Chances are, like any average American driver, you plan gas into your monthly budget, pay more attention to how much you are driving and the gas you are using, and maybe even have changed some of your everyday habits or road trips plans to afford the present gas prices which are still above average. A recent article from MSNBC online might be able to provide you some tips as to how to save some money on gas by explaining the most common gas mistakes us drivers make and the simple fixes that will land you more money in your pockets to go back to the way things used to be.

By collecting data from several organizations like government agencies, automotive consumer agencies, and car rental companies, the article lists out several ways that drivers can save on fuel economy, in turn saving money at the pump. These common but often overlooked mistakes may be costing you a lot of money.
First, don’t drive too fast. Different cars reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, but after 60 mph, gas mileage decreases rapidly. As stated in the article, “for every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you’re paying an extra 24¢ per gallon for gas, according to fueleconomy.gov, the official U.S. government source for information on energy efficiency. Plus, gas is consumed when you step on the pedal harder.” Try not to step on the pedal quickly or make frequent stops and starts. Drive smoothly is the first step to saving gas.

Second, we may be using the air conditioner incorrectly. At slower speeds, it is recommended to roll down the windows instead of using the A/C because the engine has to work harder to pump out the cold air. Some experts say that at highway speeds, open windows increase the aerodynamic drag and the engine actually works harder than if it were using the A/C. That theory is still being looked into, however.

For road trips, too much luggage in and on the car can also decrease fuel economy. A roof rack can lessen the aerodynamics of the car, and decrease fuel economy by almost 5%. More weight in and on the car means more work (and gas!) for the engine.

A little extra TLC that the vehicle may not be getting is another mistake on the list. Engine and car maintenance is important, and auto repair shops may offer many of these important services needed to ensure your vehicle runs safely and optimally. Low tire and brake fluids, missing or broken gas caps, and so on all add to lowered gas mileage and can be looked at by an auto repair shop. “Replacing the oxygen sensor, for example, can be crucial. The sensor monitors the amount of oxygen in the exhaust and tells the car to adjust its air/fuel mixture based on its reading. If it’s acting improperly, the car will run poorly and waste gas (fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent, according to fueleconomy.gov).” Preventative maintenance services are affordable and could end up saving you tens of thousands of dollars throughout the life of your vehicle. This means routinely checking your vehicle could mean financial savings on both gas and repairs.

Burning gas before even driving is another common mistake. Letting the car warm up idling or cool down before getting in it does not give optimal fuel efficiency. For every two minutes the car is idling, it uses the same amount of fuel as driving one mile. By lowering the amount of time your car idles either in the driveway or stuck in traffic, you are saving miles worth of gas without even driving less!

Another mistake mentioned in the article is not planning out the best and most fuel-efficient route before you head out on the road. Avoid routes that will leave you sitting in traffic, and also routes that require excessive amounts of stops and starts. Direct routes will give the most fuel efficiency. Lastly, check out hotels that will actually give out gas cards when you stay there. The article lists a few hotel chains that will do just that, which can save you a lot of money on those road trips you might not have taken due to the cost of gas in the first place.