With gas prices fluctuating daily, drivers need to get the most out of every tank. And with simple fuel-saving tips, tricks and maintenance checks, you can learn to stretch your fill-up to the fullest.
1. Ditch The Clunker
Fuel efficiency has improved as new, more efficient vehicles have been designed over recent years. Choosing a newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle can save you thousands in the long run, both in dollars and minutes spent at the pump.
2. Save With Safety
Making small safety changes to your daily driving habits adds up in your tank, your wallet and your well-being. Fast acceleration and hard braking lower gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and 5% in a city, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Keep a lid on aggressive driving and travel with zen-fueled efficiency.
3. Drop The Excess Weight
Rooftop cargo containers are a great help on family trips. But these space-savers create wind resistance, which makes your car work harder and burn up to 17% more fuel on the highway. Excess weight in the trunk also sucks up fuel unnecessarily at a rate of 1% for every 100 pounds. Leave empty or unused cargo containers at home and clear out clutter for a smoother ride and steeper savings.
4. Minimize Winter Driving
Did you know your car is less fuel-efficient in cold weather? Warming a car takes a lot of gas and can drain your tank before you even hit the road. Most manufacturers recommend warming your car for just 30 seconds and driving off slowly rather than long, idling warm-ups. Try parking your car in a garage to keep the engine warmer and combine trips and errands in the colder months.
5. Maintenance: Pay Now, Save Later
Staying up to date on regular vehicle maintenance keeps your car more fuel-efficient. Regular oil and filter changes keep cars running in the fuel-efficient zone. Tires that are properly inflated reduce drag and won’t have your engine working overtime, increasing your gas mileage and lowering carbon emissions.
Fill-ups got you fed up? With the Gas Finder feature on the GEICO Mobile app, you can locate gas stations near you and compare real-time prices to find the best deal. Download GEICO Mobile today and start saving!
By Katherine Palbom
Sonja Meulens says,
Great valuable information and easy access.
Thank you much
James W Flomo says,
Awesome advise. I wish I knew this ever since. I would have saved thousands from the time I started driving.
val m. says,
thanks for the sound advice.
Everest Nwaogwugwu says,
Your advise is highly professional. Thanks
Jeanie Adkins-Peine says,
I AM A NEW WIDOW AND DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT DRIVING, GETTING GAS OR MAINTENANCE,. THIS ARTICLE WILL HELP ME IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU
Steven R Weiss says,
This is a start. Ok, i get it. Your husband always did the driving. I recommend, that you take some driving lessons, at a driving school. They can teach you all the bad driving habits-to avoid. Good Luck.
winston cole says,
wonderful tips. Thanks .
Cy Schoppmann says,
Did we forget to keep up with checking out our antifreeze? To keep the engine running cool as the manufacturer suggests, it’s also very important for your car heater! For heat !
Joanne Luong says,
Excellent tips, Geico for saving gas in the summer and winter months. Excellent tips on car maintenance, thank you ?
Frieda Muwakkil says,
Thanks for the info. very usefultip
Anthony Paul Onyejekwe says,
Thanks for the information.
Margaret says,
Love the great,very inexpensive car hacks to clean the car & also the air conditioning tips I never thought of.
Marie C Jerome says,
Very good tips thank so much
Roger Randall says,
I look way ahead as I drive and look for changes in traffic flow and check for traffic lights ahead and slow down gradually as I approach them. This technique saves on brakes and gas in the long run. I try to maintain a constant speed and avoid sudden changes in speed.
Mariana Larrazabal says,
Thank you. Great tips. I’ll share with my family.
M. Flores says,
Nothing I didn’t know but still a helpful reminder. How about a little more technical advise