Gas Prices Could Get Ugly This Summer – Are You Ready?

Gas prices are heading up! That really is not news to anyone who drives much, is it? But some predictions have gas prices heading to the stratosphere by summer! We all know the obvious ways to save gas but here is a list of  some not so obvious ways. Hope these help lessen the pain at the pump:

• Use Proper Octane – Review your owner’s manual for your vehicle and see what type of gas they recommend be used in your car. You’ll be surprised to find out that you can actually save money at the pump by using the more expensive grade if recommended to do so by your vehicle manufacturer.
• Use Oil Recommended – Check your car manual and make sure you are using the right oil for your beast. It can boost your gas savings by 1-2%. Synthetic oil can also help since the car runs cooler and more efficiently.
• Avoid Stop & Go Driving Habits – If you drive in hectic traffic everyday you might find this hard to do, but stopping your car and starting it repeatedly burns twice as much gas as just driving without the stops. It’s been reported that you can improve your gas mileage by 5% by avoiding this habit.
• Don’t Warm Your Car Up - You can drive your car slowly for about 5 minutes to reach the warm oil temperature your car wants and driving during this 5 minute time period doesn’t hurt your car. Letting the car sit there idling simply wastes gas.
• Keep Your Car Tuned Up – Did you know that a poorly tuned up engine can burn up to 50% more gas than a perfectly tuned engine. Get your car tuned up on regular 30,000 mile intervals or when recommended by your owner’s manual.
• Don’t Haul Unnecessary Items – Every 100 pounds of cargo you haul around reduces your gas mileage by 2%. So take out any unnecessary things out of your trunk or truck bed and you’ll save a bunch.
• Use Credit Cards With Cash Back – There are so many credit cards these days that give cash back. Since every little bit helps, these cards can help make up the difference as prices climb. Gas rebate cards usually pay 3% to 5% cashback rewards on gas, depending on the bank that issues the card. Your cash back savings are added up until you obtain about $50 credits. At that point, you can request a check from your credit card company for a rebate.Find a list of the best cash back deals here.
• Get A Gas App – App’s that help conserve gas and save money at the pump are mainstream now that most people have smart phones. Find a list of app’s that can help you win at the pump here.

And remember, think before you get in your car to run here and there. It will save you both money and time to be organized in your errands, appointments and activities.

Finally, the bright side to higher gas prices can be the added motivation to use alternative transportation whenever possible. It’s the greener choice.