We’ve always got our eye out for the cheapest gas prices – especially in the summer when we tend to do more long-distance driving. So how do you stretch your fuel budget? The helpful folks at Shell have some great tips to keep your summer road trips on track.
1. Don’t go overboard, just bring what you need: It’s easy to go overboard and try to bring everything you think you may need, but try to cut that list down to the essentials. Remember: an extra 100 pounds in a vehicle can reduce gasoline mileage by up to 2 percent.
2. Check tires inflation: If your tires are properly inflated, this can improve gasoline mileage by up to 3.3 percent.
3. Beat the traffic: Try to avoid leaving for that camping trip on Friday at 5 p.m. Speeding, acceleration and braking can lower gasoline mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town.
4. Use the recommended grade of oil: Your car comes with a manufacturer’s motor oil recommendation – this can improve gasoline mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Tip: look for “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol (it contains friction-reducing additives).
5. Fill up with a high quality gasoline: High quality gas improves engine performance while driving. To help recognize what makes a certain gas high quality, look for fuel that is designated with the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Standard. This will help you avoid problems that can be associated with using lower-quality gasoline.
