Thread: Ways to save gas(most are common sense)

1.Drive smart:
Drive smart: Aggressive driving (meaning quick acceleration, hard braking and speeding) wastes gas. In fact, it can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds, and by five percent on the city streets.

2.Go the speed limit:
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 15 to 20 cents per gallon of gas. Is it worth it?

3. Lighten up:
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds of weight in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to two percent, which adds up over time!

4.Take it off the top:
A loaded roof rack, or even an empty roof storage container, can decrease your fuel economy by five percent, due to wind resistance.

5.Don't be idle:
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. If you know you will have to wait more than one to two minutes, shut off your engine.

6.Warm enough:
When starting the engine, idle it no more than 30 seconds. Your engine will warm up faster on the road, and you won't be burning any more fuel than you need to.

7.Hold on 'til they're ready:
Don't start the car until everyone's in. Many people turn on the ignition, expecting the rest of the passengers to arrive momentarily... and sometimes that means a few minutes' wait, burning up gas (and creating toxic fumes in the immediate vicinity).

8.Don't wait:
Picking someone up? No sense sitting there idling. Call ahead so they're ready and waiting when you get there, or arrive a couple minutes after your scheduled meeting time.

9.Get pumped up:
Pumped up: Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned to increase gas mileage by up to three percent. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by nearly half a percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.

10.Snow's gone:
Take off the snow tires if winter weather has passed. Driving on those deep tire treads means more rolling resistance.

11.Be cool:
If you're hot, don't open the windows -- they increase drag and decrease gas mileage, especially at highway speeds. Ultimately, using the air conditioner is cheaper to run, though you should try to minimize your use of the AC. When you can, use the vents to bring in outside air.

12.Shop around:
Don't go to the neighborhood gas station just because it's there, or because you have one of their company's gas credit cards. Check out other stations as you go about town and make a note of where you can fill up for less. You can also go online: www.GasBuddy.com or www.GasPriceWatch.com will help you locate good deals.

13.Choose wisely:
Don't assume that neighboring gas stations will have the same prices -- look around. Also note that gas stations near freeways and popularly-traveled roads, as well as those in high-income areas, will charge more.

14.Time to buy:
In general, gas prices are updated at around 10am. So if prices are going up, you might save by pumping a little earlier. According to gaspricewatch.com, you should expect a rise on Thursday mornings.

15.Paying a premium:
For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no particular benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, some experts say that buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.

16.Don't top it off:
When the pump automatically clicks off, stop fueling. Any "extra" gas you can get will probably seep out.

17. Put a lid on it:
Your gas will evaporate right out of the tank if given the chance. So make sure you have a gas cap, and that it's tight and in good working condition.

18. Lock it up:
If your tank isn't secured, get a locking gas cap. With prices so high, you're more of a target for siphoners if you're not locked up tight. Locking gas caps are available at most auto parts stores.

19.Go cruising:
When traffic permits, using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed, and, in most cases, will save gas.

20. Get into overdrive:
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

21.Oil is well:
You can improve your gas mileage by one to two percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Look for oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to ensure it contains friction-reducing additives.

22.Stay in tune:
Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can impove its gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent (though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well the job is done).

23.Don't be dirty:
A dirty air filter can steal away nearly two miles per gallon -- and worn-out spark plugs can waste just as much from inefficient combustion.

24.Let your car breathe right:
If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas mileage may be decreased by as much as 40 percent.

25.Go with the flow:
Consider using public transit -- buses, trains, trolleys. The American Public Transit Transportation Association has links to information about public transportation in your state.

26. Share and share alike:
If possible, take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use special High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.

27.Re-think your route:
Look into lesser-traveled routes where you can travel at a steady pace instead of joining in on rush hour traffic. (Your blood pressure will thank you for it, too.)

28.Switch your hours:
If possible, adjust your work schedule to arrive and leave work at off-peak hours to avoid rush hours and traffic jams.

29. Work remotely:
Think your boss will let you work from home, even part of the time? Telecommuting uses 0 gallons.

30.Two wheels good:
Instead of the car, take a bike, scooter, motorbike or motorcycle to where you need to go.

31.Stock up:
Go shopping fewer times -- meaning less driving -- by buying in bulk and stocking up on regularly-used items.

32Figure it out first:
Check maps (especially those online) before you go to make sure you know how to get where you're doing. You'll avoid the hassle, time spent and gas used by getting lost -- or by having to pull over for directions.

33.A good combination:
Do several errands in one trip instead of going out multiple times. Stop by the bank or store or gas station on your way back from work. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

34.Shop convenience:
Several stores offer multiple services in one spot. Do your banking at mini-branch at the grocery store, or grab lunch at the warehouse store.

35. Just park it:
Don't circle the lot hoping for a great parking space. Take the shortest route to a free space and walk from there. Circling doesn't just waste gas, but is usually ultimately slower than simply parking somewhere a little less convenient and walking.

36.The exercise is good for them:
Have your kids walk or take the bus to school, and maybe rethink some after-school activities that have you driving back and forth. If they're a must-have, form a car pool with some of the other parents.

37.Stay closer to home:
Going on vacation? Save the six-hour drive for another time, and choose a attraction nearby.

38.Start slowly:
Don't take off fast from a traffic light -- keep it slow and gentle. It may help to drive as if you were balancing a cup of coffee on your lap.

39.Plan ahead:
Don't race to a stop sign or traffic light and then brake hard to slow down. Also, try to accelerate before reaching a hill, not while you're on it. All of these tips will help you burn less fuel.

40.Close the gate:
It's an urban myth that driving a pickup truck with the tailgate down will decrease wind resistance. In fact, a study published by the National Research Council of Canada says, despite what you'd think, keeping it down (or using a mesh tailgate in its place) actually has the opposite effect. When it's up, a bubble of air forms in the truck bed, and air flows more smoothly over and off the truck, without as much drag. A tonneau cover works best of all.

41.Don't chill out:
In the cold weather, watch out for ice and snow buildup. That stuff is heavy, and can accumulate quickly.

42.Go under cover:
Park in the garage or use covered parking whenever possible. This will help keep your gas from evaporating in the heat, but also keep the inside of the car cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, helping avoid excessive need for the air conditioner or defroster.

43. Bigger isn't always better:
If you have more than one vehicle, whenever possible, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage.

44.Start fresh:
Got a gas guzzler? Think about buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFVs) or a hybrid car.

45. WASH THE CAR, a clean car has less wind drag also

11.Be cool:
If you're hot, don't open the windows -- they increase drag and decrease gas mileage, especially at highway speeds. Ultimately, using the air conditioner is cheaper to run, though you should try to minimize your use of the AC. When you can, use the vents to bring in outside air.

This was proven to be false. Driving with the windows down didn't make a car use any more fuel than running the a/c.

edited
Sorry, I feel that I sounded b&^$y, and I didn't intend that. Most are common sense. And I really wish I could buy a hybrid!

Originally Posted by Mom2Shaun

Is this really true? Seems you'd have to have an extremely dirty car to make any difference worth noticing. (I hope it's a joke, as my car is usually kind of dirty, lol!)

that was solely my own experience