Great Driving Tips to Conserve Gas and Save Money

While it used to be that you only had to worry about high gas prices in big cities and around tourist destinations, fuel prices in the most remote parts of the country are well over $3.00 a gallon these days. Therefore, no matter where you’re located, you’ve probably been worried about the effect of high gas prices on your wallet for quite some time now. In addition to driving around to find the best price on gas, you can also save money by making sure you’re getting the most out of the fuel you’ve already purchased. For example, having a clean air filter, using quality gasoline, and monitoring your speed will make the gas that’s already in your tank last longer. Here’s how:

Clean Air Filter

Everyone knows that changing oil is one of the best ways to prolong the life of a vehicle’s engine. Similarly, replacing your vehicle’s air filter periodically is the best way to prolong the life of the fuel in your gas tank. A cleaner air filter allows more oxygen to pass through to your engine, and as more oxygen gets to your engine, less fuel is required to ignite and propel your vehicle.

Use High Quality Gasoline

Like the air filter in the first tip, higher quality fuel will allow your engine to run more efficiently. Because it is made up of more parts petroleum, it is more flammable and therefore less of it is required during ignition. Higher grade fuel will also benefit your engine in the long run as it is likely to contain less chemicals. Chemicals in gas are frequently blamed for corroding engine parts and building up inside the head, fuel injectors, and fuel tank. Although high quality gas might be slightly more expensive to purchase, it’s going to propel your vehicle for longer periods of time and eventually save you money by preventing costly repairs. Before you switch to a higher grade of fuel, however, be sure to check your owner’s manual to see if your engine is compatible.

Watch Your Speed

Another way to save gas and money is to watch your speed. Also, if you’re operating a vehicle with a manual or auto-manual transmission, make sure your vehicle is in the highest gear when you are cruising on the expressway. A higher gear puts less stress on the engine and consumes less gas. No matter what gear you are in, however, whenever you are accelerating you’re burning fuel. Therefore, try and keep your speed at a minimum. If you aren’t in a hurry, a great way to get in the habit of slowing down is trying to abide by the speed limit. Don’t be afraid to coast in the right lane on cruise control either. Watching your speed can end up netting you an extra 4-5 miles per gallon, which is essentially putting money right back into your wallet.

This is a guest post written by Brittany Larson of Lexus of Chandler. Feel free to connect with her on Twitter @BrittLarson10

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