Save Gas And Boost Your MPG With These 5 Clever Life Hacks
(RepublicanReport.org) – Gas is the highest it’s been in many years, and keeping a car on the road can take a big bite out of most Americans’ budgets. When the price unexpectedly shoots upwards, most drivers can end up with unmanageable fuel bills every month. However, there are things drivers can do to insulate themselves from price swings by minimizing fuel consumption with various driving techniques.
1. Avoid Speeding
On one hand, driving slowly can burn fuel quickly. But believe it our not, so can speeding. The most fuel efficient speed for your car is usually somewhere around 50 mph, so a good place to start when you’re trying to save fuel is to stick to the speed limit. According to the Fuel Economy website, every 5 mph you add to your speed beyond 50 mph is comparable to paying another $0.29 for gas. Cruise control can be a great way to maintain a speed that works for you, especially on longer trips.
Acceleration is another factor to consider. Going from 0-60 mph as quickly as possible burns more fuel than more gentle acceleration. Generally, there’s no need to take off at high speed every time the light changes to green.
2. Turn Off Your Engine When You’re Not Moving
Many drivers are guilty of keeping the engine running while they wait for someone else to get into the car. It might seem like it’s not a big deal, but engines burn fuel whenever they’re running at idle, even if they’re not going anywhere.
More modern cars have fuel-saving stop-start technologies that stop the engine after a few seconds of idling and then restart it once the driver’s foot is off the brake.
3. Travel Light
The greater the load a vehicle has to carry, the more fuel it will burn. Accordingly, avoid regularly carrying around heavy objects while driving. It’s a good idea to ensure that you’re not carrying around any unnecessary ballast in your trunk or rear seat area.
4. Keep Your Tire Pressure at Optimal Levels
If car tires are too soft for the road, the engine will burn more fuel as it has to overcome resistance while driving. Additionally, tires will wear more quickly if they’re not properly inflated, leading to even more expense. Learn what your optimal tire pressure should be and check them with an air pressure gauge once a month.
5. Use Your Navigational Software to Your Advantage
You can use phone apps or vehicle navigation systems to figure out the route that will take the least amount of time. The best route for fuel efficiency is not always the shortest; other factors, such as road surface and traffic lights or varying speed limit zones also play a part.
So, there you have it. If fuel is making too big a dent in your budget every month, there are steps you can take to manage the problem and make your tank last even longer.
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