Save At the Pump: How to Make Sure Your Car Isn’t Secretly Guzzling Gas 

What if, beginning today, you could start saving money on gas? 

While you may have good car insurance to protect your ride, that won’t protect you from paying way too much at the pump, especially in California. And, sadly, there is no magic way to keep the price of gasoline from increasing throughout the year. 

Fortunately, you can do the next best thing by following these tips to reduce your fuel consumption. 

Check the Tire Pressure 

One of the most common causes of getting bad gas mileage is also the easiest to fix: tire pressure. If your car tires don’t have the correct pressure, then every mile you drive is going to burn more fuel than it should. 

You should definitely use a gauge to check the pressure each week. Your automobile manual will tell you what the correct pressure is, and if your tires don’t have the optimal amount of pressure, you’ll need to correct that. You might be surprised by how quickly this starts improving your fuel mileage! 

Clear Out the Trunk 

Another of our favorite fuel efficiency tips is to clear all the excess junk out of your car. After all, the lighter the car, the less fuel it takes to get from Point A to Point B. 

Even if the interior of your car looks clean, don’t forget to check the trunk and clear it out if need be. It’s easy to forget about various things you tuck in there and forget to take out while driving throughout California. Periodically cleaning your trunk can help you save at the pump. 

Inspect the Spark Plugs 

When you’re looking to save money on gas, heading to a local mechanic probably doesn’t sound like one of the better fuel efficiency tips, but a bad spark plug can reduce your fuel economy by as much as 30%. 

As a general rule, the average spark plug lasts for about 100,000 miles and may misfire in the last 20,000 miles, causing you to waste more gas when driving. When this happens, replacing the spark plug can pay for itself by saving gasoline in your car. 

Replace the Air Filter and Check the Oxygen Sensors 

Speaking of trips to the mechanic, many drivers reflexively turn down the offer to replace the air filter during a routine visit. However, a dirty filter actually reduces your car’s airflow and forces your engine to burn more fuel as you drive. 

Replacing the filter is easy enough, but if you want to be really thorough, make sure to periodically have your oxygen sensors inspected. The sensors are designed to help you keep an eye on airflow (among other things), but if they are faulty, then you might have airflow problems and not even know it until you have the sensors repaired or replaced. 

Change the Oil 

Every California driver knows it’s important to change the oil in a timely manner. However, many drivers still try to push it as far as possible between changes. For example, it’s easy to go past the recommended oil change date by reasoning to yourself you haven’t really been driving all that much. 

As old oil thickens over time, it will have a harder time getting through your engine, requiring you to burn more fuel while driving. You can prevent this from happening with regular oil changes. While you’re at it, make sure to use the correct oil weight and type to get the best results. 

Save On Insurance While You Save On Gas 

Now you know our top tips to make sure your car isn’t secretly guzzling gas. But do you know who else can help you save money throughout the year? 

Here at Cost-U-Less, we help California drivers get car insurance at prices so low you might just forget how much you’re paying for gas. Ready to protect your car throughout the year? Call us at (800) 390-4071 or get a fast and free car insurance quote online. You can also find a nearby office and visit us in person.