Quiz: How Many Gas-Saving Tips Can You Name? Oil Expert Gives 15 Tips

Oil CEO, Chris Faulkner offers 15 tips for saving on gasoline this summer.  Can you name all 15 ways to save gas?  Answers are at the bottom of the blog with the 15-tip list from Chris Faulkner in its entirety.

1.  Three part question:  a) What days of the week are the best / b) What time of these days are the best for saving on gas prices and c) What days should you never purchase gasoline?

2.  True or False?  Running your engine wastes more gas then re-starting your engine.

3.  Is it better to buy gas during the cool of the day?

4.  How many pounds of weight in the vehicle does it take to eat up an extra mile per gallon of gas?

5.  How many more cents per gallon do conveniently-located gas stations charge?

6.  Should you choose full serve or self serve?  Credit card or cash?

7.  How many cents per gallon can you be overcharged if the attendant/pump mistakenly charges for credit card as opposed to cash payment?

8.  What are ways you can drive less?

9.  Where can you check for traffic and construction delays before you leave the house?

10.    When should you close your windows and run the air conditioning and when should you turn off the air conditioning and roll down the windows to save on gas?

11.  When traveling, what kind of car should you rent and what should you do before leaving the house?

12.  What octane can most cars run on to be most efficient?

13.  What are two helpful apps you can download to help get the best gas mileage and save on gas?

14.  What Website offers discount gas gift cards?

15.  How do gas credit cards save you money?


ANSWERS:

1. Fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 am. Gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel.  10 am is when most station owners make their price change for the day.  Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

2. Don't let your car idle, either when you warm it up or when you are at a standstill. If you're going to be standing for more than a minute, running your engine wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

3. Buy gas when it's cooler during the day (like the early morning or at night) to reduce gas evaporation.

4. Remove unnecessary items in your car. Every 250 extra pounds eats up an extra mile per gallon of gas.

5. Avoid the convenient gas station on the side of the highway as you drive home from work which can be up to $.15 more per gallon.

6. Save money with self-service and look for gas stations where paying cash costs the same as using a credit or debit card.

7. Double check the attendant and ensure, if you are paying by cash, that “cash” is noted on the pump.  You could lose $.05 a gallon if he mistakenly presses “credit.”

8. Drive less - combine errands, carpool, and plot out the shortest route with a driving website beforehand.  It may sound obvious but it is often overlooked.

9. Check for traffic and detours online or on the radio prior to beginning your drive to avoid wasteful backtracking and idling.

10. Keep your windows closed when driving on the highway. Open windows can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 10%.  In stop-and-go traffic, open the windows and turn off the air conditioning to save more money.

11. Rent fuel-efficient cars when you travel and research reasonably priced places to buy gas before you leave.

12. Confirm with your mechanic what octane gasoline your car’s engine really needs.  Most car engines do not require high octane though the manual will say its "recommended."

13. Download a Gas App for your phone.  If you have a Smartphone, there are plenty of free apps that help you find the cheapest gas near your destination. GasBuddy makes it easy with its free app, and MapQuest has an online finder for gas prices.

14. Buy Discount Gas Gift Cards - Did you know you don't have to pay full price for a gift card? Sites like GiftCardGranny.com offer a diverse selection of discount gas gift cards from various card vendors.

15.  Be loyal to one gas company and get rewarded with it’s cash-back credit card reward program.