12 Ways to Save at the Pump
Nancy Dunnan
TravelSmart
This summer's high gasoline prices make it more important than ever to save on fuel. Most people know to avoid higher octane fuel than their cars require and to keep their cars tuned up and tires inflated. Here are other money-saving ideas that you might not have thought of...
1. Check the gauge. Be aware of the amount of gas in your tank. When the tank is half full, start looking for a gas station. This gives you time to comparison shop. Avoid interstate and highway stations -- gas on a busy highway costs 10 to 15 cents more per gallon than the same brand and grade in less-trafficked areas. Buying self-service gas saves 10 cents or more per gallon. Compare prices on-line at www.gaspricewatch.com and www.gasbuddy.com.
2. Buy big-box gas. Wholesale clubs sell discounted gas at member-only pumps. Their gas averages about 12 cents a gallon less than gas at regular stations. To find a station, type in your location on the club's Web site -- BJ's (www.bjs.com), Costco (www.costco.com) and some Sam's Clubs locations (www.samsclub.com).
3. Get a gas card. Major gas companies offer a 1% to 5% discount if you use their MasterCard or Visa when buying their brand of gas. The Visa card cosponsored by AAA gives 5% back from the first dollar on all purchases at the pump, regardless of brand (no annual fee, 800-551-0839, www.aaa.com). Pay your bill in full each month so interest costs don't wipe out the savings.
4. Don't let your car idle. If you're going to be at a standstill for more than a minute, turn off the engine. Idling consumes up to one gallon of gas per hour. It also wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
5. Map unfamiliar routes in advance, so you won't get lost.
6. Drive strategically. Combine errands to avoid short trips. Use cruise control -- it cuts down on gas as well as speeding tickets. Avoid roads that have a long string of traffic lights. Don't slam on the brakes or accelerate rapidly -- this lowers gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town.
7. Slow down. When you drive 70 miles per hour (mph) instead of 55 mph, you lose fuel economy. Every five miles per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 10 to 12 cents a gallon.
8. Buy gas early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cool outside to reduce the amount of evaporation.
9. Use alternative forms of transportation. Take public transportation, walk or bike. Get a scooter -- Vespas and other scooters get 40 miles per gallon (mpg) to 60 mpg. Consider a diesel-powered car -- they have 20% to 40% better fuel economy than gas cars. Look into a gas-electric hybrid.
10. Park in a shady spot in hot weather so you don't need to blast the air conditioning as soon as you get back in your car. Air conditioning reduces fuel economy dramatically.
11. Keep the windows closed. When traveling on highways on long trips, open windows create air drag and can reduce your mileage by as much as 10%.
12. When renting a car, choose the model that gets the best gas mileage. Most Hondas, Toyotas and Hyundais as well as the Pontiac Vibe and Dodge Neon get 29 mpg or more in highway traffic. To compare fuel economy among cars: www.fueleconomy.gov.
First Printed: July 15, 2004
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Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Nancy Dunnan, editor and publisher of TravelSmart, Dobbs Ferry, New York. www.travelsmartnewsletter.com. She also is a financial adviser and author of numerous books, including The Widow's Financial Survival Guide (Perigee).