Save Gas on the Pump
*Pay cash at stations that charge extra for credit cards.
*Don't top off the gas tank. Too much gas will just slosh or seep out. Why waste those extra pennies?
*Fuel up at the service station with the lowest price in your area.
*Fill up on weekdays—because prices usually rise on the weekend. The cheapest times to buy gas are typically Tuesday midday or Wednesday morning.
*Fill up at night because pumps deliver more gas when temperatures are lower.
*Avoid gas stations near freeways, however, because prices are often higher there.
*Avoid topping off. When you purchase just a bit of gas at the gas station the pump doesn’t have enough time to really activate, resulting in short bursts of fuel that may short change you from the amount of gas that you are purchasing.
*Avoid running on empty. You may think you're using very little gas when your car is on empty, but you're actually using more gas because your vehicle is running less efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in a normal fashion. The best time to replenish your gas tank is when you have half a tank or less left, or when you find a gas price that you just can’t pass up.
*Carpool whenever possible. Carpoolers often share the cost of gas, and the wear'n'tear on your vehicle is reduced as well.
*Choose your vehicle wisely. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better mileage whenever you have the option.
*Park in the shade. This minimizes fuel evaporation and helps keep your car cool in the summer.
*Change your oil, spark plugs, and air filter on schedule. And go to a repair shop if your “Check Engine” light comes on—a faulty oxygen sensor could be the cause, lowering your mileage significantly.
*Use the recommended grade of motor oil, preferably one with "energy conserving" on the label. Gas mileage could improve 1-2 percent.
*Get a tune-up. A simple tune-up on your car can improve your gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent.
*Look into discount gas card offers. Shell, Gulf, BP-Amoco, Exxon-Mobile, and others have rebate programs that offer as much as 5-10 percent off the gas you buy.
*Track your average mileage and have your car checked if the average decreases. To calculate your mileage, note the odometer reading and number of gallons purchased each time you fill up. Divide the number of miles traveled between fill-ups by the number of gallons purchased.
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