How to Survive – High Gas Prices
Written by: The Survival Guru
Top 10 Ways to Survive High Gas Prices
- Buy gas on Wednesday. Gas prices are statistically the cheapest on Wednesdays, but this is only statistically true over a large number of days. It won’t be true every week.
- Buy gas three days before a holiday. Gas prices almost always go up for holidays.
- Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Periodic wheel alignments and keeping tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can improve your gas mileage.
- Avoid High Speeds. You can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
- Get regular engine tuneups and car maintenance checks. Tuneups improve performance as well as gas mileage. Check your owner’s manual for recommended maintenance schedules. By following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or the transmission not going into high gear.
- Avoid carrying unneeded items in your trunk. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. Also, reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks
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- Go easy on the brakes and gas pedal. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts by accelerating gradually whenever possible. Also, anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.
- Avoid long idles. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. Instead of idling at a drive-up window, park the car and go in. Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine. Limit car warm-ups in winter.
- Combine errands into one trip. Consolidate trips to destinations that are near one another. Once you arrive, park and walk between destinations. Save errands for one afternoon and plan your trip so you don’t retrace your route. You not only save gas this way, but reduce wear-and tear on your car.
- Walk, bike, take a bus, or carpool when possible. Use your car only when necessary. Public transportation authorities often have carpooling information as well as transit services. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.
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