More Driving Tips

The key aspect of saving gas is that there is no potentially ‘big' step that you can take to cut your gas bill in half or something like that. However, if you continuously keep making little habitual adjustments to your driving style and use effective methods of buying gas (by finding the best gasoline prices in your area, maintaining your car, using a prepaid gas card, following common sense driving tips, etc.), you'll soon find that those little savings that you make with every small change will eventually add up and lead to a windfall in gas savings – not only that, you'll also get more life out of your car without sacrificing your comfort.

Here are more driving tips for you to follow and use to save on your gas bill. Remember, every little step makes a difference.

1. Drive efficiently

If it's been years since you learned to drive you may want to take a refresher course in driver's education so that you can drive more efficiently and wisely.

You may have some bad habits that you have picked up that could be causing you to drive your car in a way that increases the amount of gasoline use.

Many driving schools will offer special deals for refresher courses for just this reason – to help you become more efficient in your driving habits.

If you have a young person in your home that is learning to drive this is the perfect time for you to become familiar once again with clean and safe driving habits.

2. Reduce drag

One thing to keep in mind when you are traveling with a carrier or a roof rack is that you will be increasing your fuel cost by as much as 5 percent.

Try to reduce the amount of aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel consumption by placing as much as you can in the trunk of your car.

Another thing to keep in mind is that when you are carrying heavy objects in your vehicle you reduce your fuel economy by as much as 1 to 2 percent.

If you are going to be doing some heavy hauling you might find it to your benefit to hire a truck or borrow one from a friend so that you can reduces the wear and tear on your car as well as keep down your fuel costs.

3. Accelerate before hills or steep inclines

If you are approaching a hill try to accelerate before you reach the hill. This will help you to use up less gas while you are climbing the hill in your car.

Remember to accelerate in a safe manner or you won't be able to use this gas saving tip. You in no way want to put your life, or the lives of others, in any danger. Remember, this tip is not about accelerating too fast on the incline. Sometimes you may not be able to see oncoming cars from the other side of the hill, and maintaining high speeds is dangerous. Slow and steady on the inclines.

4. Miscellaneous driving tips

Some general advice for minimizing fuel consumption:

• Use a sunshade to keep your car cool and avoid the use of the air conditioner.

• Park in the shade when it's warm.

• Make sure that your parking brake is fully released before you start driving.

• Use a block heater in winter to pre-warm your car engine.

• Don't ride the brake. Drive with a smooth, constant speed.

• Keep the transmission fluid in your car at the proper level.

• If there is smoke is coming from your tailpipe make sure that you make an appointment with your mechanic.

• Make sure that your cooling system thermostat in your car is working properly.

• Avoid air conditioning leaks by constant checkups with your mechanic. Pre-1994 vehicles use CFCs for cooling.

• Immediately fix a slipping transmission.

• When you rev up your vehicle's engine it wastes gas. Avoid revving your engine before your turn it off.

• If you can't find a place to buy low priced gas on one day wait if you can until a few days later since the price of gas is constantly changing.

• Buy your gas at the wholesale clubs, like Costco. You can often save over 10 cents a gallon or more. If you don't like the wholesale clubs get a gas credit card. You'll get a 1% to 5% discount when you buy that brand of gas.

Drive safe, drive smart, and you'll not only save gas, but also your time – perhaps much more valuable than your gas bill.