Are you worried about fuel costs? Do you want to find out how to reduce fuel costs? The good news is that there are different things that drivers can do in order to save some money without much effort.
Those of you that have been driving for a relatively long period of time know that the cost of fuel has its ups and downs, but generally speaking, the prices are going up. It doesn’t really matter whether we are talking about diesel, regular unleaded or premium unleaded gasoline, driving your vehicle can cost you a lot of money. But, there is a way to reduce these costs.
- Get information about simple things that can help you cut fuel costs
- Learn what makes your vehicle spend more gas
- Save money right away
So, do you want to reduce fuel costs? Keep reading! Start implementing these changes right now and soon you’ll turn them into habits. Keep in mind, some of these changes require more time than the others. However, the end result is always the same – you will cut fuel costs.
1. Drive at a constant speed
There are many drivers out there that are taking the same route almost on a daily basis. This means that they usually know how much traffic they can expect and whether they can drive slowly or fast. But, a situation like this also gives them an opportunity to find an optimal speed that they can use. In other words, they can drive at a constant speed. This is especially useful for those who are driving on freeways.
There’s no need to speed up and make sudden stops when you are driving. When the vehicle makes changes like this, it needs more gas which means that you will pay more for gas than you actually need to. According to some stats, breaking abruptly can use up to 35% more gas. Focus on using your gears in an effective way and cut unnecessary acceleration. This will not only save you money, but it will also help you drive safely. Remember that you can get the best results if you use cruise control (speed control/tempomat).
- Don’t break heavily
- Try to maintain an even speed
- Use cruise control in case your car has this option
2. Make a plan in advance
If you are like most drivers, then you are probably using your car more than once a day. For instance, sometimes we have to go to work and get back home, but we also have to take our children from school and visit the local mall. Instead of making small trips to all these places, you can make a plan in advance and try to visit all the locations at once. This will definitely help you save some time.
In addition, don’t forget that you can take a walk to some of these places. For example, you can use your local grocery store instead of visiting a mall. Of course, you can also visit the mall and buy groceries for a longer period of time. All the planning in advance can help you reduce fuel costs.
- Make a plan in advance
- Take one big journey instead of a few small ones
- Consider other means of transport in some situations
3. Check tire pressure
We all know that we have to check the condition of our tires from time to time because they have a direct impact on our safety while we are driving. But, did you know that you can use your tires to cut fuel costs too?
When your car tires have low air pressure, your car experiences stress and resistance. In other words, it needs more fuel to drive properly. But, we can say the same for over0inflated tires too. So, you should look for tire pressure that is recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
There were a few studies that have confirmed that proper pressure can save between 2% and 3% on fuel bills. Checking tire pressure takes just a few minutes and you don’t have to do this more than once a week. You can check tire pressure at your local gas station.
- Proper tire pressure can save you 2-3% on fuel bills.
- Under-inflated and over-inflated tires can lead to greater resistance and other problems that require extra fuel consumption
- Checking tire pressure is easy and fast
4. Reduce the load
There are many people that use their vehicles as some sort of mobile storage units. The trunk of your vehicle might look like a good place to keep your tools safe, but the truth is that a habit like this can affect fuel consumption.
So, if you want to reduce fuel costs, you should reduce your load. Remove all the items that shouldn’t be in your trunk right away. Don’t forget that loaded roof boxes can affect fuel costs too. There were a few reports that have shown that you can cut fuel costs by up to 30% in this way.
- Keeping unnecessary items in your trunk affects fuel consumption in a negative way
- You should find another place to store your items
- Drivers can save up to 30% on fuel bills in this way
5. Tune the engine
This is good advice for all readers that have slightly older vehicles. The engine is the heart of your car and you should take good care of it if you want your vehicle to serve you for a long time. In case you notice a problem with your engine, but your car is still running, don’t look the other way – fix the engine as soon as possible.
One of the reasons why you should take care of this problem is that an unresolved engine problem usually leads to greater problems in the future which means spending more money than necessary. In addition, you can reduce fuel costs in this way. For instance, even if just one of the sensors found in your engine is not working properly, your fuel consumption can be increased drastically.
- Fix engine problems from the moment you notice them
- Without tuning, your engine can witness even more problems in the near future
- Boost your fuel mileage with a tuned engine
6. Stick to recommended gasoline
As you probably know, there are a few different types of gasoline out there and their number is growing every year. However, the specific make and model you have in the garage uses a specific type of gasoline. It’s believed that you can reduce fuel costs by about 2-3% if you stick to the recommended grade of gas.
Take your car’s manual and see what the manufacturer has recommended for your vehicle. You should never try to cut fuel costs by using a cheaper grade of gas. This will reduce the lifespan of your vehicle and lead to other costly problems. Additionally, don’t forget that in many cases using top-priced gasoline is useless unless it’s recommended.
- Use the recommended grade of gas
- You can reduce fuels costs by 2-3% in this way
- Purchasing highest-priced gasoline is rarely a good idea
7. Replace the air filter
This is one of the most overlooked car parts. Many people think that they don’t need to change air filters every year simply because they “have not used their car too much” or because “the air is clean). These excuses have nothing to do with the recommendation provided by most manufacturers which state that you should replace your air filters once a year or after a certain mileage.
A replacement like this will not only reduce fuel costs, but it will also optimize your car performance. Changing your air filter is a simple and inexpensive procedure which can cut fuel costs by up to 10%. In order to check whether your air filters have to be replaced, you should take them out and hold them up to the sun. In case you can’t see light, then it’s time for a replacement.
- Changing air filters is an easy and inexpensive task
- You can check their cleanliness manually
- Drivers can save up to 10% in fuel costs in this way
8. Don’t leave the engine on when you are not using your vehicle
Let’s be clear, we’ve all done something like this – we are on our way to pick up someone and when we arrive at the destination they are still not there and we leave the engine on while waiting for them. This is a habit that affects fuel costs in a bad way. There’s no reason to leave the engine on when you are not using your car.
Don’t turn on the engine to warm it up when you don’t have to and don’t leave it running to use the AC. Find other solutions in situations like this because actions like this will cost you money. Instead of warming up the engine on the parking lot, start driving your car slowly. Use the AC at your home or in the shop close to you instead of the AC in your car.
- Leaving your engine on when not in use is a bad habit
- It increases the fuel costs significantly
- Look for other solutions when you need the power of your car’s engine when you are not driving
