Jersey Guy Automotive OLD

Best Ways to Conserve Gas

By Alex B and Jersey Guy Automotive

Do you remember when you first got your license and went to get gas for the first time? What was the price per gallon? For me it was only $1.25 per (something millennial drivers are unfamiliar with), I used to fill my tank with less than $15! Now, its almost impossible to even reach a half tank with $15 in your pocket, as gas seems to have settled into the $3 per gallon range. With gas prices high and the economy at an all time low, saving money wherever you can has become a major priority for everyone. So, with the holiday season on its way, trips being planned, and bills starting to pile, what's an easy way to save money? It's simple. Conserving your gas and extending your tank's life will alleviate multiple trips to the gas station each week, and can shave off 25%-50% of what you would typically spend.

Top Ways to Conserve Gas and Get Further

What are some ways to conserve your gas? I'm glad you asked!

Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated. We talk about tires being properly inflated a lot, but it's a very common problem that many drivers suffer from. When your tires are over or under inflated, it can cause you to exert extra energy around turns and when braking, which will burn more gas.

Remove Containers, Racks, and Decorations. Your car is made to be aerodynamic to alleviate the amount of wind resistance against your car. The less resistance the less gas used. Flags, antenna toppers, and rooftop storage containers will reduce how well your car cuts through the wind, causing you to require more fuel to maintain speeds.

Try to Turn Right. A major gas waster is idling time. It's like a resting period when you aren't accelerating. Every time you stop at a light to proceed straight or turn left, you're wasting gas. Certain delivery companies actually route the deliveries so they only require right turns which alleviate the idle time, which in turn (no pun intended) will save you gas.

Lighten Up. Another way to conserve gas is to actually remove the extra weight in your car. I'm not saying go out and run a marathon, but instead remove any of the unnecessary items in your trunk that might be adding weight to your vehicle. Unless there's forecasts for snow you can probably even do without the 50 lb sandbags as well.

Keep It Under 2,000. As you accelerate, the higher the RPMs the more gas is required. If you avoid stomping on the gas pedal every green light and stop envisioning every trip as a street race you can really conserve a lot of gas. While it may take you a little longer to get to your destination, you're not only driving safer, but you are also using the gas in your tank much more efficiently.

Is it Time for a Switch? Here's the last way to conserve gas I'd like you to consider. Did you purchase an SUV when your kids were younger to chauffeur them to their daily activities? Now, as they are all beginning to get behind the wheel, do you think you really still need the SUV? Come on now, their nicknamed the gas-guzzlers, so an obvious way to save some gas is to actually downsize. Trade in that highway giant for something more modest and you'll be surprised with how much you actually save at the end of the year!

Ways to Conserve Gas and Make Your Money Last

So, now that you have a few ideas of how to trim some of your monthly expenses you can stop stressing so much about the holidays. Not only will these tips above help you save money in the long run, but will also help you extend your car's life, and most importantly keep you and your family safe. Lastly, if you try these methods but still are spending a lot on gas, it's possible that certain components of your vehicle are not working as well as they could be. In cases like these, it's important to bring your car into a local auto shop like Jersey Guy Automotive, so we can help you before the problem gets worse!

Give us a call today to see how we keep you moving!