As gas prices in Michigan climb past $4 per gallon — and $6 for diesel — drivers are looking for ways to save money and make their fuel last longer.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Michigan’s average was $4.43 per gallon while the national average was lower at $4.32. The average price in Michigan for diesel was $6.25 per gallon — a record high in Michigan.
Fuel prices have increased dramatically in the past week, in large part because of the continuing conflict with Iran that has blocked about 20% of the world's supply of oil and gas from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The shortage of oil had already forced national retailerCostco to put some limits in place on oil.
Experts say prices could continue rising because of the Iran war, which has now blocked
both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al Mandab Strait between Yemen and Djibouti.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) the size and weight of your vehicle have the most to do with fuel efficiency, but there are things you can do to improve efficiency and extend your vehicle's range.
"Every vehicle has a maximum fuel efficiency that is based on numerous factors," AAA said. "In general, smaller and lighter cars get better gas mileage than bigger, heavier vehicles, and no amount of tweaking will change that. However, keeping your vehicle well-maintained and being careful to drive smoothly and evenly can help maximize gas mileage within the vehicle's limits."
Here are some tips from AAA.
Maintain speed, abide by speed limits to reduce fuel consumption
Hard starts and stops, rapid acceleration and hard breaking can reduce fuel economy by 40% in city traffic, according to AAA.
In most cars, fuel economy peaks at around 50-60 mph before dropping off. Lowering highway speed by just 5 to 10 mph can save up to 14% of fuel consumption, AAA said.
"Modern cars are made to travel easily at posted highway speeds, so be careful not to tie up traffic just to increase gas mileage," AAA cautioned.
Utilize cruise control to prevent unnecessary acceleration
Maintaining a consistent speed uses less fuel than speeding up and slowing down constantly.
Check tire inflation monthly to prevent road resistance
Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which reduces fuel economy and makes them prone to wearing out faster, AAA explained.
Drivers should check their tires for proper inflation at least once a month.
"All tires have an optimal tire pressure that you can typically find on a sticker on the driver-side door frame," AAA said. "Overinflated tires can lead to a stiffer ride, decreased traction and a higher risk of blowouts. In contrast, underinflated tires have increased rolling resistance, which reduces fuel economy and makes them prone to wearing out more quickly."
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said properly inflating tirescan save you as much as 11 cents per gallon on fuel.
"Yet only 19% of consumers properly inflate their tires. That means 4 out of 5 consumers are wasting money because of underinflated tires," NHTSA said.
Clean engines filters to improve efficiency
A dirty engine filter can reduce fuel economy, especially in an older car or under severe driving conditions.
Air filters should be changed every 30,000 to 45,000 miles, based on conditions.
"The most important thing is to make sure it's clean, which is pretty easy to do yourself," AAA said.
Avoid idling in your driveway
A vehicle's engine consumes one quarter to one half gallon of fuel per hour when idling. A warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart.
Where safe to do so, experts say shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute.
Clean out your car often to lighten the load
Removing unnecessary and bulky items from your car makes your vehicle more fuel efficient because it takes more fuel to accelerate a heavier car.
Additionally, minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use.
Reducing weight by 100 pounds can provide a 1% increase in fuel economy.
Use the proper fuel when applicable
According to AAA research, unless premium fuel is recommended or required by your car’s manufacturer, it provides no added benefit.
Driving around with the 'check engine' light on? Stop doing that
If yourcheck engine light comes on, it's a warning sign that something is wrong with your engine or your car's emissions system.
A solid light means you need to get the car looked at soon, but it's not an emergency unless the vehicle begins shaking, making strange sounds or is otherwise acting strangely.
If the check engine light flashes, consider it an emergency. Driving with a flashing check engine light could result in catastrophic engine failure.
"Either way, many of the problems that cause the check engine light to come on can also reduce fuel efficiency," AAA said.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gas climbs toward records, but you can still save money. Here's how
