How To Get Better Gas Mileage MPG | Saving Money

Learning how to get better gas mileage helps you save money on fuel costs. But if you factor in some of the methods used for achieving better gas mileage, you can also save wear and tear on your vehicle in the long run. Listed below, you'll find a multitude of ways to get more miles per gallon out of each tank of gas.

Better Gas Mileage Tips

• When starting your vehicle in the mornings, let your vehicle warm up no more than a minute before driving. Excess idling burns fuel and cuts into your gas mileage. If you plan to stop somewhere during your commute and you will be away from your vehicle for longer than 30 seconds, turn off your vehicle's engine. It's always a good idea to turn off your engine and remove your keys from the ignition to prevent your vehicle from being stolen.



• When accelerating to cruising speed, try to get up to speed as quickly as possible, but don't floor the gas pedal to do so. A nice and steady acceleration will get your vehicle up to optimum MPG speeds with the least amount of gas burned.



• Speaking of optimum speed for better gas mileage. Did you know that most vehicles burn the least amount of gas around 55 - 60 miles per hour? If you can drive that speed without getting run over, try to achieve that limit. Otherwise, do your best to keep at a steady cruising speed and plan ahead to avoid unnecessary braking & acceleration.



• If you happen to be a NASCAR fan, you've probably heard the race announcers talking about how light the bodies of the cars are. One of the reasons for this is for fuel conservation. A heavier vehicle means less MPG. If you use your vehicle as a storage shed, ditch what you don't really need and you should see better gas mileage.



• If your vehicle comes with Overdrive, use it. Follow your owner's manual when using Overdrive. Some examples of times when Overdrive shouldn't be used are on long uphill grades at cruising speed or when you're pulling heavy objects such as a loaded trailer or boat.



• If you have a habit of using your left foot for braking, break it. The habit I mean, not your foot. If you have a left foot braking habit, you could be riding your brakes without realizing it and that can really cut into your chances of getting better gas mileage.



• When is the last time you had a tune-up? Taking your vehicle in for a tune-up can substantially increase your gas mileage, depending on how long the last one was performed.



• While some may argue that air conditioning causes fuel consumption, so does wind drag. The difference is so minimal that it would have to be proven in a wind tunnel and I simply don't have the funds for purchasing one of those this month. So crank up the air conditioning and stay cool. The only drawback to this plan is if you're stuck in stop and go, bumper-to-bumper traffic on the hottest day of summer idling over sweltering blacktop, you have to roll the windows down and turn off the air, because then your air conditioning would be a gas hog and you couldn't use wind drag as an excuse. Sorry, these are the rules. I don't make them, I just follow them.



• Air your tires up to their recommended PSI. You should find the recommended PSI located on your tire sidewalls.



• And last, but certainly not least, shop around for gas prices. Gas Buddy does a pretty good job of keeping track of current local gas prices.

Here's hoping we all get better gas mileage this coming summer!