Remember the days when you could confidently walk into a gas station and smoothly place a $20 bill on the counter, knowing it would get you a full tank and take you places far, far away? Now, gas is so expensive that you can almost feel a pain in your gut as you fill the same tank with the same amount of gas for quadruple the money.
Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, a Web site that allows users to search for the cheapest gas prices in their area, said, “Florida has the highest gas taxes in the Gulf Coast area. Bordering states like Georgia have cheaper gas prices because the more south you go, the more prices go up. Miami has higher prices than Orlando, as it is further away from infrastructure.”
If gas prices are getting the best of you and your pocket, here are several things you can do to get more bang for your buck at the pump.
Practice good driving skills.
Pumping gas in the morning or at night helps get more gas but only a little more. However, the way you drive saves a lot more, DeHaan said.
“Drive more defensively, instead of offensively,” said DeHaan. “Slow down at the light, instead of speeding up. Americans always hurry, so they drive much more inefficiently, which can cost 10–20 percent of your fuel economy. Taking your time boosts your fuel economy.”
Search for bargains.
Shop around for cheaper gas prices. Searching for the best deal saves you money.
“Gas stations can vary 25 cents in a matter of half a mile,” said DeHaan.
Technology may also be used to check gas prices. There are many Web sites and smart phone applications that can help find cheap gas and increase mileage. GasBuddy.com offers tricks to save, historical price charts, nationwide prices and an app that tells you where gas is the cheapest in your area.
Maintain your vehicle.
Vehicle maintenance sounds obvious, yet people fail to keep their cars in good shape, which can be inefficient when it comes to fuel economy.
“Keep your vehicle in optimal condition to ensure you’re getting the fuel mileage you’re supposed to. Driving with the engine light on can rob up to 20 percent of fuel economy,” DeHaan said.
Check your car’s weight.
For those who think filling your tank is a must, think again. Filling half a tank and driving with less gas might be the smarter thing to do.
“The more weight your car carries, the more your engine has to do to accelerate and so on. For every hundred pounds, you decrease fuel economy,” said DeHaan.
Gas station pumps are regulated by state governments and calibrated as required by law. DeHaan said there is no correlation between the speed at which gas pumps release gas and the price.
As gas prices remain at record highs, these tips should add a little more value to your purchase.
