With the holiday season fast approaching and gas prices going up, you may start to see the money in your wallet evaporating more quickly.
Fortunately, with a few simple solutions, you can reduce your overall fuel consumption, allowing you to spend less money on gas.
Below are six effective ways you can start saving money on gas right now!
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Remove the Junk From Your Trunk
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%, with more weight reducing your gas mileage even further.
The heavier your car, the more gas it’ll take to get to your destination. Keep in mind that this has a bigger impact on smaller vehicles than larger ones as well, so it’s especially important for those of us driving small, gas-efficient cars.
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Proper Maintenance
Keeping your tires filled with air and your air filter clean can help you save big money over the long-run. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage, but they also affect the handling, braking and tread life of your tires.
When your tires don’t have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased, so it takes more gas to get anywhere.
In fact, according to the Department of Energy, simply keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
Even more important than tire air pressure is cleaning the air filters in your car regularly, which can improve your gas mileage by up to 7%. That may not seem like much, but it equates to some serious savings over the life of your vehicle.
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Time Your Trips to the Pump
During a regular week, you want to fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday, before 10 a.m., says Chris Faulkner, president and CEO of Breitling Oil and Gas.
The reason: gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of “weekend travel” and “10 a.m.” is when most station owners make their price change for the day.
Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Try to fill up before major holidays as well, when prices tend to rise dramatically in anticipation of all the driving that gets done.
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Alternatives to Driving to Work
One of the best ways to lower your fuel expenses is to carpool to work.
You can reduce the inconvenience by sharing a ride with someone that works at the same company, and who lives near your home. Many companies have an Intranet web site where you may be able to find someone to carpool with.
Another great option is public transportation, where train and bus passes are usually available at discounted rates. Although you have to pay to use public transportation, it’s usually much less expensive than driving to work, especially if you have to pay for parking.
If you live close enough, consider walking or cycling to work, each of which will save you significant money in the long-run.
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Turn Right
In the early 2000’s, UPS employed new routing software to increase the efficiency of its delivery fleet and reduce fuel consumption.
By eliminating as many left-hand turns as possible, UPS was able to save an estimated 10 million gallons of gas over an eight year period of time.
What makes the rule so effective? Before making a left-hand turn on a busy two-way street, you usually wind up idling—getting 0 mpg. In contrast to that, right-hand turns keep you moving, and using that gas to get somewhere rather than sitting still.
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Drive Smoothly
If you can avoid rapid accelerations and stops, you’ll be able to further improve your fuel economy. Herky-jerky driving eats up gas because it’s inefficient, so if you’re a start-stop driver, it’s time to change that bad habit!
Once up to speed on the freeway, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires, saving you significant money on repairs and replacement expenses for your vehicle.
Car Capital Financial
Follow these six ways to save gas and you could find yourself stockpiling cash in no time!
If you need to raise cash fast, or come up with a larger amount that can be saved by cutting your gasoline costs, then keep in mind that Car Capital Financial can help.
We understand that there are times when only a quick, cash loan will help, and we’re prepared to provide financial assistance at a moment’s notice.
We offer secured personal loans in the form of car and other vehicle title loans, which can be awarded in as little as 30 minutes, and which don’t require a credit check. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.
We’ve provided safe, reliable and affordable car title loans to residents of Southern California for over 15 years, and we’d be happy to offer you a loan today.
If you need money quickly, then please call us now at 1-888-500-9887.