Free tips to save more on gas
Saving money on gas is depends upon using common sense. There are two ways you can save money on gas.
1st Buying fuel efficient vehicle
2nd Save while you are driving
Gas prices and their potential influence on the vehicle purchasing habits of Canadians is significant. Back in June 2004, Leger Marketing out of Montreal surveyed Canadians across the country and 66 per cent of us told them that the recent hikes in gas prices will influence the type of vehicle we will buy in the future. Given that the average retail price of regular gasoline back then hovered well under a dollar per litre (81.5 cents per liter), the study is likely more relevant today than ever.
According to Natural Resources Canada the following is the average retail price for regular gasoline in Canada:
•2013 (thus far) - $1.283 per liter
•2012 - $1.275 per liter
•2011 - $1.240 per liter
At an increase in less than 10 years of almost $0.47 cents, it's no wonder people are looking to make their driving habits and cars more fuel-efficient.
Part A- Buying fuel efficient vehicle
Here are nice guidelines to follow to buy fuel efficient vehicles
Buy New or used?
As a general rule, newer vehicles tend to be more fuel-efficient than older models. So if a new car is in the cards, be sure to compare the fuel consumption ratings. These can be found on the EnerGuide labels. If you are unfamiliar with the EnerGuide label, it is usually stickered to the vehicle and shows the consumption ratings for city and highway driving and provides you with an estimate of that vehicle's yearly fuel cost.
Size matters
It likely comes as no surprise that in general the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the engine, the larger the fuel consumption. So if you don't need the cargo room, towing capacity, or extra passenger space on a regular basis, go with smaller vehicle; you'll save money in the long run on gas. It all comes down to buying what you need.
Manual or automatic: that is the question
A manual transmission is generally more fuel-efficient than an automatic. When used properly, a manual transmission can save you five to 10 per cent in fuel compared to the automatic counterpart.
If you don't know how to drive a manual, there are choices you can make with respect to your automatic transmission that will help you save. A:
•4-speed overdrive transmission is 3 to 5 per cent more fuel efficient than a 3-speed, and
•5-speed automatic can improve fuel efficiency by another 3 per cent over a 4-speed
In a nutshell, if buying an automatic, the more gears the better.
Front, rear, four or all-wheel drive?
If you have a choice between a two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, choose the two-wheel drive; two-wheel drive vehicles are generally more fuel-efficient. Of your two-wheel drive options (front-wheel or rear-wheel) there's not much of a difference when it comes to fuel efficiency anymore (although at one time this wasn't the case.)
Four-wheel and all-wheel drive is less fuel efficient than a two-wheel drive vehicle. The additional parts needed, along with the extra power required from the engine to operate these types of vehicles can increase the fuel consumption up to 10 per cent over what you would use with a two-wheel drive vehicle.
Weigh your options
Did you know that power seats add anywhere from 40 to 60 kilograms in weight to your vehicle? Add to this the extra drag and power needed from the engine for your remote car starter, air conditioner, roof rack, heated seats, and other options like these and your car's fuel consumption increases. They not only make your vehicle heavier, but they also drain extra power from your engine which means that you need more fuel to operate it.
Part 2-Fuel saving driving tips
The way we drive often impacts how efficiently the car runs. The following are fuel-efficient driving tips from Natural Resources Canada that will help you get the most out of your car:
Planning tip
Plan your trips so you're not crisscrossing all over your hometown while running errands.
No fast acceleration
Avoid hard, fast acceleration and hard braking. Studies have shown this style of aggressive driving increases fuel consumption by 37 per cent.
Cruise Control
Use your cruise control on the highway if the landscape is relatively flat.
Check condition
If hilly however--and if traffic conditions allow it--turn off the cruise control and let gravity do the work for your engine; allow your speed to drop when going uphill, and when going downhill let it pick up your speed naturally (don't exceed the limit, of course, as this could you in other ways--tickets, increased insurance costs.)
Less brake
Don't drive with your left foot on the brake pedal. Not only does this increase fuel consumption, but your brake lights are always on and drivers behind you have no way of knowing when you actually apply the brakes to slow down or stop.
No Idling
Avoid unnecessary idling.
Slow down
On most major Canadian highways the posted limit is 100 km/h. If you have a heavy foot and like to increase your cruising speed from 100 to 120 km/h, you are also increasing your vehicle's fuel consumption by about 20 per cent. Do you really want to buy 20 per cent more gas at today's prices?
Relax and enjoy the drive
If someone told you that you could save two or three minutes of your time by burning 25 per cent more fuel would you think it was worth it? Drivers with aggressive driving tendencies (like speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking), increase their fuel consumption by about 25 per cent. Consider as well that aggressive city driving only saves you about 2½ minutes on a 60 minute trip. It hardly seems worth it.
Minimize the "stuff" you keep in your car
Too often cars become a storage room. While it may seem convenient, it's estimated that for every additional 100 pounds in your vehicle you are likely reducing the mileage you get per tank by 1-2 per cent.
Not driving? Turn off the car
You get 0 kilometers per liter if your car is idling. You're not going anywhere, but you're using up costly gas. Instead of idling at a drive-up window, why not park the car and go in? Not only is it often faster, but idling in a line for longer than 10 seconds burns more gas than restarting the engine.
Keep your car maintained and running smoothly
Your car was designed with certain minimum requirements for optimal operation and when these minimums are not met your fuel-efficiency suffers. Consider:
•Your tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated helps your car run efficiently. So much so that properly inflated tires can save you up to two weeks’ worth of gas each year.
•Your motor oil. Improve your gas mileage by 1-2 per cent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil - use anything else and you're not getting all you can from your car.
Save money on your auto insurance
While saving money at the pumps is something you can do every week, the following tips will ensure you have the tools needed to maximize your insurance savings too.
Shop around
Rates can vary wildly between insurers. Only by shopping around for auto insurance and getting quotes from several insurance companies will you know you are getting your car insurance coverage at the best available rate.
