‘You’re Wasting Money’ 4 Ways to Save Fuel While Pumping Gas
For some reason, young drivers are nervous about getting gas. However, it’s a challenge that they’ll have to tackle to succeed in life. So, why not learn how to master refueling by learning how to save money while pumping gas to make the most of it?
Four ways to save money while pumping gas
It’s time to get drivers more than comfortable at the gas pump. That’s why TikTok user @daddybrownn is here with four ways to save money while pumping gas. Some of these tips are even new to me!
1. Get fuel in the morning
The first tip is to fill up your car early in the morning. Gas expands when it’s warm, and it’s denser at colder temperatures. If you hit up a station in the afternoon, the fuel will have already expanded in the tank.
That means you run the risk of getting less fuel in the afternoon.
2. Fill up slowly
Fun fact: The notches on the fuel-up handle control your pumping speed. Daddy Brownn recommends using the slowest setting, even if you’re in a hurry.
Pumping gas at faster speeds turns more of it into vapor. The pumps have a vapor return line to add the vapor back to the tank. This means that you could be paying for gas that you aren’t even getting.
3. Don’t let your tank hit E
Next, don’t wait until your tank is running on empty to fill up. Gas evaporates when it comes into contact with air, so driving on an empty tank may allow the gas to evaporate faster.
This is because more air is entering the tank. Experts recommend filling up to half a tank to get the best fuel economy.
4. Avoid tanker trucks
If you see a large tanker truck filling up the tanks at a gas station, avoid that location for the time being. The truck is filling the tanks underground, and this causes dirt and debris to get stirred up.
So, if you fill up while that’s happening, there is a higher risk of dirt and debris getting in your gas tank. However, most cars do have filters to prevent that from happening.
I’ve reached out to @daddybrownn to see if he can talk through filling up for new drivers.
What are other ways to save fuel?
Other ways to get the most out of your gas include keeping your tires inflated. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly inflated tires can improve your fuel economy by up to 3.3%.
However, under-inflated tires can reduce your efficiency by about 0.3% for every psi drop in pressure. Stay on top of your tire pressure as the temperature drops.
Also, go the speed limit. It might seem a little boring to adhere to traffic laws, but it’s a smart thing to do. Every five miles per hour over 50 mpg adds another 14 cents to a gallon of gas.
Remember to slowly accelerate, maintain a steady speed, and gently brake to save as much fuel as possible.
Take advantage of deals. Joining rewards programs at the gas station or store to earn cash back or points on purchases. Plus, most stations provide a discount for cash payments.
There are apps you can use like GasBuddy, to find the cheapest prices around. You can also check online before heading out.
It can be helpful to plan accordingly. Typically, gas prices increase on the weekends, so you can score extra savings by filling up around Wednesday morning instead.
Avoid letting your car idle for too long. If you have to sit in your car for over a minute or run inside to grab something, cut the engine.
What do the comments say?
People in the comments are amazed by learning that gas pumps have speed settings. Also, some argue that the fuel filter in cars and pumps is effective at preventing debris from entering the tank.
Some folks think that all of this extra work isn’t worth it and complain that it’s already hot by 8 AM in warmer states.
Also, one comment suggests that gas prices are higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Some places do practice this price cycling tactic.
Others mentioned that air temperature does not impact the volume in fuel in underground tanks very much. Plus, gas is heat-corrected by the tanks underground.
