Gas-Saving Tips and Myths

If there's anything that seems to be sky rocketing, it would be gas prices. They seem to always be on the rise. We can argue all day long about the cause of these increases and what should be done. Unfortunately, these arguements wouldn't change a thing so we must look to other ways to ease the pain that the gasoline companies are inflicting on our wallets.

There are many ideas floating around about how to save gas. I myself believed many of these myths and drove accordingly. To my dismay, upon a little research I found out that these things weren't helping save gas after all. As discouraged as I was by my wasted efforts, I was also able to find ways to effectively save my fuel. Below are some myths and tips on saving gasoline from repitable online sources such as money.cnn and edmunds.com.

I don't know how many times i've bought fuilds and paid extra for gasoline that claimed to help improve gas mileage. All of that money was a waste. According to The Environmental Protection Agency, none of these products improves preformance significantly. In facts, they can actually even damage your engine! This little fact leads me to wonder if these products are the cause of my current car problems. If you have any of these products, i'd reccommend going back and getting a refund.

It's refreshing to know that I do not have to feel guilty any longer. Yes, I can drive with my air conditioner ON! Edmunds.com says that using the air conditioning does pull energy from the engine, causing some gas waste. However, this effect is minimal on modern cars and doesn't cause much more of a problem than driving with your windows down at high speeds, which causes an areodynamic drag.

Most engines are made to run on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating for 87. Using premium gas on these types of cars will not improve performance, you are just wasting your money. Infact, unleaded gasoline can even be used on cars were premium gas is reccommended without any problems. Luckily this is a gimmick i've never falled for, gasoline is gasoline.

If you've ever driven a big vehicle, you'd know that it takes more gas than a smaller vechicle. Thus it is common sense that excess weight can put a drag on your gas milage. Keep your car clean of unneccessary items. According to Edmunds.com, an extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent in the typical vehicle.

Try to maintain a steady and smooth travel. Sudden starts and brakes can decrease the economy of your gasoline. Try to maintain a constant speed and don't slam the breaks or gas if you can avoid it. Using your cruise control can be benificial.

Runing your car on idle wasted gas, it's more practical just to turn your car off during long waits such as drive-thru's during lunch hour or waiting to pick your kid up from school. If it is not practical to turn off your car while waiting in line, then just park it and go inside.

Combining these tips and avoiding myths has certainly helped me save gas mileage as well as allowed me to ride a little more comfortably without the guilt. Follow these simple tips and it will help you as well.