You’re paying about $3.60 for a gallon of gasoline, a 21% jump since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28. As the war continues, you’ll probably be paying more.
The nationwide U.S. average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.98 on Feb. 27, the day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Now the price of oil has reached $100 a barrel and gas costs are rising.
Learn more: Gas apps and fuel rewards can help.
In the wake of the international conflict, there are some hands-on, common-sense things you can do to ease your financial pain at the gas pump.
In addition to using gasoline apps and paying cash, simply making sure your car is in good shape and driving sensibly can help you save money. Here are some recommendations.
1. Keep your car in good shape: Have the vehicle tuned up and maintain it in good working order. Use the grade of engine oil recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Make sure tires are properly inflated: Check your car tires to be sure they’re inflated to the correct PSI, or pounds per square inch. Underinflated tires can reduce miles per gallon. You’ll find the PSI in your owner’s manual and on a sticker on the door jamb inside the driver’s side door. Check your tires more frequently in cold weather.
3. Use the right octane gasoline: Most cars don’t require high-octane gas, which costs more than lower octane. Use the octane level recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Avoid extended engine idling: For modern cars, the Department of Energy recommends you let the engine idle for about 30 seconds to warm it up. Older cars with carburetors may need two to three minutes in colder weather. If you’re stopped for 10 seconds or more, turn off the engine, except in traffic, the department says, and restart when you’re ready to go.
5. Reduce air conditioning: In hot weather, running the air conditioner can cut your engine’s MPG by about 25%, according to the Energy Department. Keep the windows down while driving at lower speeds, but use the air conditioner while on the highway. Don’t use the air conditioner more than needed and don’t set the temperature lower than necessary.
However, Consumer Reports found that air conditioning “dehumidifies the car’s interior, which can help keep the driver alert and safe,” and called it a worthwhile trade-off.
6. Clean out your car: Getting rid of things you don’t need in the vehicle reduces weight. Heavier vehicles make the engine work harder, especially in smaller cars. Keep essential tools, but take out unneeded items.
7. Remove exterior racks: Unless you’re using them, take out roof racks and rooftop cargo carriers to reduce air drag. Sedan owners in particular “suffer a big impact on fuel economy with just the roof rack installed,” Consumer Reports says.
8. Plan your trips: It’s more efficient to combine your errands into one long drive instead of doing multiple ones. Several short cold‑start trips can use about twice the fuel that a single, longer one will consume.
9. Use cruise control: On highways, cruise control “helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas,” the Energy Department says. Newer cars have Adaptive Cruise Control, enhanced control that helps drivers maintain proper distance from other vehicles.
10. Drive smoothly and sensibly: Jackrabbit starts, hard braking and aggressive driving can increase fuel use by 10% to 40%, according to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Maintaining a steady speed and adjusting speed to time with traffic lights helps improve gas mileage, since it takes much more energy to move a stopped vehicle than to keep a vehicle moving, the New York Department of Transportation says.
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Department of Energy; aaa.com; Consumer Reports; fueleconomy.gov
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paying too much for gas? These 10 tips will help you save money.
Reporting by George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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