Save Gas and Money: a Few Tricks

1. Buy your gas in the morning or evening

Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures. Gas pumps are set to measure the volume of the fuel that you pump and not the density. If gas is denser then you are actually getting more gas in a gallon than you are getting when it is warmer and less dense.

If you fill up your gas tank in the morning's cooler temperatures, or in the evening's cooler temperatures, you'll be getting more gas and increased gas price economy. As an added benefit, filling your tank later in the evening could also help you to avoid wasting gas idling while waiting for a pump to open up during the busier hours.

2. Don't let your gas tank get empty, fill up sooner.

Try not to drive your car until the gas gauge is on or close to empty. All the loose dirt that may have built up in your gas tank over time will be sucked into the engine. This is not good for the engine and will cause a marked drop in the MPG of your car.

In addition to the lowered MPG if you are at empty you may have to fill your tank at the first station you come across and you may be forced to pay a high price rather than wait till you find a station with a lower price.

If at all possible maintain your gas level above the quarter tank mark. Plan to purchase fuel when your tank is between half and a quarter tank.

3. Save with a flick of the wrist, turn the nozzle

If you turn the nozzle of the gas pump hose a full 180 degrees when you have finished filling up your gas tank you might end up with as much as an extra half cup of fuel. By turning the nozzle you enable the fuel left in the nozzle to flow into your tank. In some instances this could be as much as a half cup of gas. If you don't do this you will provide the next customer filling up with an added bonus.

After a number of times making yourself turn the nozzle you'll find yourself doing it without thinking. An extra half cup can add up to a lot of gas at the end of the year.

If you purchase fuel once per week and you can take advantage of the extra half cup from the nozzle each time, you would get 52 half cups of gas free each year. Over the year that would be 1.625 gallons.

If you are a two car family that fills up each car once a week you would reap the benefit of over 3 gallons of "free" gas a year. Three free gallons of gas just by flicking your wrist.

These are just a few of many things you can do to maximize your fuel economy and gas purchases. Just thinking about gas and the things you can do will help you make a habit out of saving gas.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.
This and other unique content lower gas costs articles are available with free reprint rights.