With gas prices still on the rise, I was wondering if there was anything else that I could be doing that could improve gas mileage without costing anything. So I went looking for some ideas that would allow me to use the hidden fuel in my gas tank. There are bunches of ways to increase gas mileage, I thought these were the best because they were free. That’s right, here are 7 things you can do right now to get more miles per gallon that don’t cost a thing.
1. Don’t use the air conditioner unless you need it.
If you live in a hot zone like Florida or Arizona and there were only a few days every year you can open your windows and get some fresh air and not sweat off any important body parts in the process, then this option may not be for you. But if you live in area where the climate is nice most of the time you can use less gas by leaving the A/C turned off.
2. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated.
Okay this may not be a free option because some places could charge you to use the air but it usually only cost a quarter. It’s well worth the money to make sure that you have the right amount of air in your tires. And I’ll give you two reasons why. First, under inflated tires cause more resistance during travel more resistance equals fewer miles per gallon. Second, tires cost money, lots and lots of money, and when your tires are properly inflated, you extend the life of your tires as well as improve your mpg.
3. Clean out your car.
I know I avoid cleaning my car as well. But if you get rid of any unnecessary items in your car, then you reduce how much your car weighs. By reducing the weight in your car by as much as possible, you increase your gas mileage. One area you may want to check besides the trunk is on top of our vehicle. If you have luggage racks or some other sort of carriers on your vehicle, you may want to remove them. By removing them you decrease the weight and air resistance and as a result you get better gas mileage.
4. Use your cruise control.
By using your cruise control you not only alleviate some strain on your foot, you also stay at a nice steady speed and your vehicle will run more efficiently. The more efficiently your car can run, the more miles per gallon you will see.
5. Reduce your speed.
Since we are on the subject of cruising. Keeping your highway speed at 55 mph can significantly improve your gas mileage. This is a hard one for me because I lived in Germany for a while and I enjoyed driving the Autobahn where there are no speed limits. But when I use the cruise control, I have a better chance of staying at the right speed. Another great benefit of reducing your speed besides the improved gas mileage, is the reduced risk of getting a speeding ticket.
6. Avoid traffic.
This one can be a tough one depending on where you live. But if you can adjust your schedule so that you are commuting when traffic is less congested, you will save a lot of money by saving gas. An added bonus is that you look good when you get into the office before everyone else. And you get more done because no one else is there to bother you.
7. Fill up when temperatures are cooler.
This one is new for me but I saw it in more than one place so it must be true. The gas pumps deliver more gas when the temperature is lower. I guess if it’s hot, then the gas expands and takes up more space. I guess this is also why you are not supposed to top off your tank. If you don’t leave any room for expansion, you could have a serious problem on your hands.
We may not be able to do anything about the price of gasoline at the pumps. We can do something about how often we have to put gas in our vehicles. Do whatever you can to improve your gas mileage. Some other tips for saving on gasoline that you may have to spend some money on include: making sure that your car is properly tuned up, use a good engine oil, when you are in the market for a new car, buy a car that get better gas mileage than the one you currently have. And as always, I recommend using my famous gas pill that can improve your gas mileage by as much as 30%. It pays for itself each and every time you put fuel in your vehicle.
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