How to Save Money on Gas When Prices are High

The all-time high gas prices in California are just a reflection of the staggering increase in nationwide gas prices. In the last few weeks, the national diesel average hit an all-time high of over $4, with the price of gas closing in on $5 per gallon in some states. But why are gas prices going back up?  A few factors are contributing to the fast and furious increase in the price of gas, but the main reasons are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rising inflation.

As the average price of gas keeps rising, business energy costs are anticipated to surge as well.

How to Save Money on Gas: 21 Simple Ideas

Some oil experts are predicting that gas prices could stay elevated for months, so finding ways to reduce gasoline costs is of utmost importance. Here are a few ideas to reduce gas costs!

Get Regular Maintenance Checks and Avoid Fuel Economy

Maintaining your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure can enhance your miles per gallon and overall fuel efficiency. Factors such as underinflated tires, a clogged air filter, and a poorly tuned engine can significantly affect your fuel consumption. This is essential knowledge when learning how to save money on gas.

Don’t Use Premium Gas

For the majority of vehicles, purchasing premium gasoline is an unnecessary cost. Instead, using the motor oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, as specified in your owner’s manual, can enhance fuel efficiency. This is an important tip on how to save money on gas.

Get an App to Compare Prices at Gas Stations

Gas prices can fluctuate significantly from day to day or even within just a few miles. Fortunately, there are gas-saving apps like GasBuddy, AAA Mobile, and Gas Guru that can help you discover how to save money on gas by finding and purchasing fuel at the lowest prices available.

Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle

When you are ready to purchase a new car, look into a hybrid or electric vehicle. The sticker price on these cars might be higher but don’t get hung on that. When you add in the lower gas pump prices, great gas mileage, and energy efficiency, these cars pay off within a few years.

Reduce Your Air Conditioner Use

Regular use of air conditioning can increase your visits to the gas station. To save fuel, use the air conditioner as little as possible, especially for short city drives.  On the other hand, you will use less gas on the highways by keeping your windows up.

Ease up on Gas and Brakes

Revving your engine wastes a lot of petrol. Accelerate gently, observe the speed limit, and drive at steady speeds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that rapid acceleration and aggressive driving habits can lower efficiency by 5% on urban streets and up to 33% on the highway. Use cruise control on the highway.

Pay Cash at the Pump

Many petrol stations offer a discount if you pay in cash. If you do not have cash, fill it out at a station that will allow you to get the same cash price when using your card.

Leave Extras at Home

According to the U.S Department of Energy, an additional 100 pounds in your car can reduce your gas mileage by up to 1%. At the current market rate, that would mean spending 4 cents more per gallon.

Avoid Heavy Traffic

Find the most fuel-efficient route by planning ahead. Tools like Google Maps and Waze can help you avoid those nasty traffic jams that eat up your time and reduce fuel economy.

Combine Errands

To save on overall mileage, consider consolidating your trips. Multiple short journeys that start from a cold engine can consume twice the amount of petrol compared to a single trip covering the same distance with a warm engine.

Read More: how to get better gas mileage

Don’t Idle Away Your Gas

An idling car can consume between a quarter and half a gallon of gasoline each hour. To minimize fuel usage, avoid warming up your car engine for more than a minute. Instead, accelerate gradually and remember to turn off the engine when you are parked. This is one way to learn how to save money on gas.

Use Loyalty Cards

Most major fuel brands offer free gas cards that allow you to rack up points or score discounts with your fill-ups. Additionally, petrol prices tend to be lower at big-box grocery stores like Sam’s Club and Costco, but you’ll need a membership to fill up in those places.

Earn Cash Back Using Credit Card

Consider using a rewards credit card for your fuel purchases. Certain business gas credit cards provide cashback ranging from 2% to 5% on petrol expenses. This can help you save hundreds of dollars each year on average. This is a great strategy for learning how to save money on gas.

Avoid Hauling Cargo on the Roof

Remove the external cargo container when not in use. Keeping a cargo box on your rooftop can reduce gasoline efficiency by more than 6% on the highway and up to 8% for city driving.

Keep your Tires Balanced and Aligned

Misaligned tires can increase drag and reduce fuel efficiency by up to 10%. Furthermore, they tend to wear out more quickly and unevenly. To enhance both efficiency and tire performance, make sure your tires are properly aligned and balanced. This is crucial for understanding how to save money on gas.

Replace Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are vital for engine performance. Bad spark plugs can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 30%. High-quality spark plugs will ensure you get consistent combustion and optimal miles per gallon.

Fuel Economy in Cold Weather

Cold temperatures increase transmission and engine friction due to cold engine and drive-line fluids. Parking your vehicle in a warmer place, such as the garage, can help increase the initial temperature of your engine and cabin.

Know the Best Days to Buy Gas

A 2021 study by Gas Buddies found that Monday offers the lowest average national gas price in most states. This was still the case, as noted in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 studies.

Buy Groceries and Gas

Many grocery and wholesale chains, like Winn-Dixie, BJ’s, and Safeway, provide discounts or fuel rewards when you shop with them. By taking advantage of these offers, you can save up to 10 cents per gallon on your next fill-up. This is a great way to learn how to save money on gas.

Share Rides

If you live near your co-workers and have similar schedules, it might just make sense for you to carpool. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have also made ridesharing easier and more affordable.

Check Your Gas Cap

If you drive an older car, you might not get the warning light when your gas cap seal is worn out. A worn-out cap will allow oxygen to leak into the tank, which means you will be burning more fuel than usual. If your gas per mile output is suffering, check your cap.

Save Money on Gas Starting Today

Reducing the amount of driving we do is certainly one of the best ways to reduce emissions and save gas. While there is no end in sight for the rising fuel costs, following a vehicle’s maintenance schedule, taking public transportation, fixing a faulty oxygen sensor, changing gas-guzzling habits, paying special attention to your carload and aerodynamic drag, and using apps to compare local gas prices can certainly help with gas savings.

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This article, "How to Save Money on Gas When Prices are High" was first published on Small Business Trends