Consumer Watch: Drive smarter: 13 tips to save on gas - Military Money, Navy Money, navy pay, pay charts - Navy Times

Consumer Watch: Drive smarter: 13 tips to save on gas

As gas prices spike, it’s time to gauge our fuel economy progress and accelerate our efforts to save money on the gas we do have to buy.

Trying to squeeze efficiency out of every drop of gas is good for our wallets, but it’s also good for our environment and economy.

More than half of the oil used to produce the gasoline we put in our tanks is imported, according to www.fueleconomy.gov. Being more fuel efficient can help ease our dependence on foreign oil.

Here are some tips to consider from fueleconomy.gov, the Federal Trade Commission and AAA: 1. Gas stations update their prices often. To save yourself time, you can compare prices before you leave home. Visit www.fueleconomy.gov, click on “Save Money” and then “Local Prices.” After you click on your state, you’ll see a list of local links that will allow you to compare prices and find addresses and directions for gas stations in your area.

Of course, don’t drive so far to save a few cents per gallon that it costs you more in the long run.

2. Check your owner’s manual for recommended gas octane levels. Your car may require a less-expensive grade of gas.

3. Make sure your car is properly maintained. Keeping the engine tuned according to the guidelines in your owner’s manual could increase your mileage by an average of 4 percent. Keeping your tires properly inflated could increase your mileage by up to 3 percent.

4. Combine trips. For example, run errands on the way to or from work — including that stop at the cheapest gas station. According to the Federal Trade Commission, several short trips can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Plan your route to drive the shortest distance.

5. Try to do your comparison shopping at stores online before hitting the road — or make purchases online.

6. For going to and from work, consider carpooling, bicycling or public transportation.

7. Slow down. Staying within posted speed limits is safer and avoids the cost of a ticket and higher insurance. But gas mileage rapidly decreases at speeds above 60 —every 5 mph over 60 is like paying an extra 24 cents per gallon for gas, according to fueleconomy.gov.

8. Stop aggressive driving — avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops.

9. Avoid idling. Turn off the engine if you expect a long wait.

10. Remove the junk from your trunk and elsewhere; extra weight reduces your gas mileage. Avoid packing items on top of your car, which can create wind resistance and decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent.

11. Use cruise control when appropriate.

12. If you use a credit card to pay for gas, consider one that gives you a rebate on gas purchases. But make sure you pay off the credit card each month — otherwise, interest charges will add even more to the cost of gas.

Customers who use the exchanges’ Military Star card or Military Star Rewards MasterCard receive a discount of 5 cents per gallon at the pumps on their Army or Air Force installation. Extra promotions throughout the year offer additional savings — the next one will offer 10 cents per gallon for Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30, says AAFES spokeswoman Lisa Neidinger.

But keep in mind that the exchange price isn’t always cheaper than prices outside the gate, partly because the exchanges must pay taxes on gasoline, like commercial gas stations.

13. If you’re in the market for a vehicle, make fuel economy part of your considerations. The Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Department produce the “Fuel Economy Guide” to help car buyers choose the most fuel-efficient new or used vehicle. It’s available at www.fueleconomy.gov.

The site also has a tool that helps you compare estimated yearly fuel costs for different cars. Plug in the number of miles you drive each year, the percentage of city versus highway miles, and local fuel prices. It also tells you how much fuel a vehicle requires to drive 25 miles, which you can use to calculate the cost of your round trip to work each day.

You might find, for example, that it makes more sense for you to switch cars with your spouse for your drives to work, based on distance and mileage.

And when you know how much it’s costing you to drive those miles, it might make you think twice about whether you need to make that extra trip to the store.

We all can benefit from giving our driving habits a tune-up. And whether gas prices are up or down, we can all do our part to become less dependent on oil.

Questions? Comments? E-mail staff writer Karen Jowers.