'Tired' of high gas prices? Experts weigh in on how to make your gas last longer

Frank Stanfield
·3 min read

If it feels like money is being sucked out of your pockets when you fuel up your car, and the digital sign out front is about to burst into flames from lightning-fast price changes, you’re not alone.

Gas prices are hovering around a record $5 per gallon.

But there are some simple things you can do to save money, including making sure your tires are not under-inflated.

“That’s one of the biggest things you can do,” said a veteran employee at Barnett Tire Service in Leesburg.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that tire inflation can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 3%.

Proper tire inflation information can be found in a car's owner’s manual and on the inside of the driver’s door. And a quality air gauge is worth the money, experts say.

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Firestonecompleteautocare.com, lists other steps motorists can take:

  • Don’t speed, be smooth and steady with the accelerator and avoid hard braking.

  • Combine trips.

  • Get rid of excess cargo, literally junk in the trunk.

  • Don’t idle the engine.

  • Cut back on the air conditioning on short trips. Running a car’s AC is the main contributor to reduced fuel economy in hot weather.

  • Make sure you make regularly scheduled oil changes. Old, sludgy oil can reduce fuel economy.

The Barnett employee, who was not authorized to speak for the company, has an added tip: Make sure your brakes are working properly, and not dragging.

He also cautioned drivers to make sure the wheels are properly aligned. Car owners can tell if tires are properly aligned by looking at wear patterns. Too much wear on the edges is an indication that the car needs to be realigned.

Harris Tire Company reports that a clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%. About a quarter of all cars on the road need a change of filters.

The website says replacing a dirty air filter can save 39 cents a gallon or take you 23 miles farther.

There are other ways to save money, too.

Publix offers a deal on gas gift cards occasionally: Customers can get $10 off their total purchase when they buy $50 worth of items and a $50 gas card.

Gas companies themselves offer deals.

RaceTrac, for example, offers a “VIP” card that can save motorists up to 10 cents per gallon for the first 40 gallons, and 3 cents per gallon on each additional gallon every month. The card costs $2.49 per month, according to its website.

Shell offers discounts if you download its app and use it at the pump or pay with a linked card.

Company websites spell out the deals.

There is another tip, perhaps the most important of all: Avoid aggressive driving, zooming in and out of lanes, tailgating and cutting motorists off is not only wasteful, but dangerous.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: As Florida gas prices surge, here's how to get more for your money