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Best Ways to Save Gas on a Summer Roadtrip

You’re ready to go on a summer road trip, but want to save as much money as possible on expenses such as your hotel and the cost of gas. Gas prices increase as the fuel blend changes over, and it appears that prices aren’t going down any time soon. Here are the best ways to save gas and cut down on your gas usage for your summer road trip.

Inflate your tires – 

Best wats to save gas

The Department of Energy states that your gas mileage goes down by 0.3% for every pound per square inch or PSI that your tire is underinflated. The number alone seems small, but if your tires are ten pounds under the recommended level, you’re spending three percent more on gas than you need to. Look in your owner’s manual or on the driver’s side door jamb if you’re not sure what the recommended PSI for your vehicle is.

Drive cautiously – 

Aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, accelerating quickly, or braking abruptly negatively impacts your fuel mileage. These behaviors can lower your fuel efficiency anywhere from 10 to 40 percent when driving in the city with frequent stopping and going. You’ll reduce fuel economy by 10 to 15 percent if you drive aggressively on the highway. Stick to the speed limit, because for every five miles that you go over 50 mph, you’ll use 25 cents more per gallon than if you stuck to the posted speed limit.

Reduce weight and drag – 

It also helps to make modifications to your vehicle if possible because additions like wind deflectors can improve the aerodynamics of your car, reducing drag and increasing fuel economy all at the same time. For every extra 100 pounds of weight in your vehicle, such as sports equipment or tools in your trunk, you’re using one to two percent more gas. This quickly adds up when you’re trying to road trip without going broke in the process. If you aren’t using your roof rack to carry cargo, take it off to increase your fuel economy while you’re cruising with the wind in your hair.

Skip the air conditioning – 

It’s summer. It’s hot. You don’t need it to be cold in your car on your way to your destination. Put your window down a bit for some fresh air, since turning the air conditioning on increases fuel consumption.

Making a single change isn’t going to drastically impact your fuel economy, but implementing multiple changes adds up quickly. These are some of the ways to save gas while driving which can cut the fuel costs and have more money to spend a few nights on the town.

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