More Gas and Better Gas Mileage for Your Money

Do I need to say it? Gas prices are high, with no relief on the horizon. It’s little comfort to know that in many European countries, gas is sold for the equivalent of $6 to $8 American dollars, and that the economic reality is, gas is still a bargain. All that is true, but it still hurts when the price of a tank of gas looks more like a down payment on a small condo.
For now at least, we’re stuck with the high prices. But there are some ways to increase your gas mileage, pay less for fuel, and one way that thousands of Americans have found to get free gas. 

Buying tips to improve gas mileage and fuel economy

Fill your gas tank during the coolest hours of the day. As the day grows hotter, the liquid in gas expands, but the active ingredients that make your car run do not. So even though you pay for a whole gallon based on the volume of the liquid, you get slightly less gas mileage if you fill up when the weather is hot. 

Check your owner’s manual for the recommended octane to use in your engine. Using a higher-than-recommended octane costs more and does nothing for your engine. More importantly, some gas retailers are willing to admit that most cars run fine on regular grade gas, so stick to lower octane for better fuel economy. 

Don’t buy gas near at a station close to a freeway off ramp. These stations often charge more because they count on consumers being in a hurry to get back on the freeway. It shouldn’t be hard to find a cheaper station within a mile or two, and at these prices, the savings will add to your fuel economy. 

Don’t buy on a Saturday. In some areas, gas retailers jack up the price a little on Saturdays for those weekend trips. Pay attention to find out if this is true in your area. 

Don’t pay with an ATM card. It’s convenient, but almost every place that takes an ATM card adds a fee of around .35 cents, taking a bite off the top of your fuel economy. 

Don’t top off your tank. There’s reason to believe that the few extra cents worth of gas you think of as “topping off” either stays in the hose, or evaporates. 

Ease the pain of buying a tankful of gas by shopping and driving smarter and you'll pump up your gas mileage

Credit: Hugoslv

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