00:00Road trip! You and your best friends are rushing down the highway.
00:04Suddenly, one turns off the AC and puts the windows down.
00:07No!
00:08They wanted to help you cut some gas costs and just made one of the classic mistakes.
00:14Turning off the AC and opting for a natural breeze helps while you're stuck in traffic.
00:19While you're driving with your windows down on a highway, you're creating unnecessary wind resistance.
00:25Your car now needs more energy to move forward and you end up burning more fuel per ride.
00:31While you're struggling through traffic inside the city limits, though, turning off the AC isn't a bad idea.
00:38It might not be the most comfortable ride on a hot day, but you're here to save some money, right?
00:45Now, a quick common sense test.
00:47You have two routes to choose from.
00:49One is shorter and another looks longer on the map.
00:52What's it gonna be?
00:53Common sense is screaming.
00:55The first one, duh!
00:56But in fact, the shortest route isn't always the best choice in terms of gas usage.
01:02You gotta pick the one with the least stop signs, traffic lights, and traffic jams.
01:08This route will require less speeding up and slowing down.
01:11Both major gas eaters.
01:13So plan your route wisely.
01:15You can consult apps that show real-time traffic data or interactive maps with stoplights.
01:20Do you also have a bag of sand, your old inflatable bed, a pair of shoes, and five water canisters in your trunk?
01:29Or is it just me?
01:30Well, you gotta declutter if you want to save some cash.
01:33Losing 100 pounds that you carry around in your vehicle will decrease your gas usage by up to 1% per gallon relative to your vehicle's weight.
01:42More weight means more fuel used.
01:44That's some simple traffic math.
01:47Brake and accelerate less.
01:49Driving at a steady speed above 50 miles per hour helps you save some gas costs.
01:55Every time you hit the brakes or take off at a rocket speed at the stoplights, you're making your engine work hard, and it feeds on fuel, you know.
02:04Plus, aggressive driving is bad traffic etiquette.
02:07So speed up slowly and coast to a braking stop smoothly.
02:11Don't go 0 to 60 or floor the car until you have to brake abruptly.
02:17Cruise control can help you with that drive calmly and steadily when you're on flat terrain like the highway.
02:24Once you approach some hills or mountains, cruise control will make your car eat too much gas for no good reason.
02:30So turn it off and let the speed go down a bit as you ascend.
02:34And then slowly speed up as you go down.
02:37This will take some workload off your engine.
02:38Park your vehicle a couple of blocks away from your destination.
02:44The next time you make the seventh trip driving around the block searching for a parking spot, it will make all perfect sense.
02:51When you sum up the frustration, your time spent on those searches, and of course, extra gas costs,
02:56you'll be okay settling somewhat further from a busy shopping area, business center, or your favorite popular restaurant.
03:04Don't wait until the last minute to refill your tank.
03:06Make it a habit to do it once it's three quarters empty, or whenever is more comfortable for you.
03:12This way, you won't have to frantically stop at the gas station nearest to you when it's time to refill.
03:18Instead, you'll have your time for some research.
03:21There are special gas-finding apps to help you find the best deal in your area.
03:25Sometimes, it can be across the state or region border, and it's never, ever by the highway.
03:33Once you're ready to settle down with one gas brand, don't hesitate to ask for something in return.
03:39Sign up for their loyalty program, save an app, get a card, whatever it takes to get a discount, cashback, extra points, and other perks from them.
03:48Some grocery stores partner up with gas chains, letting you use the points you earn at the store to get a discount on gas.
03:55Even 5 cents per gallon can make a difference, so inquire about those.
04:01Hybrid vehicle owners, this one's for you.
04:04Try turning on the AC while your car is still plugged into the charger.
04:07It will help extend the vehicle's range when you get on the road, which means less money spent on gas.
04:14If you're driving one of the newer model cars, your engine must automatically stop when you idle your car.
04:20If that's not your case, avoid idling to save fuel.
04:24Waiting for the traffic lights to turn green takes 45 to 120 seconds.
04:29And starting your car requires only 10 seconds of gas.
04:33So, if you have to stop for more than 10 seconds, turn your vehicle off.
04:38If you let it run, it can eat up to an extra half a gallon of fuel per hour.
04:45Now, in case safety isn't one of your primary concerns, at least take good care of your car for reasons of economy.
04:52Check if your tires are well inflated at least once a month.
04:56When underinflated, they wear out quicker, drag, and waste gas.
05:00Check your car's manual to see how often you should tune up your engine.
05:05It depends on the age and model.
05:07Clean the filters to keep the car going while eating less gas.
05:11Use the right motor oil.
05:12Otherwise, your car will have to work harder than it should and waste gas.
05:16There's no need to play it cool and fill up with premium fuel unless you have a high-performance engine that really can't run on anything else.
05:25That will cost you much less in the long run and won't make your vehicle go faster, cleaner, or get better mileage.
05:32If your car's manual recommends but does not require premium, at least go with lower grades for extra savings.
05:39Gas chemistry has advanced over the past decades, so don't worry about the quality of regular gas.
05:45It's all good.
05:47If you have an older car, check out your gas cap seal.
05:51Once it weakens, it lets oxygen leak into the gas tank.
05:55When that happens, gas burns way faster.
05:58You can replace the gas cap, but be prepared that the sensors might not recognize the new one
06:03unless it comes from the manufacturer or authorized supplier.
06:08If you have a manual transmission, you're in luck.
06:12You have complete control over your RPM.
06:14That's revolutions per minute.
06:17Lower gas means higher RPM.
06:19The higher the RPM, the more torque the engine produces and the more fuel it's using.
06:25So shift into the upper gears quickly.
06:27It differs from car to car, but an optimal solution would be to change to second by about 15 miles per hour
06:33and move to top gear by the time you're going at 30 to 35 miles per hour.
06:39That cargo container and the bike rack you have on the roof of your vehicle will have to go.
06:44They increase your car's wind resistance, so the engine must do more work to maintain the speed.
06:50It could mean up to 20% extra fuel consumption on the highway and up to 8% in the city.
06:56If you do need that extra storage, opt for rear-mounted cargo boxes.
07:02For those in car buying mode right now, look into a hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or all-electric one.
07:11I mean, you'll definitely cut gas costs with an electric car.
07:15Suppose you aren't ready for that much of a change.
07:18In that case, many popular models actually come in hybrid form.
07:22Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Sonata, and Volvo XC90 are all yours to go.
07:30And here comes the bonus tip that will help you cut driving costs by 100%.
07:34Are you ready for it?
07:36Don't drive!
07:38Okay, okay, let me explain.
07:39Don't drive whenever it's possible.
07:42Walk, or bike to work, or use public transport.
07:46If that's too much for you, at least swap driving responsibilities and gas costs with colleagues living in your area.
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