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Tips to Increase Gas Mileage

    2 minute read

    Increase Gas Mileage - spend less at the pump

    Even though fuel prices have fallen from record-highs, gas for your car is still probably one of your biggest monthly expenses. If you want to save money on gas so you have a little extra to spend when you arrive at your destination, follow these tips:

    Increase Gas Mileage - check your tire pressureCheck Your Tires

    It may be a pain, but you need to regularly check your tires for proper inflation. Tire pressure changes as the air temperature changes, and tires also slowly lose pressure over time. For every 1 psi drop in tire pressure, you lose 0.3% in fuel economy.

    Don’t Go Crazy Trying to Find the Lowest Price

    Many people will drive miles out of their way just to save a few cents per gallon, but the extra travel eats up any savings — especially if they were only topping off a tank that was already pretty full. Increase Gas Mileage - Packed line at gas stationIf you also end up sitting in line waiting for an available pump, you’re also needlessly burning fuel. Instead, learn the gas stations along your route and use the cheapest ones when you know they aren’t crowded.
    Increase Gas Mileage - map of nearby gas stations

    Adjust Your Commute to Increase Gas Mileage

    Your car burns fuel even when it’s idling, so the more you sit in stop and go traffic, the lower your fuel economy. Leaving earlier or later to avoid traffic can dramatically lower your gas spending. Even a few minutes can make a difference because there’s often a surge of traffic in business areas right around popular clock-in or clock-out times like 9:00 am or 5:00 pm and less traffic at odd times like 8:42 am.

    Drive Safely

    Increase Gas Mileage - digital odometerHard accelerations and fast speeds burn fuel far more quickly than smooth driving. Most cars are most efficient somewhere between 50 to 70 MPH. For every 5 MPH over your cars most efficient speed, the efficiency loss is the same as paying an extra $0.21 per gallon. If your car displays your fuel economy on the dashboard, keep that as the main display to help you learn to drive more efficiently. When on the highway, use cruise control to keep a constant speed and to avoid the temptation to go faster.

    The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.