Spend Less Money On Gas

To get the most out of each gallon of gas and reduce tailpipe emissions, EPA encourages the following steps:

Drive Wisely
Fuel is wasted by sudden starts and stops, by driving at excessive speeds,

by carrying extra weight in the trunk and by unnecessary idling. Waiting through a long drive-through line is not only frustrating, but wastes fuel and creates unnecessary pollution.

Use Cruise Control
While on the highway, using cruise control at the speed limit (traffic conditions permitting) helps maintain a constant speed and can help you to save gas. At lower speeds, using overdrive gears will slow the engine speed, save gas and reduce engine wear.

Regular Maintenance
Routine car maintenance not only can extend a car’s life and increase its resale value, but it can help improve gas mileage. Properly inflated and aligned tires, a tuned engine and regularly changed oil and air filters are a few simple steps that help ensure maximum fuel efficiency.

Plan Your Trips
Planning your routes, avoiding peak traffic periods, combining errands and eliminating backtracking will help you to save gas, prevent wear and tear and save time.

Smart Refueling
Did you know that topping off the tank creates harmful emissions and wastes money? Gasoline vapors not only smell bad, but they are harmful to breathe, contribute to ground-level ozone formation and are a source of toxic air pollutants such as benzene. Evaporation from the spillage of gas from overfilling can occur, contributing to the air pollution problem.

Shop Wisely
Consumers can save as much as 20 percent, simply by shopping wisely. Since today’s gasolines provide very similar engine performance, look for the stations in your area with the lowest prices. Fuel prices can vary 10 percent within a few blocks.

Do You Really Need Premium?
Avoid filling the tank during high-price periods, and don’t waste money on premium or mid-grade gasoline if your car doesn’t require it. Premium gasoline typically costs an extra 20 cents a gallon, and approximately 90 percent of the cars on the road today are designed to run on regular.

Share A Ride
Consider ways to cut your driving, especially driving alone. You can cut your fuel costs as much as 30 percent by walking, biking, or taking mass transit. Sharing a ride to work with a friend or two effectively doubles your fuel economy for the trip and may allow you to use the diamond lane. Plan and combine your trips to be as efficient as possible.

Telecommute
More and more employers offer telecommuting as an option. You can also reduce the need to drive by using the computer and telephone to replace vehicle trips for business, shopping and services when you can.

Drive Efficiently
By driving efficiently, you can save as much as 20 percent. Avoid aggressive driving and rapid starts, and stay within the speed limit. All vehicles lose fuel economy at speeds above 55 miles per hour. Driving 65 instead of 75 mph reduces fuel costs 13 percent. Driving 55 mph would save 25 percent.

To Idle, Or Not To Idle …
Don’t needlessly idle your engine. Today’s vehicles are designed to warm up fast. If your engine is running while the car isn’t moving, you’re getting NO miles per gallon.

Don’t Drive A Gas Guzzler
When you buy a vehicle, keep fuel efficiency in mind. High oil prices will keep fuel prices high, so plan for the future by comparing the miles per gallon of the type of vehicle you’re purchasing. Consider a hybrid-electric. Wise shopping can cut your fuel costs as much as 75 percent.

In the longer term, all of us can play important parts helping to protect the air we breathe and minimize trips to the fuel pump. New cars have more choices than ever when it comes to fuel economy and protecting the environment. EPA encourages consumers to consider fuel economy when purchasing a new vehicle.