{"id":2196,"date":"2026-03-29T00:55:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T19:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ainews.prativad.com\/index.php\/7-costly-mistakes-to-avoid-at-the-pump-right-now-as-gas-prices-surge-nationwide\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T00:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T19:25:23","slug":"7-costly-mistakes-to-avoid-at-the-pump-right-now-as-gas-prices-surge-nationwide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ainews.prativad.com\/index.php\/7-costly-mistakes-to-avoid-at-the-pump-right-now-as-gas-prices-surge-nationwide\/","title":{"rendered":"7 costly mistakes to avoid at the pump right now as gas prices surge nationwide"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Gas prices are climbing again just as spring travel ramps up, putting added pressure on drivers from road trips<\/a> to simply commuting to work.<\/p>\n

The national average price for regular gas has jumped in recent weeks, climbing to about $3.98 per gallon \u2014 up roughly $1 in just the past month, according to AAA.<\/a> With seasonal demand increasing and oil prices remaining elevated, experts say drivers should expect continued volatility at the pump.<\/p>\n

PLANE SEAT LOCATION CRITICAL IN EMERGENCIES AS EXPERTS WARN ROW POSITION IMPACTS SURVIVAL ODDS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Luckily, experts say small changes behind the wheel<\/a> and simple maintenance habits can help stretch every tank further.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are 7 of their best tips.<\/p>\n

Speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking are some of the biggest fuel drains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fuel efficiency drops quickly above about 50 mph, The Points Guy<\/a> recently reported, and federal data shows aggressive driving can cut gas mileage by up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.<\/p>\n

AMERICA\u2019S AIRPORT AFFORDABILITY GAP: CITIES WHERE TRAVEL COSTS ARE CRUSHING FAMILIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Cruise control can also help keep your speed steady, but experts warn not to use it in slick conditions.<\/p>\n

Using premium gas won\u2019t improve fuel economy unless your vehicle specifically requires it.<\/p>\n

Most cars are designed to run on regular 87-octane fuel, making it the most cost-effective option, according to AAA.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Using a higher octane than recommended won\u2019t improve mileage or efficiency and typically isn\u2019t worth the added cost.<\/p>\n

Underinflated tires increase resistance on the road, forcing the engine to work harder and burn more fuel, experts say.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Tires naturally lose about 1 to 3 psi per month, and a 10 psi drop can reduce fuel economy by up to 4%. Pressure can fall even further with colder temperatures or small leaks, making regular pressure checks especially important.<\/p>\n

Many drivers believe it\u2019s more fuel-efficient to let a car idle<\/a> than to turn it off and restart it, but experts say that\u2019s a myth.<\/p>\n

A warm engine uses only about 10 seconds\u2019 worth of fuel to restart, meaning idling longer than that wastes gas, and engines can burn up to a half-gallon per hour while idling, according to AAA and government agencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Letting a car warm up for long periods is also unnecessary, as most vehicles need only about 30 seconds before driving.<\/p>\n

Extra weight \u2014 especially roof racks and cargo boxes \u2014 can significantly reduce fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

Drivers can lose about 1% of fuel economy for every 100 pounds added to a vehicle, and cargo mounted on the roof creates additional wind resistance that can cut mileage by up to 8% in the city and as much as 25% on the highway, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.<\/a><\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Clearing out your trunk or removing unused carriers can help your car go farther on each tank, while rear-mounted cargo options tend to have a smaller impact on fuel economy.<\/p>\n

Plan fuel-efficient routes<\/a> using apps like Google Maps to avoid backtracking and unnecessary stops.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Combining errands into one trip and opting for “one-stop” locations when possible can reduce driving time, especially if you avoid peak traffic and stop-and-go conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fewer trips also mean fewer cold starts, which use more fuel, helping drivers save gas over time, according to federal guidance.<\/p>\n

Air conditioning can increase fuel use \u2014 by up to 10%, in some cases \u2014 while open windows also reduce efficiency by creating drag, so experts recommend adjusting based on speed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At lower speeds, windows can be more efficient, but on highways it\u2019s better to close them and use A\/C, ideally after airing out a hot car to reduce the strain on the system.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With gas prices surging, experts say simple habits like having proper tire pressure and taking smarter routes can cut fuel costs and boost your car’s gas mileage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n7 costly mistakes to avoid at the pump right now as gas prices surge nationwide - Leading the AI News Frontier<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ainews.prativad.com\/index.php\/7-costly-mistakes-to-avoid-at-the-pump-right-now-as-gas-prices-surge-nationwide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 costly mistakes to avoid at the pump right now as gas prices surge nationwide - 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