10 More Ways To Stop Bleeding At The Pump

Outrageous fuel prices soar on what seems an almost daily basis, more and more of us are looking for ways to save on gas pump prices. A few years ago, could you have even fathomed that gas would be in the $4.00/gallon range? I know it seems almost normal now, but it’s really taking one hell of a toll on us! Going green and saving energy is one thing, but there are some additional steps we can take to save at the pump.

Enjoy the following tips!

1. There are several options when filling up your car - But in the end, one should always fill up with the lower octane fuel. Most cars do not require a premium form of gasoline, so if your car does not need it, then do not do so because it is just a huge waste of money and it will not increase your car’s performance in any shape or form, and it may give you deadly cancer (kidding!) The majority of cars can run just fine on regular unleaded fuel, but be sure to check your owner’s manual if you are uncertain about your make and model.

2. Never ever top off your car! The additional gas is not going to do anything but seep out so there is not point in wasting your money or the gas. Once the automatic nozzle clicks off immediately stop to prevent any loss.

3. After filling up your tank always be sure to tighten your gas cap as much as possible. If the gas cap is left loose then your gasoline can actually escape from your car. It is estimated that 147 million gallons of gas is lost to evaporation every year.

4. If possible, one should always park in the shade. While in direct sunlight there will be a much greater percentage of evaporation emissions then if you take the other route and park under a tree or behind a building. Another good idea is to purchase a good windshield shade to help block sunlight from entering your vehicle.

5. Properly inflated tires will do wonders! Never drive on under inflated tires as that will just cause them to wear down and lower your miles per gallon. A vehicle’s miles per gallon rate can drop as much as 15% if the tires are not properly inflated.

6. Purchase a digital gauge and keep it in your car at all times. By checking your tire pressure once every month you can easily tell if your tires need to be inflated or not. It is often a good idea to check your tire pressure during cold weather.

7. By performing simple maintenance on your car you can save a lot of gasoline and ensure that your car is running smoothly. One of the best things you can do is to keep your car in tune. If your car is out of tune then a simple tune up can end up saving your up to 4% on gas mileage. Lastly one should regularly check on the spark plugs to ensure they are not misfiring. A misfiring plug can cause your cars gas mileage to drop by numbers as high as 30%.

8. A regular replacement of your air filter will keep your engine running smoothly and make it much more fuel efficient. A clogged filter will end up reducing your cars miles per gallon by 5-10% and could cost you up to 15 cents more per gallon.

9. Most vehicles run better and more smoothly on one particular brand of oil. Be sure to always check the manufacturer’s oil recommendation as this can help to increase your car’s miles per gallon by a couple of percentage points.

10. Get your car checked frequently. Your oil should be changed every 3000 miles (sometimes a little bit more for certain models) and this is a good time to have basic checks done to your car. Just remember a car in good condition will conserve a lot more gas and save you a lot of money in the process.