Two summers ago, gas hit $2.50 to $3.00, and have never looked back. During that summer, there was a panic. Drive-0ffs at gas stations went through the roof, so now almost all gas stations are Pre-pay only. Siphoning theft went through the roof. Credit Card debt is going through the roof. Most of it is all a result of the drag that increased fuel prices cause on our economy.
It’s going to be even worse this summer, so you need to prepare. I’ve done afew things to increase my Miles Per Gallon. I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt that has a little gauge on how long before I run out of fuel, and how many MPG I am getting at that moment. I am currently getting 390 Miles Per Gallon, and running 36 to 40 Miles Per Gallon on the interstate.
Here are some of the things I’ve done to increase my MPG, and to save a little money.
– There is no magic fuel additive that will add a hundred miles per tank. But several are effective. I recently put in the Lucas Oil fuel additive, and noticed a significant jump in my MPG (Miles Per Gallon.) I’ve used a lot of the others, like Prestone and STP, and I don’t think they’ve really done much to help.
– Don’t add octane booster, and try to buy regular as often as you can. The higher the octane, the faster the fuel burns in your engine. The faster it burns, the more you’ll use. A lot of GAS COMPANIES tell you the the additives in their fuel will clean your tank, but you’ll be fine if you use a fuel additive. That may be true, but long term, just buy regular. BUT! Check your owners manual to see what fuel they recommend.
– Get a locking cap for your gas tank. During the summer of Petrol Panic, I had bought a locking gas cap at Autozone for $10. My step-dad had not. Guess who had an entire tank siphoned in the middle of the night? We live on a cauldesac! And he was parked in the driveway, while I was on the street. So he was out $40 because he didn’t spend the $10. Gas thieves will strike anywhere, and an unexpected empty tank is not the way to start a day.
– Buy a K & N air filter. It’s double the price of a standard air filter, but it’s resuable. You can wash it off when it gets dirty, so you’ll only have to buy one. But the difference in fuel savings has been tremendous. It’s probably the biggest reason I am able to hit 40 MPG on the interstate. You can buy them at any Autozone. You also save money by not replacing it every few months.
– Rotate and balance your tires after every oil change.
– Have your exhaust system checked.
– Get your alignment checked. With all these potholes, not only can they damage your tires, but a misalignment can make a big dent in fuel costs.
I hope this helps!
