All around the nation, and according to one website, here in Arizona too, gas prices are being affected by the current events taking place in the Middle East. The unrest in many countries across the world will continue to have a direct effect on the gas prices we are paying and will pay in the near future. The US Energy Information Administration estimates that the average retail fuel price in the nation for unleaded gasoline rose 7 out of the last 8 weeks. The East Valley Tribune has the average for the prices in the state of Arizona at $3.256/gallon and the nation average as $3.228/gallon. The article explains that the price of crude oil has exceeded $100/barrel, causing the increase. AAA Arizona explains, “This in large part can be attributed to unrest in Libya, one of Africa’s top oil producing countries. Conflict in the country has caused market anxiety over the possible disruption of Libyan crude, or the spread of unrest to the Persian Gulf.”

Those tens of cents add up when filling up at the pump, and many drivers have a hard time squeezing out those extra dollars in the current state of our economy. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to save gas and money. First, additives are one option that can be injected directly into your fuel tank and extend the lifetime of your fuel components, as well as decrease the amount of gasoline your car will utilize. With the cost of gas as high as it is, adding fuel additives to your tank can save you money, as their average cost is reasonably affordable.

Planning your route can also help to save money. Thinking about what time of the day (traffic, weather, etc…) you will be driving and the shortest routes with the least amount of stop and go traffic will also save you gas. Your vehicle will get more mileage when you aren’t stopping at frequent intervals. If you have more than one stop, plan those out in order so you aren’t wasting gas driving unnecessary miles all around town.

Driving habits are one of the best (and cost-effective) ways to reduce the amount of gas your vehicle consumes on a regular basis. First, braking correctly can save gas right there, as well as save the life of your brakes. Your car needs the most gas during acceleration, not to keep it moving. Slamming on the brakes requires more acceleration. Keep your distance and brake smoothly to avoid unnecessary gas consumption during acceleration. Similarly, this is the key to saving gas during times of heavy traffic flow. Keep your distance, brake smooth, anticipate the moves ahead, and don’t slam on your brakes.

Turn off your air conditioning when you can, although rolling down the windows will also take gas. You car works hard with the air conditioning on, so only use it when needed and in intervals, and park in the shade if you can so you won’t need to blast the AC when you get back in your vehicle. One more thing to remember, force = mass times acceleration. Reducing the weight in your vehicle will reduce the mass and reduce the gas needed to move it. Empty your trunk from unneeded, heavy items, and plan to put them in only when you will use them. When your car is not in use, turn it off. Idling does use small amounts of gasoline. Lastly, driving slower and using less RPMs will also decrease the amount of gas it takes you to drive at higher RPMs. Driving fast increases your turbulence and thus, your fuel consumption. Keep the RPMs lower and you won’t need to fill up at the pump quite so often.

Before driving those longer distances, take your vehicle for a quick preventative maintenance check to ensure your tires have the correct pressure and treads. Find a reliable auto repair shop that will help to explain these gas-saving tips and how to keep your vehicle safe and efficient in every way possible.