically inflate the tires to a pressure set on the pump.
These are very convenient. (If an automatic pump seems to be adding an unexpectedly large amount of air, double-check its progress with a hand air gauge to avoid overfilling.) In California, gas station operators are required to offer free air to customers who purchase fuel. -
Step 2: Limit your driving.
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Step 3: Find good gas prices.
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Step 4: Take care of your car.
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Step 5: Fill up efficiently.
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Step 6: Top off the air in the tires every few weeks to the car manufacturer's recommended pressure.
Detailed Guide
Platinum spark plugs may claim to last 100,000 miles (160,000 km), but they have been known to foul up at just 75,000 miles (121,000 km).Spark plugs are relatively inexpensive and (depending on the vehicle) easy to replace.
If you're not that handy or mechanically inclined, read some auto repair books or be-friend a mechanic. , This article includes ideas such as carpooling, combining trips and taking the first parking spot you find. , This article offers tips about making sure you are paying a competitive price for the gas you do buy.
Be sure to recognize the value of the gas you spend to go out of your way. , A properly maintained vehicle will run more efficiently and give you better mileage, which saves you money in gas. , This involves three things:
Consider whether to fill your tank up full or halfway.
Filling up your tank halfway will reduce your car's weight, increasing your mileage slightly.
However, if your nearest gas station is significantly out of the way of your daily route, make sure to take into account the gas spent driving to the station and the value of your time.
Don't top up your tank between fills.
It is wasted money and bad for the environment because it invariably forces liquid fuel into the evaporative emissions system, where it overwhelms circuits that route fuel tank vapors to the engine.Wait until you have a quarter tank, but don't push this any further.
Doing this can extend your gas mileage because you are hauling a lighter fuel load.
It also gives you the opportunity to buy more gas if you run across a bargain.
However, in cold weather, you run an increased risk of condensation in the fuel tank.
Running a car with less than a quarter tank can shorten the life of the electric fuel pump, and running on empty will often destroy the pump. , This is best done when the tires are cold (have not been driven on more than a mile or so).
It is proper for them to have a few psi higher pressure after extensive driving, but filling them hot should generally be avoided unless they are very low on air to avoid inaccuracy.
Excessive pressure adds very little efficiency and can cause bad handling and uneven tire wear.
Some gas stations, notably Sheetz gas stations, have air pumps that are free to use and automatically inflate the tires to a pressure set on the pump.
These are very convenient. (If an automatic pump seems to be adding an unexpectedly large amount of air, double-check its progress with a hand air gauge to avoid overfilling.) In California, gas station operators are required to offer free air to customers who purchase fuel.
About the Author
Diana Hamilton
Specializes in breaking down complex organization topics into simple steps.
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