A Few More Ways To Save On Gasoline

By Jerry Farrell, Jr.

HARTFORD — While gas prices have been falling a bit lately, they are still higher than anyone likes. While you have probably really started paying attention to your driving habits — how much you drive, how you drive, and even if you drive — there are several more routine things everyone can do to cut down on gas consumption.

Shop smart for gas. Do not drive well out of your way to save a few pennies a gallon. Keep your eyes open for good prices along your normal commute.

Use the Internet to find good prices. Several sites on the Internet can help you find the cheapest gas in your area. Fueleconomy.gov is a national site that has links to at least a dozen websites that offer Connecticut gas prices. (And there is a tab to link readers to regional gas prices at Newtownbee.com)

Here are a few more:

*GasBuddy.com

*Motortrend.com/gas_prices

*Connecticutgasprices.com

Buy gas in the middle of the week, when prices tend to be a bit lower. Weekends and holidays often see slightly higher fuel prices, so if you can fill up midweek, you may save a few cents per gallon.

Pay in ways that help you save the most. While many gas stations now offer reduced prices for cash, be sure it is a real savings to you. The station right across the street may be offering gas for even less, so make sure you are really saving by paying with cash.

And if you have to pay a high ATM fee to get that cash, are you really going to save in the long run? For example, if the ATM fee is $3 and you are only putting ten gallons into your tank, you would have to be saving 30 cents a gallon just to break even.

If you prefer to use credit at the pump, think about getting a gasoline credit card that offers a five or ten percent rebate back on every gasoline purchase. Over a year, you can get a lot back in rebates this way. Of course, to really save, you need to pay your credit card bill on time to avoid finance charges.

Other credit and debit cards provide reward points, coupons, or other benefits for your purchase, so you can offset the price of gas with savings somewhere else.

See what your existing club memberships offer. Wholesale clubs, automobile clubs, and a number of other organizations often offer gas discounts to members. Some grocery stores even provide money-saving coupons for gasoline with their grocery receipts.

Use the lowest grade of gasoline recommended for your vehicle. For most cars, higher octane gas is a waste of money, and octane has nothing to do with the quality of the gas. Check your manual to see if you can use regular gas. You will save a lot on each fill-up.

Do not run your gas tank too close to empty. When you drive near or on “Empty” you are actually burning more fuel, because your vehicle is struggling to operate. Try to keep your gas tank at least one-quarter full.

Remember that a well-maintained car will use less fuel, so keep your car well tuned. A poorly tuned engine will increase your fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. Make sure your transmission fluid is always at the right level, too. Change the oil in your car according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or roughly every 3,500 miles. Be sure to use the right grade of oil for your car depending on the season and driving conditions. Replace the air and fuel filter in your car. A clogged air filter can reduce mileage by up to ten percent.

Inflate your tires to the right pressure; it costs nothing and can save a lot. Tires affect miles per gallon and poorly aligned tires will make the engine work harder and burn more fuel. Buy a tire gauge and check your car’s tire pressure every month. Driving on underinflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency by two percent for each pound that the tires are underinflated. If your tires are low on air, you are wasting gas and money. The best time to check your tire pressure is when the tires are cool — not right after a long drive. In hot weather, check the pressure during the coolest part of the day.

Gas stations in Connecticut are required by law to provide any driver with access to air to inflate their tires at no cost. It is against the law for gas stations in Connecticut to charge you; the law says that air for tires has to be free. Call the Consumer Protection Office at 800-842-2649 if you experience a problem in this area.

Make sure your tires are aligned as well. You can tell if your car needs an alignment if there is a pulling on the steering wheel when you are driving. Also, regularly rotating your tires and checking them for uneven wear will save in both tires and gas costs.

Remove unnecessary weight from the car. Items like kitty litter, topsoil, and fertilizer can weigh your car down and cause the engine to burn more fuel. Do not carry heavy items in your car any longer than absolutely necessary. Roof racks and bike racks create “drag,” which increases your fuel costs as well. When packing for a trip, fit as much of your gear in the trunk as you can, and remove it when you get to your destination.

Jerry Farrell, Jr, appointed in 2006 by Governor M. Jodi Rell as Connecticut’s commissioner of consumer protection, is an attorney with 15 years experience. Important information about consumer affairs can be found on the department’s website, www.ct.gov/dcp.