28 ways to save gas
Save money by reducing your gas consumption
STCU can't lower gas prices, but we can help reduce your gas bill with tips provided by such diverse organizations as the Sierra Club and the Petroleum Institute.
Here are 28 tips -- 22 for consumers and 6 for
business owners -- that may help you save gas and save money:
Tips for consumers
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Bank online with STCU's NetTeller® and save a trip to the branch.
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Tune your engine. An engine tune-up, with air filter replacement, can improve fuel economy by 1 mpg.
- Use the proper grade of motor oil. You can improve your gas mileage up to 2 percent using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Consult your owner's manual.
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can decrease fuel economy by up to 1 mpg.
- Shop for lower prices. Watch for gas stations that regularly charge less, or go online to shop for gas prices. Websites such as gasbuddy.com, gasprice.com, and Automotive.com may be helpful. In Spokane, motorists voluntarily report gas price changes at Spokanegasprices.com.
- Slow down. Driving at 65 mph rather than 55 mph can reduce fuel economy by about 2 mpg, the American Petroleum Institute says.
- Avoid jackrabbit starts. Abrupt starts require about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts. General Motors adds that overdrive gears and cruise control can improve highway driving fuel economy.
- Drive steady. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns, and stops can decrease your fuel economy by up to 2 mpg.
- Turn off the air conditioner or the heater. If you can bear going without, you could reduce your gas consumption by up to 2 mpg.
- Park in the shade to reduce the need to use the air conditioner.
- Avoid idling. Turn your engine off when you are delayed for more than a couple of minutes. Ford Motor Co. reminds consumers that: "Today's engines don't need to be warmed up in the winter."
- Plan your trips. Combine short errands into one trip.
- Change your commute time or route to avoid idling in rush hour traffic. Even better, the Sierra Club suggests, ask your employer to let you telecommute.
- Avoid topping off the gas tank. That will reduce spilled gas and air pollution.
- Avoid piling luggage on the roof rack, so the engine doesn't have to work as hard. More than 50 percent of the energy required to move your car down the highway goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag (pushing air out of the way), General Motors says.
- Share a ride or carpool. Keep in mind, however, that each extra passenger can reduce your fuel economy by 1/4 mpg, GM says.
- Use public transportation. Better yet, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, walk or ride your bike when making short trips to the store.
- Choose the proper octane. Check your owner's manual to find the proper octane gas for your engine. AAA says that only 6 percent of cars sold in the United States need premium gasoline. Premium sells for an average of 17 cents more per gallon, so use regular if you can.
- Buy a hybrid car. A hybrid passenger car combines an electric motor with a cleaner, gasoline-powered engine to get 50 mpg or more.
- Buy a fuel-efficient car. If a hybrid won't work for you, look for a vehicle that's rated high on fuel efficiency. Fueleconomy.gov says that you'd save $550 per year driving a vehicle that gets 30 mpg instead of 20 mpg (assuming $2.20/gallon over 15,000 miles.)
- Periodically calculate your fuel economy. A loss of fuel economy could mean mechanical trouble.
- Purchase a motorcycle for your commute. Apply online.
Remember, you can automatically track how much you're spending -- and where you've been driving -- by using your STCU CheckCard to pay at the pump, stores, and restaurants.
Tips for business owners
Business owners can reduce gas consumption by considering these suggestions from the National Federation of Independent Businesses:
- Don't drive when you can phone instead.
- Encourage employees to carpool. Who knows? That extra time together may result in greater teamwork, problem solving, and company morale.
- Allow workers to telecommute when possible. Even one or two days a week working from home will reduce overall gas consumption and upward pressure on prices.
- Make it convenient for employees to bicycle to work. Install bike racks and provide clothes-changing and storing areas.
- Shipping costs go up with fuel prices, so look for ways to lighten packaging, consolidate shipments, or arrange for shipments from alternate locations.
- Plan ahead to minimize long-distance business travel. Consider purchasing equipment that will let you teleconference or videoconference instead of traveling.
Happy motoring!
Sources for this article include:
AAA
American Petroleum Institute
Ford Motor Co.
General Motors
Sierra Club
National Federation of Independent Businesses
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
