Whether we’re trying to save money, save gas or save the environment, most of us Reno drivers have an interest in decreasing fuel consumption. We’ve all heard about ways to save money on gas in Nevada, but does it really add up too much? By how much can we boost our fuel economy through preventive maintenance and more courteous driving?

The US government has a website that actually answers that question. Let’s look at some of the data and find out if any of these fuel-saving ideas are really worth the effort. We’ve all heard that a tune-up can improve gas mileage. It turns out that it can save us 4% at the pump. At $3.50 a gallon, that’s 14¢ per gallon in savings, and at $4.00 a gallon, that’s a 16¢ per gallon savings.

Other common repair items can also save you money at the pump. For example, if your oxygen sensor is faulty, it’s not delivering the information to your engine’s computer that allows it to calculate the right fuel-to-air ratio. The result? The fuel doesn’t burn efficiently. You can save 40% at the pump by replacing a faulty sensor. That’s certainly a reason to improve your car care and have the automotive professionals at Wayne’s Automotive Center inspect things once in a while.

The check engine light will be activated by a faulty oxygen sensor. Many other problems which are big fuel wasters will do the same. Finding out why your light is on and fixing the problem will also improve your fuel economy. Bring your car into Wayne’s Automotive Center in Sparks and we will take care of it for you.

What about tires? Reno drivers have all heard that keeping them inflated will improve our gas mileage. True? Yep. It’s a 3% savings for that one. And even small drops in tire pressure can start to add up, so a weekly tire check is in order.

Using the correct weight in motor oil is another way you can save at Reno area gas pumps. It adds up to a 2% savings.

What about that courteous driving? That doesn’t cost us anything and doesn’t require our Reno service center to implement anything. Is it worth the bother?

Again, the answer is yes. Sudden acceleration, such as charging away from stoplights, sudden stops and quick lane changes all add up to lowered fuel economy. Taking it easy when you drive on Nevada roads amounts to a 5% savings around town and a whopping 33% savings on the freeway. Is it worth your time to slow down? How much do you get paid?

Speeding is another way we hurt ourselves at the gas pump. We’ve all heard that it’s okay to drive five miles over the speed limit, but that actually hurts our wallets. Eventually, it could add up to more than a speeding ticket. An extra five miles over the speed limit ends up costing us 7% per gallon. Fifteen miles over? 23% Now there’s a reason to slow down.

Another thing Reno vehicle owners can do to improve that costs nothing is to toss the junk out of our trunks. In other words, clean out the car and stop hauling around non-essentials. Don’t treat your vehicle like a storage locker. You can save 2% at the pump by dumping one hundred pounds of extra weight.

So when you tell someone you were going somewhere anyway and they’re welcome to come along, that’s okay. But if someone tells you they need to come along and it’s no harm to you since you were going anyway—well, now you can tell them, “Sorry, dude, but you’re an extra fifteen cents a gallon!”

All joking aside, let’s all do ourselves a favor and fatten up our wallets by practicing good car care and better driving habits in Nevada.