At the time this article was written the national average price for a gallon of gas was $2.61. Prices don't seem to be coming down and the days of $1.00 per gallon gas are a thing of the past. However, with little effort there are some steps you can take to increase your gas mileage and save some serious money in the process.
1. Sensible driving- Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking waste gas. By curbing your aggressive driving tendencies you can increase your gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway (5% around town). At $2.61 per gallon, that could result in a savings of up to $0.86 per gallon.
2. Empty your trunk- It's amazing how much stuff we accumulate in our trunk over time. All that stuff results in excess weight that reduces your gas mileage. An extra 100 lbs in your car can reduce gas mileage by up to 2%. The smaller the vehicle, the bigger the loss in mileage. If you remove 100 lbs of weight from your vehicle, you would save $0.03-$0.05 per gallon.
3. Observe the speed limit- I know it's hard to cruise along at 60 when everybody else is passing you but it's estimated that for each 5 mph you drive above 60 mph you're paying an extra $0.24 per gallon for gas.
4. Use the Cruise- Cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed and has a more gradual acceleration
pattern as opposed to using your foot.
5. Keep tires properly inflated- You can boost your mileage by about 3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. In most cases there is a sticker in the driver's side door jamb that will have the proper pressure for your tires. A 3% increase in mpg translates to about $0.06 per gallon.
Following these five easy steps will result in better gas mileage.
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