Updated: March 10, 2022
Owning a car is a dream for many. Young urban professionals, especially Pinoys, consider this as one of their top priorities.
I remember a friend who lived frugally for two years so he could save money. He worked hard and never (and I really meant never) dined out nor went to bars or clubs on weekends.
Of course, his efforts were later rewarded. He eventually had enough to pay the downpayment; and with his car loan application easily approved, he was finally able to drive home his dream car.
Everything went well until he realized how expensive gasoline is these days
When he paid the downpayment to the car sales agent, he thought that his extremely frugal lifestyle is over; that he can now go bar hopping or take road trips on weekends.
He’s obviously wrong. Soon, he found himself back to his thrifty habits. He could actually afford the loan payments. What he didn’t anticipate or failed to consider are the costs of owning a car.
If you’re in a similar situation as my friend, then here are some facts and practical tips to help you lower your fuel costs.
Gas and Money-Saving Tips for Car Owners
1. Warming up your engine should only take about 45 seconds to a minute.
2. Turn off your engine if you’re going to be idle for more than two minutes.
3. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts; accelerate slowly when starting from a dead stop. Keep a steady speed when driving.
4. Buy gasoline during the coolest time of day because it’s when gasoline is densest and therefore, you get more fuel concentration per volume.
5. Drive at around 80 kph where gas efficiency is best compared to higher speeds.
6. Keep windows closed to avoid air drag especially when driving at highway speeds.
7. When choosing between routes, select the shorter one, with less rough roads, and more straight paths.
8. Tune-up your car regularly.
9. Remove excess weight from the trunk and inside your car. Unless necessary, don’t fill up to a full tank.
10. Check tire air pressures regularly.
11. Distribute passenger weight evenly throughout the car.
12. Carpool or just commute once in a while, especially when you’re going to someplace accessible to public transportation.
I hope you find these tips helpful.
I wrote a Part 2 for this post, which you can check out here: 9 More Quick Tips On How To Save Gas
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tip #4 is interesting… i will do that… thanks!
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Same here. I know somebody who got himself a brand-new car. After a while though, he realized it might not be worth it because of the high cost of fuel.
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