With the rising cost of gas prices and no end in sight, everyone wants to save as much money at the gas pump as they possibly can. The increases are so staggering that in some households gas is now a luxury. Now while you may not be able to control the price of gas, you can change certain habits and follow some basic guidelines to help you save as much money as possible.

Rising gas and oil prices each year mean that the average driver, who travels approximately 15,000 miles each year in a car that gets about 20 miles to the gallon, will pay more at the end of the year for his gas costs.

Every time that the price of gas goes up at the fuel pump by 10 cents the cost of the average drivers gas consumption will rise by about $75 over the course of a year.

In this article we’ll begin with FIVE gas-saving tips which you can implement immediately, and start to put the money back in YOUR pocket instead of THEIRS!

1. What time of day should you buy fuel?

Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures. Gas pumps are set to measure the volume of the fuel that you pump and not the density.

This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning temperatures, or in the colder evening hours, that you’ll be getting better gas price economy. Try to fill up your gas tank later in the evening to avoid the rush of day hours. Add to that, if you live in a city where the price of gas fluctuates daily, chances are, it will be less expensive in the evening too. This is because most commuters in smaller cities buy their gas on their way to work rather than on their way home. Although it may only be a penny or two less, over the course of a year it adds up fast! There does tend to be one difference. If you live in a larger city where the morning rush hour is a problem, the busiest time for a gas station tends to be Sunday night. Once again – a peak time to avoid.

2. Keep A fuel log

Invest in a small notebook and pen for your car and write down all your gas purchases and mileage that you travel.
Start to develop the habit of knowing exactly how much that you are spending in fuel costs.
You can also use your fuel log to keep track of the best places to buy your gasoline. You want to see a pattern develop so that you can track your gas spending habits and then make changes if needed.

3. Keep an eye on gas consumption

The more aware you are of the amount of fuel that you use the more you can do to try to reduce your gas costs. If you notice that your gas efficiency is decreasing it could be an indicating factor that your car needs servicing. Make weekly comparisons with your fuel log to see how much your gas consumption is going up and your mileage per gallon is going down.

If you are finding that you are constantly seeing less and less performance from your car and spending more for gas at the fuel pump then you’ll know that you need to take action so that you can start seeing a savings in your gas economy rather than a constant deficit.

4. Buy gas from a busy station

Try to buy your gas from a gas station that is consistently busy and therefore has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis. Gas stations that are slow will have gas that has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time, leading to gas contamination.

This contamination can mean that the gas you are purchasing is less powerful than fresh gas and will decrease your fuel economy.

5. Turn the nozzle

When you have finished filling up your gas tank try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees.
This will drain a bit more gas into your tank; in some cases up to an entire half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you’ll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you never have known about.

Implement these five tips and keep your vehicle well-maintained. Your car will soon be getting more road to the dollar in no time!