10 Ways to: Save Money on Gas
Gas prices are skyrocketing, but our wages are barely climbing. Unless your town has an impeccable public transportation system or you live in a walkable community, you’re probably relying on your own vehicle to get around. Chances are your car depends on gas to get around, and unfortunately, there’s no “knock-off” or “hack” that we can use to replace the fuel our cars need. Luckily, there are a handful of things you can do to reduce the amount of gas your car is burning, in turn, reducing the amount of time and money you have to spend at the pump.
Fill up your car.
When your gas tank only has a mouthful of gas in it, it’s not being used as efficiently compared to when it’s above half full. Your gas will last longer when there’s more of it, in more than just the obvious sense!
Lighten the load.
Get rid of any unnecessary items in your car, like the donation box you have chilling in your trunk. Heavy items weigh down your car, and the weight of your vehicle is a factor in how hard your gas tank has to work. A 25kg load can cause a 1% increase in your fuel usage.
Windows down.
Your AC can increase your fuel usage by 20% when you’re driving in a city. Consider putting down your windows in town and only using the air conditioner when you’re on the highway.
Use rewards and Loyalty cards.
Fill up your tank at places that offer rewards that align with your lifestyle. For example, I get double the point when I fill up ESSO and pay using my PC Financial credit card while also swiping my Optimum rewards card. I can redeem these points for gas, but I use them for groceries considering those prices have been climbing just as fast!
NO Pedal to the metal.
Fast acceleration can eat up your gas! That’s why you should speed up at a rate of 20km every 5 seconds. Speeding up and slowing down also wastes fuel, so drive at a steady speed and use cruise control when appropriate.
Maintain your vehicle.
Minor issues with our vehicle can increase gas consumption, like a power steering wheel that is running out of fluid. Make sure your car is running smoothly so it can also run efficiently!
Inflate your tires.
You might not be able to check for minor issues yourself, but you can check your tire pressure! Keep your tires filled at the recommended psi and pump them up when necessary.
Your oil matters.
Synthetic oil helps the gas in your car last longer compared to conventional oil. Synthetic oil is more expensive, but the switch could be worth it for more than one reason.
Warm up your car.
You should warm up your car for at least 30 seconds and then drive it gently until it’s fully warmed up. Don’t leave your car to warm up for 10+ minutes every day, as letting your car idle wastes gas!
Check your options.
Would a bus pass be cheaper than gas? Can you carpool with a coworker to work or a friend to the grocery store? Depending on where you live and how far/often your travel, an Uber or taxi could be cheaper than filling up your tank.
Until we have walkable communities, reliable and accessible public transit, and an easy way to switch our gas card into electric, we’re going to have to learn how to navigate skyrocketing gas prices.