Make Your Driving Dollars Go Farther

Posted: 6/5/2013

Remember to keep the top of a battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which can drain battery power.

(NAPSI)—From daily commuting to summer road trips, the amount of time we spend driving adds up quickly…and so can travel costs. However, a few good driving habits can help put the brakes on unnecessary spending and get you on the road to savings:

• Watch your speed. A faster trip may be less fuel efficient. When traveling at speeds above 50 mph, gas mileage tends to decrease rapidly.

• Lose weight in your car. Every extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent, so keep your trunk clear of unnecessary items.

• Find gas pumps that pay you back. Some stations, like participating BP stations, allow you to save on future fill-ups. With the BP Driver Rewards program, for every 20 gallons of BP fuel you purchase, with a minimum of two transactions, you can earn a 5-cents-off-per-gallon reward. It’s free to join. Rewards accumulate automatically and may be redeemed as soon as one hour from being earned-without the wait for monthly statements or additional purchases at other retailers, as many loyalty programs require. Program rewards may be redeemed toward a single fill-up (up to 20 gallons), for a period of 90 days following the month in which they were earned, and may not be able to be combined with other offers. To save even more, you can use a BP Visa credit card to pay for your fuel purchases along with the BP Driver Rewards card. Visit www.bpdriverrewards.com for terms and conditions and participating locations.

• Avoid idling. When parked, shut off your engine to save fuel. An idling engine can consume up to a half gallon of fuel per hour.

• Inflate for a smoother ride. Keep your tires at the proper pressure to get up to 3.3 percent better gas mileage.

• Choose quality gasoline. Fill up with a quality fuel like BP gasoline with Invigorate®, which can help your car get a few more miles per tank when compared to low-detergent gasoline. When used continuously, it helps clean and protect critical engine parts from harmful deposits, so you’ll go a little farther between fill-ups. Results will vary depending on a variety of factors and in tests were more significant in older model vehicles.

• Rack up a more efficient ride. Use a removable roof or bicycle rack and install it only when needed. By avoiding the extra bulk, you’ll minimize aerodynamic drag—the air and wind resistance your vehicle must overcome to accelerate and maintain a constant speed.

• Cruise cautiously. Use the cruise control on long stretches of highway driving when it’s safe to do so, which can help save fuel by helping your car maintain a steady speed. Driving aggressively by rapid acceleration and braking uses more gas.