Developing Gas-Saving Habits Can be Rewarding for You and Environment

As recently as two years ago, a trip to the gas station was a slightly annoying but necessary chore. Today, with gas prices hovering around $3.00 per gallon in much of the country, filling the gas tank has become not just a routine event, but something to consciously budget for. Finding ways to save money at the pump has become a national pastime almost as popular as baseball, but without the caps and hot dogs.

We have all heard about the big things we can do to make visiting the gas station less painful - maintain correct tire pressure, keep your autos well tuned, stop using your trunk as a closet on wheels, and use the lowest octane fuel your car can accept. Yet, there are a number of other small things we can do as well to reduce fuel costs, and all those small things can add up to big savings.

The key, of course, to saving money on gas is to use less of it so you don’t have to refill as often. The tips below, which are listed in no particular order, follow that concept.

1. Don’t drive if you don’t have to. It seems obvious, right? But consider how many times you drive to a place you could easily walk to, and think about the bicycle gathering dust in your garage. Biking over to a café on a weekend morning can be pleasurable as much for the ride itself as for the dining experience. If walking or biking doesn’t fit into your schedule, consider car-pooling, either by arranging shared rides with friends and co-workers, or using an Internet car-pooling service.
2. Learn the habits of your regular station. Statistics tell us that gas prices tend to be lowest on Wednesdays, but this isn’t true for all gas stations. If you go to the same station most of the time, observe their pricing trends, and try to fill up when their prices are lowest. Also, try to fill your tank about three days before any holiday to avoid price increases associated with those days. If your gas station is tied to a grocery store get a club card and use it for additional savings.
3. Plan your route. Use local traffic information websites, the GPS system in your car, or a mapping and trip-planning website to choose routes with the least amount of traffic. Being able to drive at a steady pace without frequent stops and starts uses less fuel.
4. Avoid stopping for red lights. This is NOT a recommendation to run lights, which is illegal as well as unsafe. Instead, try to pace your driving so that you slow at intersections, but don’t have to come to a full stop because the light has already changed to green when you get there. In many cities, traffic lights are keyed so that driving the speed limit will let you sail through green lights at almost every crossroad. Resuming a faster speed from a slower one uses less gas than accelerating from a full stop.
5. Park in the first space you find. Sounds silly right? But think of how much gas (and time) you waste cruising the parking lot looking for the perfect spot. Pull into the first space available, even if that means you have to walk a little. After all, walking is free.
6. Use synthetic motor oil. Not only is synthetic motor oil better for the environment, but it can give you better gas mileage. However, check your owner’s manual to be certain your car can use synthetic oil before making the switch, especially if your vehicle is a few years old.
7. Maintain your vehicle’s air filter. You should have your air filter inspected every time you have your oil changed and changed when needed. Additionally, there are washable air filters that don’t have to be replaced, just cleaned. Either way, a clean air filter means better mileage.
Stay cool. Gas can evaporate in hot weather, so during those toasty summer months, fill your tank early in the morning, when the ground and the gas stored beneath it are at their coolest. Also, try to park in the shade.
8. Don’t idle. Except in cold climates, you don’t need to idle your engine as often as you think you do. Just a few seconds is generally enough at start-up, especially if you drive conservatively for the first few minutes. It’s not just idling to “warm up” the engine, though. Consider skipping the drive-through and instead just walking into a fast food restaurant. If the car is warm, turning the engine on and off actually uses less fuel. Do idle, however, if your idle time will be less than a minute. In that case it does make sense.
9. If you were considering buying a new car anyway, think hybrid or go diesel. Hybrid cars use a combination of gas and electrical power, and therefore get better mileage when driven correctly. Diesel engines produce fewer emissions (really!), and can offer better mileage as well. But do not run out and replace your existing car just to save money on gasoline.

As with any list of tips, you will likely find that some of these ideas work for you and some don’t. One thing you should make a habit of, however, is tracking your mileage and performance. This will alert you to potential maintenance issues – a sudden drop in mileage per gallon can mean something is wrong – potentially saving significant amounts of money, not just in gas, but in having to repair a problem that grows worse over time.