Keep reading for 5 tricks on how to limit how much gas your vehicle consumes
Year after year, gas prices keep going up, a phenomenon that usually has a direct impact on the budget of consumers! Definitely seems like ample reason to carefully evaluate your needs and the various vehicles available when you next shop for a new means of transportation. But until then, here are some tips that could help you shave a few dollars off at the gas tank.
- Make sure your tires have the right amount of air in them. Tires normally lose air over time. Check your tire pressure regularly , especially before long treks, basing yourself on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Tires with not enough air can increase the fuel you consume by up to 20%; and of course, they will wear out faster and have a negative effect on the control you have while driving. - Drive in a calmer manner. Speeding up and braking abruptly causes a vehicle to use more gas. Learn to increasingly anticipate the flow of traffic, while remembering to look far ahead rather than focusing only on the car in front of you. Also, driving calmly will ensure a longer life for your vehicle’s parts (e.g., tires, brakes, etc.).
- Carry out errands in one fell swoop. Group your errands and appointments together when you can! You will save both time and money.
- Slow down. You burn a lot more gas when you drive at a faster speed, especially on the highway. Driving at a speed of 120 km/h or more - instead of 100 km/h, for example - poses a greater risk in terms of safety and could even garner you a hefty ticket. Also, it has a significant impact on the amount of fuel you burn... sometimes up to 25% more for certain vehicles.
- Let the wind propulse you forward! Whenever you’re driving on a highway, over half of your engine’s power serves to counter the wind resistance. Decrease this resistance as much as possible by removing all unnecessary accessories from your vehicle (ski rack on the roof that hasn’t been used since winter, etc.).
Fact or fiction? Using premium gas is best.
Yes and no. Check the sticker next to your gas tank cap or your owner’s manual. Some manufacturers “recommend” using premium gas, while others note that you can simply use “regular” gas.
So what exactly does filling up with the right type of gas do? Simply put, if your vehicle was designed to run on premium gas and you opt to fill it up with regular gas, you’ll lose out on performance *and* will burn more fuel! Conversely, there is no benefit to be had by putting premium gas in a vehicle designed to run on regular!
