Save Gas, 7 Easy Steps to Better MPG

Gas is getting more and more expensive and if you have a long commute or if you just like to drive the gas bill can become a burden.

Luckily there is easy ways to lower your gas bill and I'll list seven that are easy to do and does not require you to invest money in a new car or snake oil add-on kits.

That said, if you are driving a car that's a lot bigger and heavier than you need the easiest way to save gas is to get a smaller car the next time you upgrade. If you like driving a big car, that's OK with me, just go on and implement my seven tips below and you'll save a bundle:

1. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure

Driving with under inflated tires is not only dangerous as the tires could overheat, it also uses more gas than inflated tires.

Inflate your tires at least to the maximum allowed by the car's instruction manual, and check the pressure at least once a month using a reliable pressure gauge.

Many hypermilers inflate their tires more than that, to the maximum pressure printed on the sidewalls of the tires themselves. This is often as much as 60 percent more than what the car manufacturer recommends and it will give additional gas savings due to lesser rolling resistance.

This comes at the cost of a harder more uncomfortable ride though. And I can't recommend you outright to do this, even if it's safe, as there is a possibility of uneven tire wear in some conditions.

2. Remove Roof Racks, Ski Boxes and Trailers

If you thought it's too much of a hassle to remove the roof rack or ski box when it's not needed, think again! The same goes for driving with an empty trailer or a pick up truck with no flatbed cover.

Anything that you attach to the outside of the car will spoil the aerodynamics of the car and with that your fuel economy. Always remove roof racks, bicycle holders, ski boxes and trailers when not needed.

3. Turn off the A/C

Despite what some would say the air conditioning unit is using a lot of energy and that energy is taken directly from your gas tank. Turn it off when possible and if that's too uncomfortable set it to a higher temperature as that will make it use less gas.

TIPS: Park the car in the shadow, have the doors open for a minute before leaving, drive at night if going for a longer trip in hot weather.

Just remember, driving at high speed with the windows open is even worse for the fuel economy than using the A/C.

4. Improve our Driving

Your driving style is one of the biggest factors affecting your fuel economy. Keep your top speed below 60MPH or 100KM/H, avoid breaking by letting the car roll to a stop when you're not in the way for other traffic and do not push the pedal to the metal when accelerating.

5. Walk

Many times if you're not going that far, walking or biking is a lot more economic than taking the car. You'll not only save fuel but also the wear and tear on the car that can cost as much as the fuel itself.

6. Fix Any Fuel Leaks

Obviously if you have a fuel leak you will spill your hard earned gas on the ground costing you money and polluting the environment. Fix any fuel leak immediately.

TIP: If your gas cap is missing or broken and you live in a hot environment, especially if you park in the sun and the car gets really hot, a lot of gas will evaporate and escape through the missing or broken cap into the air. This can be a significant loss and it's bad for the environment.

7. Car Pool

Sharing a car on your daily commute can be a fair amount of hassle compared to going alone but you'll save more gas and money than any of the other tips except for actually walking or biking.

Joining with just one other person to use the same car for your commute will save you half your monthly commuting cost.

Advanced Gas Saving Tips

The above tips are some of the easiest, most widely available, low cost ways to save lots of gas. And you don't have to buy any new gadgets to do it.

There's many more ways you can save gas. This includes adjustments to your driving style, adjustments to your cars aerodynamics, getting a more fuel efficient car (hybrid, diesel or smaller vehicle), low resistance tires, planning your driving, adjustments for extreme weather and many more.

There's also many ways you will not save gas, like installing one of those fuel saving gadgets advertised everywhere. They usually cost a lot but give barely measurable improvements in MPG.