Beat the heat: tips to maximize your gas mileage and save money
TWIN CITIES - Gas prices are on the rise once again as the extreme heat in the Southern United States has caused fuel production to decline. The National Average for regular fuel is up to $3.780, which is up 15 cents from last week, but is still 43 cents less than what prices were a year ago today according to AAA.
Across the State of Minnesota, gas prices average around $3.754 a gallon for regular gas, up 10 cents from yesterday and up 30 cents from last month alone. The Twin Cities region is especially feeling it at the pump, with the current average price for a gallon of regular gas at $3.789, just about the national average. That is 12 cents higher than yesterday and 32 cents higher than last month.
A combination of things is contributing to this increase in gas prices, including the extreme heat in the south has limited some oil refineries from being able to run at full capacity according to OPUS Energy. Others warn of the threat of peak hurricane season could also cause an increase in gas prices, though high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico continues to hinder any near-term threat over the Gulf of Mexico.
With gas prices on the rise, below are a handful of easy suggestions to help you get the most out of your next tank of gas!
Keep your tires properly inflated
According to the US Department of Energy, a properly inflated tire can improve your gas mileage by 0.6% and in some cases up to 3%. For every 1 psi your tire is below average you are looking at around 0.2% lower gas mileage.
Properly tune that engine
Don’t ignore that check engine light! A vehicle that has not been tuned properly or has failed an emissions test can result in an average loss of gas mileage of around 4%. In addition to that, fixing any serious maintenance issues, like your faulty oxygen sensor, could improve your gas mileage by about 40%.
Use the recommended oil for your vehicle
Besides using an oil that contains friction-reducing additives, you can increase your gas mileage by 1% to 2% by using what your manufacturer recommends as the best-grade motor oil for your vehicle. Using the wrong oil can actually result in a decrease in gas mileage between 1% to 2%.
Reduce drag and excess weight
While you might not be planning any road trips with the current gas prices, for those who might be, you might want to take this into consideration before your next trip. For every extra 100 pounds, you add to your vehicle, you risk reducing your average mileage per gallon by around 1%. This affects smaller vehicles more than larger vehicles. Increasing your vehicle's aerodynamics can also have an impact on your vehicle's overall gas mileage. A large rooftop hauler can decrease your vehicle's gas mileage by around 2% to 8% in the city, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10 to 25% on the interstate with speeds ranging between 65 to 75 mph. If you must use a cargo hauler, a rear-mounted one will only reduce gas mileage by 1% to 2% in the city and 1% to 5% on the highway.
Turn your car off when idling
On average, you can lose around a quarter to half a gallon of gas per hour while your car idles depending on the size of the engine and if your air conditioner is on. If your AC is on, you are looking at losing $0.02 to $0.04 per minute while idling. If your AC is off, you are looking to lose $0.02 to $0.03 per minute while idling. Simply turn your car off if you are going to idle.
Watch your speed and drive less aggressively
On average, being an aggressive driver - that is speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking - can cost you around 15% to 30% of your gas mileage on the highway and around 10% to 40% of your gas mileage in stop and go traffic.
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Sources
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.jsp
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/air-pressure-fuel-economy
