How I Will Be Rich

I drive a truck. It’s actually a pretty big truck. They aren’t quite known for getting great gas mileage and with my V8 engine, I certainly know that I’m not. It would probably be much more economical for me to drive a smaller car that gets much better gas mileage but due to my job and the hobbies that I enjoy, I drive a truck. Because I don’t quite drive the most gas economical vehicle, I have to find other ways to make up for it.

Drive With Gas Economy in Mind.
The best way to suck up gas quickly is to drive with a lead foot. If you follow the speed limit, and make an effort to go easy on the gas from a stop, you will really notice the difference. I installed a little device in my truck called a ScanGauge. Using this, I can see, in real time, my truck’s actual gas consumption. Since installing this, my gas mileage per tank has increased dramatically. I was able to notice the problem areas when driving. The most gas is consumed when coming from a start. If you accelerate too quickly, you’ll eat gas quick. Take it easy from a stop. If you cruise down the freeway at 80 mph, your gas mileage will be significantly lower than if you were to cruise between 55 and 65. (By the way, that is not an affiliate link. I am just a fan of the device)

Keep Air in Your Tires.
You will be amazed at how something so simple as keeping your tires at the proper pressure will improve your gas mileage. A couple months ago I was driving out to the desert. It’s about 100 miles each way from my house. When I got there, I got my truck stuck in the sand and had to air down the tires to get out of the sand. I hadn’t realized that my tire pressure was probably about 10 PSI or so under the recommended level on the drive out. When I aired my tires back up, I filled them to the proper PSI. According to my ScanGauge, I enjoyed a whole 1 mpg increase on the drive home. That’s pretty substantial over a long period of time. Ever since that trip, I check my tire pressure on a weekly basis.

Don’t Top Off Your Tank.
When you’re filling up and the pump clicks, indicating that you’re full, stop pumping. There’s really no point in squeezing the pump a couple more times to get a few extra drips. You are just spending a few extra bucks and you are not getting any added miles. The gas expands on warm days and will just seep out.

Buy The Lowest Grade Octane That Your Car Can Take.
If your car’s manual says 87 Octane, there is no added benefit to purchasing a higher grade. Your vehicle was designed to run at its optimum level using the recommended octane. Purchasing a higher octane is a waste of money and, most likely, your car wasn’t even designed to run it. (The same goes for the octane booster additives. There is no point to boost the octane beyond what is recommended for your vehicle to run.)

Cheapest Isn’t Always The Best.
I got the idea for this post while I was driving home from my girlfriend’s house last night. I passed an Arco and a 7-11 that were right next to each other. Arco was selling 87 Octane for $3.19/gallon and the 7-11 (Which sells Citgo Gas) was $3.31/gallon. It’s kind of funny how two gas stations that are right next to each other are so far apart in price. The thing that may surprise a lot of people is that if I actually needed to stop for gas, I probably would have stopped at 7-11. I usually get Cheveron. They aren’t really known for being the cheapest either. I know there’s been rumors that Arco (or BP) waters down their gas or somehow thins it out but in actuality, that’s not really the case. You will most likely go just as far on a tank of gas no matter which station you filled up at. The real difference is in the additives that the gas company puts in their gas. Cheveron, and the slightly pricier gas stations, are known for additives that will reduce wear and tear on the engine. These additives can decrease the accumulation of buildup in vital engine parts and prolong the life of your vehicle. I am much more concerned with making sure I won’t have to replace my truck any time in the near future than I am about spending an extra $3.00 on my tank of gas.

Keep some of these tips in mind when you’re out on the road, you pass a gas station and you can’t believe that gas prices are pushing $3.50 a gallon. You can’t keep the prices from going up, but you can save some money if you pay attention to your car and your driving habits.

-M

Photo Credit: daviddesign

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