Gas fluctuates so often, that it’s
difficult to find a consistent method of getting affordable gas ALL of the
time. With the emergence of smartphones,
we can search the nearby area for gas station prices, but it’s still difficult
to consistently find a price we don’t mind paying. Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot
of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it
can wind up costing you. So, here’s a
look at a few misconceptions:
1.) Filling
Your Tank in the Morning
Many people have heard that filling your
gas in the morning is opportune because the fuel is cold. The theory is that fluids are more dense at
lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas has more molecules than a gallon of
warmer gas. However, the temperature
varies little during the course of the day, so there’s little difference in
early gas.
2.) Changing
Your Air Filter
A clean air filter WON’T save you
gas. Engines have sensors that
automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter
choles off the engine’s air supply.
3.) Using
Premium Fuel
Lately, premium gas has been a hard sell
for gas stations. However, many drivers
still fill up with premium gas. Newer
cars for which premium is recommended, but not required, won’t suffer with
regular fuel. The result is a slight
reduction in peak horsepower that a normal daily driver won’t even notice.
4.) Pumping
Up Your Tires
Ok.
First and foremost, proper tire inflation is important. Under-inflated tires can lead to accidents
and poor handling. According to
on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site
Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.
But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better
fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing
friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a
crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.
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