How to Save Money on Gas

Check the Rate Near You

You may have noticed that gas prices can change dramatically from town to town or even street to street. Know which exit to pull off of by getting the Gas Buddy app, which shows you the cheapest gas prices in your area. You may even find that driving a little farther off the highway exit can save you money—the gas stations closest to the highway will often charge more per gallon than the ones located a bit off your course.

Save on Gas...Tomorrow

The cheapest time to refuel your car is on Tuesday and Wednesday. People fuel up on Thursdays and Fridays for weekend trips, and on Monday for their workweek. Therefore, most gas stations do their weekly price changes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

It’s much harder for your engine to get your car to move when your tires are even a little flat. Invest in a gauge, and make sure to keep them as inflated as possible without over-inflating.

See Also: How to Pay Less for Gas

Stay Under the Speed Limit

We hate to tell you this, but your car will begin to lose fuel efficiency once it gets over 60 m.p.h. One of the easiest ways to save money on gas is to always go the speed limit—and it’s safer, too.

Get Regular Maintenance and Oil Changes

As oil ages, it gets thicker and harder to push through the engine, causing more energy to be used. By changing your oil regularly, you’ll make sure you get the best fuel economy possible. A clean air filter is also important. It can improve your car’s mileage by up to 10 percent, so make sure yours is replaced regularly. It should be changed at least every 8,000 miles, but if you live in a sandy or highly polluted area, you should change it more often. A good rule of thumb is simply to have the filter changed when you get your oil changed.

Remove Excess Weight

Take anything heavy out of your trunk or back seat that doesn’t need to be there (kids don’t count). An extra 100 pounds in your car can decrease your miles per gallon by 2 percent!

Roll Up Your Windows on the Highway

Having the wind streaming through your hair might be fun, but it increases drag on the car and makes it take more energy to run. In this case, it’s actually usually cheaper to run the AC. Keep the windows down long enough to yell along with one song, then roll them back up!

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