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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