How To Make Your Gas Last With Prices Soaring

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gas prices are at levels not seen since 2008 and WCCB is digging into ways you can save cash at the pump along with making you tank last longer.

Sticker shock at the gas pump? You are not the only one.

“They’re just going crazy,” Charlotte resident Michael Alsbrook says “One minute you see one price and you ride around for an hour or two, the price is still changing every time I turn around.”

For Alsbook, he wanted to fuel up before any more prices increases happen.

“Well I gotta get to work, my wife has got to get to work. They’ll be no vacation trips for me, I can’t afford this high gas,” Alsbrook says.

What’s the key to making your tank last as long as possible? Greg Miller, owner of Figs Auto Repair on Freedom Drive, says you want your vehicle to run as efficiently as possible.

“Things like setting your tire pressure to the right pressure, that can make a big difference,” Miller says. “Making sure your car is in the best performing condition. So things like air filters, oil changes.”

Miller says other ways to save include:

• Use the recommended grade of gas for your vehicle.
• Put your gas cap on after you fuel up.
• Don’t drive close to an empty tank.
• Figure out what the most efficient mileage is on your specific vehicle.

“AC really anything that adds a load to the engine is going to use more fuel. So AC definitely does use more fuel when you’re running the air conditioning,” Miller says. “But the balance to that is if you turn the AC off and roll down your windows, you’re getting less aerodynamics so you’re reducing your fuel economy there too. So it’s a little bit of a tossup which one’s going to get you more efficiency.”

According to Gas Buddy, prices are expected to continue rising through the summer months. Some forecasts predict the national average could reach $4.25 per gallon by Memorial Day.