How to save money on gas

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With the price of gas hovering around the $1.60 a litre for regular mark, and it’s expected to stay that way for a while, we’re finding out how you can save money at the pump.

Overall, there are three things you can do to help ease the pain on your wallet.

Maintain your ride by doing things like regular oil changes. Plan your errands ahead of time, so you’re being efficient and not driving around the city trying to get things done.

Niela Melanio with BCAA says the third tip is to lay off the gas. “Speeding, aggressive acceleration while you drive does make your engine work harder which means you’re using up fuel. So, we do suggest staying within the speed limit but driving at a consistent speed that will make sure you’re using your fuel more efficiently.”

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She adds driving habits that may be guided by your temper and not your skill behind the wheel can also be problematic. “Jackrabbit starts, hard braking, tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic — all these types of driving [habits] does cause you to accelerate and brake frequently which does use up a lot of fuel unnecessarily.”

It’s also a good idea to keep your tire pressure where it’s supposed to be and don’t carry extra cargo either on the roof or in the trunk, unless you absolutely have to.

Melanio says it’s also important to ensure your gas tank is never below the halfway mark, that way your engine isn’t working harder than it should be.

BCAA also recommends getting gas when you see it a decent price. “You can use gas price monitors. It gives you an interactive map to show where the lowest price of gas is being offered. Just don’t spend a lot of time driving longer distances just to save a few cents. The other way to plan is plan your gas ups ahead of time. So, keep an eye out for gas prices offered near you or along your commute and that way you’ll know it’s a good time to fill up.”

Don’t forget, you can send us the gas prices you see by Tweeting us at @1130gastracker.

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