When you own a car, paying for gas can be one of the biggest expenses. With gas prices constantly fluctuating, it makes sense to squeeze out as many miles as possible from every gallon in your vehicle’s tank. When it comes to saving fuel, you have full control. The way you drive and maintain your vehicle can influence its fuel consumption. You can use the following tips to minimize your car’s fuel intake.

1. Drive Smoothly

When you drive aggressively, you’re wasting fuel, especially at high speeds. A study by Edmunds.com found that when you accelerate slowly from a green light and stop gradually for a red light you can cut fuel consumption up to 37%.  Buy accelerating smoothly, braking softly and early, and minimizing how often you change lanes, you not only save gas, but also prolong the life of your brakes and tires.

2. Slow Down

When you speed up, a lot of fuel is wasted. For many cars, gas mileage decreases immensely when you drive faster than 50 miles per hour. By slowing down you can save up to 14% on long trips. So slow down and keep more gas in your tank longer.

3. Remove Excess Weight

Carrying extra weight can cause mileage to drop. You can increase your gas mileage around 1% for every 100 pounds you remove from your car. To travel lightly, you should only keep essential items in your vehicle.

4. Tires Should be Properly Inflated

Properly inflated tires help keep you safe in your vehicle and offer better handling. Avoid exceeding the recommended operating air pressure; overinflated tires can cause problems. Using this tip won’t provide significant savings, but at least you’ll be a safer driver.

5. Turn on Cruise Control

Using your cruise control could save you up to 14% on gas. However, using your cruise control isn’t the best option for every situation, especially while driving on a hilly road. The winding terrain can cause your vehicle to downshift too often, which wastes gas.

6. Avoid Gas Station Peak Times

The cost of going to the pump isn’t the same every day. Chris Faulker, president and CEO of Breitling Oil and Gas, says that it’s best to fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 a.m. The reason? “gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel” and “10 a.m. is when most station owners make their price change for the day.” He continues to state that “Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.”

7. Use the Right Octanes

Your vehicle will run best with the recommended fuel octane, which is specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Using an octane that is higher than required can be expensive and it won’t be beneficial for your car.

Summary

There are many ways to save gas. Using these seven helpful tips will help reduce your expenses.