How-to save money on gas in 7 steps

1. Say no to drive-through lanes.

It is estimated that leaving your car idling for 15 minutes can burn a quarter of a gallon. This may not seem like much, but all those trips through drive-through windows can add up over the course of a month.

2. Drive smoothly.

We all have been guilty of this at some point, but probably the biggest thing ruining your fuel-efficiency is aggressive driving. By shooting off on a green-light to beat the truck next to you, you are burning gas a lot faster. By driving smoother, you can increase your vehicle’s efficiency by up to 20 percent.

3. 70mph.

Going 80mph instead of 70mph on the highway might get you to the Holiday party five minutes faster, but is that five minutes worth sacrificing potentially four miles per gallon on the highway? (Secret: cruise control)

4. Windows down, music up? Not so much.

Driving on the highway with the windows down might feel good, but the air pressure slows down your car making it consume much more energy than needed.

5.  Tire pressure and flying flags.

Proper tire pressure is central in maintaining fuel-economy since under-pressure tires make the engine work harder. Also, avoid with all your might hanging flags and/or antenna decorations on your car, doing so impacts your vehicle’s aerodynamics and decrease efficiency.

6. Run errands at once.

Try to run errands in one trip. It has been said that an engine that is at optimal operating temperature can be up to 50 percent more efficient than a “cold” engine.

7. Junk in the trunk

The EPA estimates that fuel economy reduces by 2 percent for every 100 pounds of weight carried in your car.

Source: howdyhonda.com