Tip 3: Choosing the Right Gas Station

Saving fuel is about a lot more than just choosing the right car, although that is an important factor. Maintaining your car properly and driving the right way are also important factors but there is another one that many people never think about and that is choosing the right gas station. Most people are surprised to learn that there is a difference in the quality of fuel from one gas station to another and that this will affect your cars fuel efficiency. Knowing how to choose the right gas station can save you a lot of money on gas.

A lot of gas stations offer premium fuel which they claim will improve the performance of your engine. A lot of people think this is just a way to get you to pay more for gas but it turns out that these premium fuels actually do help your engine to run better and that will reduce the amount of fuel that you use. The extra cost is more than offset by the increased performance and fuel efficiency so it is a good idea to choose a gas station that offers these types of fuels.

Many gas stations have started adding methanol to the gas that they are selling and this is another way that you can save on gas. Methanol is just an alcohol that your car's engine can burn in the same way that it burns gas. Adding this to your fuel will significantly increase the mileage that you get out of your car so it is a good idea to choose a gas station that offers this type of gas. An added benefit of methanol is that it burns without producing anything like the kind of emissions as regular gas so there is an environmental benefit to using it as well.

A lot of contaminants can get into the gas while it is being stored at the gas station so it is a good idea to make sure that the station that you choose to fill up at filters their gas at the pump. The only way to do this is to ask, while you are at it you are going to want to ask how frequently the filters are changed since they will become less effective after awhile. Ideally you should restrict your gas purchases to stations that use filters and change them on a regular basis. It is also a good idea to avoid any stations where you see the truck there filling up the tanks. Most contaminants tend to settle at the bottom of the tank but when the tank is being refilled they get mixed up and it will take awhile before they settle to the bottom again. This will increase the chances they will get into your engine and affect your fuel efficiency. If you have the option it is best to choose a different gas station if you see the tanker truck at the one you are planning to use.