By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer
With everything going on in the economy and the world today, it’s hard to know what price you’ll see the next time you pull up to the gas pump.
While drivers can’t make the price of gas go down, they can take several steps to make each tank last longer.
The U.S. Department of Energy has several tips online at fueleconomy.gov to help drivers stretch their gas dollars:
- Slow down. Each 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas, according to the site.
- Don’t drive aggressively. If you’re speeding and rapidly accelerating and braking, you’re lowering your gas mileage by 15% to 30% on the highway and 10% to 40% in the city.
- Get excess weight out of your car. If you’re carrying an extra 100 pounds of unneeded stuff in your trunk or your back seat, you could be lowering your gas mileage by 1%. Carrying cargo on your roof is also a sure way to lower your mileage. Remove cartop cargo boxes when they’re not in use – at highway speeds, they could reduce your gas mileage by 10% to 25%.
- Turn the car off when you’re idling. It takes much less gas to restart your car than to leave it idling, which can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour.
Buying gas on days when it’s a few cents cheaper per gallon is another way to save.
According to GasBuddy, an app that provides real-time gas price information, Mondays and Fridays are the most economical days to buy gas in Michigan, followed by Sundays.
Thursday is the worst day to fill up in Michigan, followed closely by Wednesday.
In years past, Friday was one of the most expensive days. But that hasn’t been the case since 2021, according to GasBuddy analysts, who said the pandemic may have shifted people’s buying habits, affecting supply.
Regardless of which day you’re buying gas, it pays to check around for the best price.
- The GasBuddy app and the AAA Mobile App both offer drivers a way to search for the best price in their vicinity.
- According to AAA, some gas stations offer discounts for paying cash instead of using a credit card.
- Enroll in gas station savings programs. If you like to visit the same station instead of shopping around for the best deal, enrolling in a savings program at one of the major gasoline providers can save you anywhere from 2 cents to 5 cents per gallon. The Penny Hoarder offers a rundown at https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/fuel-rewards-programs/
Keeping your car in optimal running condition can also increase your mileage. Autozone offered several tips in a recent news release to increase gas mileage by taking good care of your car.
- Change your oil filter. A dirty oil filter makes the engine work harder, reducing power and fuel efficiency.
- Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. You can improve your fuel economy immediately by up to 3.3% just by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure, according to Autozone. The correct pressure can be found in your car’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jam.
- If you’re due for an oil change, get it done. Oil changes prevent oil breakdown and the buildup of sludge over time. Some types of oil are designed to improve engine efficiency. Ask for an oil marked “Energy Conserving.”
