How to Save Money on Gas

Gas prices keep going up, and our wallets keep getting thinner. There are many ways you can save money on gas, at the gas staion, and also keep healthy as well.

Steps

1. Don't drive. Don't drive a car when you don't have to. Carpool, walk, take the bike, or take a bus. These will not only save gas, but also will help save our environment and may be better for your health. Do you really need to drive to the store that is only a couple of blocks down the street?
2. Get a credit card. Some right credit cards offer gas savings when you use the card for purchases. This works in much the same way that some credit card companies allow you to earn frequent flyer miles when you use their card for purchases. But watch for interest rate charges. However, some stations now charge a higher rate for using a credit card.
3. Get a better air filter. There are more efficient brands of air filters available such as the K&N air filter. This is a washable filter (so you don't have to throw it away) and some drivers notice improved gas mileage and increased horse power. The filter costs a little more but will last for the life of your car and will pay for itself in less than a year in most vehicles in fuel and air filter savings. Basically about every 30,000 miles you need to wash off the filter and re-oil it. Also by avoiding having to keep buying and replacing air filters this can help the environment too.
4. Get a membership card. Some gas stations offer membership benefits. There are also department and grocery stores that give discounts at the fuel pump when you use their store membership cards.
5. 
   Give your car a tune up. While properly maintaining your car won't actually save you money at the pump, it will save you gas. Using less gas saves you money. Have the oil changed, and have a certified mechanic give your engine a look over.
6. Check the web for deals. Web sites let you find the best deals in your area. Check out the external links below to start.
7. Buy a Diesel. Diesel cars can often get better mileage than comparable hybrids and do not have batteries that need replacing. Getting a Diesel car also allows for use of Biodiesel or even Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO/SVO) fuel.
8. 
   Buy a hybrid car. Not only do hybrid cars give you immediate savings at the pump, the U.S. government and your local state offer tax breaks for people who use gas-saving cars. Federal deductions for using gas-saving cars can be as high as $2,000.00, but check before buying to see if they're still in effect. If you can't afford the growing number of hybrid cars out there, consider getting a regular car with good MPG (miles per gallon), like the Honda Fit. In general, the smaller the car, the better the mileage.
9. Move or Work Closer to Home While you're considering spending all that money on a new hybrid or diesel vehicle to 'save money', you could move closer to your job (or public transportation to your job), or get a job closer to your home. Then you will be able to walk or ride a bike on nice days, and spend a lot less time in the car when the weather isn't so nice. Maybe even get rid of one family car. If you walk or ride almost all the time, it doesn't matter what sort of mileage your current car gets while it collects dust in the driveway.
10. Use the lowest recommended octane for your car. The lower octane gas is cheaper. Most modern cars are engineered to run most efficiently on lower octane fuel, and often forbid you to use higher octane fuel. Check your owner's manual to be sure, as not all car engines should use lowest octane gas.
11. Mix octanes. Using a higher octane has no effect on fuel efficiency and doesn't really gain you anything and costs more. In some areas, the lower octane may be too low for your car and the mid-grade or higher octane may be more than what you need. To avoid overpaying and still get the correct octane for your car you can mix the gas. For example, if your car takes 87 octane and the pumps have 85 octane and 89 octane, then when filling your car, fill half the tank with 85 octane and the other half with 89 octane and this will give you an equivalent of 87 octane plus it will save you money because the lower octane gas costs less. However, if you do not have a way of thoroughly mixing the fuel as it is entering your tank, your engine may receive "bursts" of lower octane fuel, causing problems.
12. Avoid idling. While idling, your car gets exactly 0 miles per gallon. Although it is said that starting the car uses a lot of gas, it is still very little compared to idling for more than a few seconds. Idling to warm up is particularly bad, as the engine needs extra fuel to warm up. After start up, allow your car to idle 15-30 seconds, then drive conservatively until it reaches normal operating temperature. Park your car and go into the restaurant rather than idling in the drive-through. Idling with the air conditioning on also uses extra fuel. Warning: stopping and starting the engine frequently will cause extra wear. Don't stop the engine if you are going to idle for less than a minute. Note: In very cold environments, it is recommended to allow the vehicle to idle and warm up, rather than just start it and take off. You might save gas, but your engine oil won't do its job until it's fully liquid, so you'll spend more money on overhauls.
13. Combine trips. If you can do several short trips in one longer trip, you will save fuel and time. Make lists to avoid having to go back. Call ahead to avoid wasted trips.
14. Walk between stops. Once you get into town, some of your stops may be near each other. Park between some or all of them and walk.
15. Plan your trips in advance. This can prevent wasting fuel and wasting time. Plan to use alternative routes. Often back roads can prevent you from stopping at traffic lights and more importantly sitting in traffic jams.
16. Buy a GPS system. Global Positioning Systems help you navigate to find the fastest and shortest distance to your destination. A good GPS can save you time and fuel. Also the cost of GPS systems has really come down and you can get a good GPS system for around $350. Also, there are some creative ways you can use GPS systems to save money on gas. For example, you could use a GPS to calculate how far away you are from the next state and if you know fuel tax is less in the next state, just put enough fuel in to get you to the next state and fill up with gas where it is cheaper.
17. Check the tire air pressures weekly. Buy an inexpensive air pump and an accurate tire gauge (not a pencil gauge as they are not accurate). Keep all tires inflated to the pressure as recommended for your car. Go by the sticker on the door frame or fuel filler flap or in the manual and not the tire wall. Don't be afraid to experiment with higher tire pressure, as long as you don't exceed the rating marked on the tire. Generally speaking, a slightly higher pressure will improve fuel mileage and handling, but too high will degrade traction and wear the tires rapidly.
18. Drive at a consistent speed Avoid accelerating fast or braking suddenly. Use cruise control when you can.
19. Maintain a safe following distance Don't stick to the bumper of the car directly in front of you. You will brake more and accelerate more to keep that unnecessary and dangerous narrow gap. This also gives you a lot more room to play with when you are timing traffic signals. Likewise, ignore tailgaters. They will tailgate you whether you go the speed limit, or 100MPH over the speed limit. Allow them pass when it's convenient.
20. Slow down. Air resistance goes up as the square of velocity. The power consumed to overcome that air resistance goes up as the cube of the velocity. Rolling resistance is the dominant force below about 40 mph. Above that, every mph costs you mileage. Go as slow as traffic and your schedule will allow. Drive under 60-65 since air grows exponentially denser, in the aerodynamic sense, the faster we drive. To be precise, the most efficient speed is your car's minimum speed in it's highest gear, since this provides the best "speed per RPM" ratio.
21. Clean out any unnecessary items in your car. If you have heavy objects in your car that you don't need, remove them. If your car is lighter, it will use less fuel to get where you're going.
22. Remove unneeded racks. If you have a bicycle or ski rack, remove it when you're not using it. It causes drag and lowers mileage.
23. Don't fill until the last quarter tank. If you do this, it can extend your gas because you are hauling a lighter load as the tank nears empty. This also allows you to buy gas on low-cost days. However, in cold weather, you may not want to do this. Also, running a car with less than a quarter tank of fuel can shorten the fuel pump life, and letting your tank empty completely can cause fuel pump and filter problems. And you never know when you might be in an emergency and need some gasoline in your car!
24. Fill the tank full. If you need to fill up, fill up all the way. The more money you try to save by adding $10 today and then $20 tomorrow will be wasted since each time you will have to travel to the station and wait for a pump. Instead, do it all at once to save time and money.
25. 
    Avoid buying gas with ethanol, if possible. The lower energy content of the fuel will almost always lower mileage. Other additives may do the same, or may increase mileage depending upon your vehicle. Experiment to find out. Also the minimal price difference is often offset by a lower price due to lower fuel taxes or subsidies. Consider using ethanol because it is a lot better for the environment. Note, however, that turbocharged cars often get better mileage with ethanol blends. This is because the higher (over 100!) octane of ethanol permits more boost, which means more efficient fuel usage.
26. Avoid having to stop. If approaching a red light, see if you can slow down enough to avoid having to actually stop (because you reach the light after it is green). Speeding up from 5 or 10 miles per hour will be easier on the gas than starting from full stop.
27. Anticipate the stop signs and lights. Look far ahead; get to know your usual routes. You can let up on the gas earlier. Coasting to a stop will save the gasoline you would otherwise use maintaining your speed longer. If it just gets you to the end of a line of cars at a red light or a stop sign a few seconds later, it won't add any time to your trip. Ditto for coasting to lose speed before a highway off-ramp: if it means you catch up with that truck halfway around the curve instead of at the beginning, you haven't lost any time. (Do not coast to slow down until you're in the exit deceleration lane, unless you have checked your mirror to make sure you won't interfere with non-exiting traffic in the right-hand travel lane.) See: How to Predict Traffic Signals
28. Take off slowly from a full stop. This is one adjustment that will have dramatic effects on your gas mileage; don't tear off from a stoplight! If you move out slowly, it will help save you money at the pump. Also, if you are driving a stick shift, note that 50% throttle at 1200 rpm's uses less gas than 10% throttle at 2500 rpm's. As long as the engine is not lugging or pinging, shift as soon as possible and use plenty of throttle. The engine is more efficient when it does not have to pump air past a closed throttle plate. Warning: this advice is only true for fuel-injected cars or those with constant velocity carburetors.
29. Park in the first spot you find. If you wander all over the parking lot looking for that really close parking space, you'll use more gas. Don't be afraid to walk a ways if it comes to that - the walk will do you good!
30. Stay well away from store fronts Even if there is a space open there, avoid it. If possible, avoid parking lot lanes that bring you near the stores. You will spend significantly less time getting in, and less time blocked in because of pedestrians and other vehicles. More spaces to choose from, and fewer keys and loose carts further away from the doors, too.
31. Walk into the restaurant Don't use a drive-through, waiting in line, trapped, in your car, idling. Just walk in.
32. Use A/C only while slowing. This is sometimes enough to keep your vehicle at a reasonable temperature without using fuel and going easier on the brakes. You can also use the A/C to cool the car and then switch to the fan only. (Turning on the A/C at low rpm's may save the compressor from a "jolt" and additional wear.)
33. Shift into neutral if you are not comfortable with downshifting. Standard transmission vehicles may save gas by shifting into neutral when going down hills steep enough to maintain speed (although engine braking is safer on steeper declines). Do not do this in a Hybrid car, they use this "regenerative engine braking" to generate electricity and charge the batteries. NOTE: This strategy will result in more wear and tear on your brakes. Neither of these strategies is recommended for normal automatic cars. Also, if you own a car with fuel injection, it is more efficient to keep the car in a high gear while going down hills. Simply take your foot off the gas.
34. Park in the shade. Gasoline actually evaporates right out of your tank, and it does so faster when you park directly in the sun - winter or summer. Parking in the shade also keeps it cooler inside, and you will need less A/C to cool off when you get back in. If there is no shade available, park so that your gas tank (the actual tank under the car, not the valve to fill it) is facing away from the direct sun.
35. Drive a small motorcycle or scooter instead of a car. They are cheaper and often get 70 MPG or better. Riding gear is available for most weather conditions. A good example is the Kawasaki EX250, which costs about $3,000, gets 60-70 MPG at highway speeds, and can go 0-60 MPH in under 6 seconds!
36. Use a synthetic oil instead of 10W30 and 10W40. This will cause your engine to run better and give you better mileage..

Tips

• Gas prices are statistically the cheapest on Wednesdays, but this is only statistically true over a large number of days. It won't be true every week.
• Getting a fill-up three days before a holiday will help you save on the price bump.
• At every oil change, check your air filter. Clogged air filters cause engines to work overtime which requires more fuel. Reusable air filters are not recommended, as they can destroy expensive Mass Airflow Sensors if they are over-oiled. A quality paper filter does a better job of filtering.
• Use a fuel injector cleaner or complete fuel system treatment occasionally. Not only will you see a boost in gas mileage, but in your car's overall performance. Fouled injectors vaporize fuel poorly, affecting how completely the fuel is burned.
• Most car modifications do not improve mileage. Extra wings add drag. Power improvements often hurt mileage. However, if your car is turbocharged, chiptuning may result in a mileage boost. The mileage boost will be canceled out if you drive more aggressively due to power improvements.
• So-called gas saving devices don't work. Use these wikiHow tips and save yourself the cost of the snake oil.
• Many of these tips change slightly if your engine is turbocharged or diesel. For instance, diesel engines use almost no fuel while idling. Diesel trucks will often be left idling all night to provide heat or power for the trucker inside the cab, at the cost of relatively little fuel.
• Wholesale unleaded is now a traded commodity. Watch the futures price as it will forecast price at the pump, which will be about equal to the wholesale price plus taxes plus about a nickel per gallon for the station.
• Keep meticulous records of what you spend and how many miles you drive so you can quickly spot changes in vehicle performance. It will also help focus you on the goal of saving.
• Every MPH faster yields you less advantage than the last one. Going 10MPH is a big difference over 5MPH, but there is very little difference between 55MPH and 60MPH, unless you are on a very long trip. Many people mindlessly speed wherever they go, and gain absolutely nothing but a heftier fuel bill. Assuming everything goes perfectly (and when does it?) going 5MPH, even 15MPH faster on a highway for a short trip will yield nothing but aggravation as you keep catching up to slower traffic.
• Slow down a little below the speed limit, and the highway can seem like it is wide open.
• Often the right-most lanes keep moving more than the left-most in areas prone to traffic-jams. Vehicles continue to exit, which keeps leaving 'gaps' to fill in.
• If you weren't already about to buy a car, don't buy a brand new car to 'save money' on fuel, especially if you own your current car outright and there's nothing especially wrong with it. It's hard to burn a new car payment (and additional registration taxes and insurance) worth of fuel savings. A new car loses thousands of dollars of its value as soon as you drive it past the dealer's curb, so consider how many miles you'll need to save in order to save that value in fuel.
• Think especially hard about the 'savings' if you're exchanging a vehicle that has other kinds of utility that you often use (more passenger positions, more cargo, towing, hauling yard debris, etc.) for a small car that offers economy, but only 'basic transportation' and little cargo space. You might find yourself trading in the little car and buying something similar to what you already have now.
• If you frequently need a truck, do you need a shiny, new one for your every day commute? Could you live with a 'junker' truck that you use infrequently for those messy jobs and errands (and maintain yourself through a policy of 'retarded decay'), while you drive a smaller, more efficient car for daily use?
• A manual transmission saves an average $1000 on the cost of a new vehicle, and eliminates routine transmission maintenance that an automatic transmission requires (and most people never do this maintenance once the warranty is up - so a used car with an automatic is a risky purchase). In most cases, an automatic transmission gets significantly worse mileage overall than a manual transmission.
• Neutral is also a 'gear' on a manual transmission, which you use constantly anyway. Learn how to coast between traffic lights, applying power only as needed to keep the car rolling (more or less) with traffic. Learn to judge terrain and use neutral to its full potential to keep the car moving 'for free', and save more gas over time.
• 'Regenerative braking' recovers far less energy than acceleration requires to replace the momentum it loses. To 'coast' further without regenerative braking excessively slowing your automatic transmission equipped hybrid, putting just the right pressure on the accelerator can prevent the 'regen' drag without adding engine power (i.e. if done right the engine won't start AND the regenerative braking won't kick in). With manual transmission hybrids, just leave it in neutral to defeat 'regen' and coast further.
• Try to schedule your trips and errands when traffic is lighter.
• If you are always stuck in rush hour traffic after work anyway, try to find something to do near your work until the traffic dies down, rather than try to fight through it.
• Some cars have a 'zig-zag' shift pattern for their automatic transmission (like certain 'Lexus' models). Many people shift the car past 'D' and into '4' because it 'feels right', then drive down the freeway complaining about bad gas mileage.
• If you want more information about the mileage NOW, and your car doesn't have a real-time fuel economy distraction, there are various OBDII reader devices (like the 'ScanGauge' or 'Equus 3130') that can be plugged into cars with an OBDII port, and provide 'live' real-time information about fuel consumption rate (gallons per hour), engine RPM, speed, whatever you want that's tracked by the engine computer. Some of them also allow the data to be recorded and downloaded to a computer with a serial or USB cable. Some are little more than a serial/USB cable that plugs into a portable computer with software to give you all manner of 'instruments'.
• The more convenient it is to check your tire pressure, the more often you'll do it. If you are dedicated enough to do it with a manual hand/foot pump, fine.
• DON'T TOP OFF. It is wasted money, bad for the environment (releasing extra fumes) and evaporates in 10 minutes of driving.
  • You can spend a little extra on a pretty good self-contained electric one with a jump start and flashlight on it, too, and then consider it a 'safety' purchase.
  • If you have a garage, an air compressor has many uses besides tires.
  • If you have a larger vehicle (with higher pressure truck tires), you will need a 'real' air compressor; the little electric ones made for cars will fail right away, and you'll wear yourself out trying to pump it yourself.

Warnings

• All the fuel savings in the world will not matter a bit if you get wrecked while 'trying to save gas'. Safe driving habits will save a lot more money than risky driving, and maybe even save lives. Slow down. Be careful.
• Nearly all gas-saving devices do not work, and some even decrease fuel mileage. Intake twisters, gas pills and fuel line magnets do not help mileage. Even if the mileage improvement claims were true, they often cost enough to negate any potential savings.
• 'Chipping' the car (changing/flashing the ROM in its 'brain') is usually meant to improve power, but often fuel savings are claimed as well. Be paranoid about it. It usually can achieve the power statistics it claims, but possibly at the cost of dreadfully expensive engine/drivetrain wear and damage. The wrong chip (or a buggy version of a chip) can result in a dead car that's expensive enough to repair that it's 'totaled'. Needless to say, 'chipping' a car definitely voids the warranty.
• Nitrogen is a scam. You still need to check your tire pressure regularly, and putting nitrogen in will only make you complacent and dependent on the shop that did it (so you keep coming back and buying more services there). It is perfectly safe to put normal air in with the nitrogen on passenger vehicles. Nitrogen actually diffuses out of tires faster than standard air, due to the smaller nature of the molecule. Faster diffusion means more costly inflations. Air is mostly nitrogen, anyway. Race cars and airplanes? Yeah 100% nitrogen is still required. Normal car? If it's free with the tire change, don't bother complaining, but it does no good at all.
• Be very careful when shifting into neutral when going down hills. You may find yourself going a lot faster than you thought you would. This is actually illegal in some jurisdictions, so never admit to a police officer you were 'free-wheeling' or 'coasting', or you'll get two tickets.
• Be sure to keep to right lanes if you're not going to keep up with speeding traffic, and allow other traffic to pass. On freeways, watch onramps and try to leave space for merging traffic to get in, without braking if possible. Also, try to remain aware enough of your situation to realize when your right lane will become 'exit only' well ahead of time.
• If you drive slowly enough on a long enough trip to add hours, be sure to take extra breaks.

Things You'll Need

• A car