Why Are Gas Prices So High?

We've all asked ourselves "Why are gas prices so high?". But we should really be asking is really "how can I improve my gas mileage?".

World gas prices continue to climb. Experts all agree the price of oil is likely to continue rising, at least in the short term. But there are some concrete actions we can take to lessen the sting. The most important actions we can take revolve around gas mileage improvements. A 25% improvement in gas mileage means 25% fewer fill-ups. This translates into a lot of green!

Of all the ways to improve gas mileage, general driving habits have the biggest impact. As an example, simply avoiding peak drive times for errands can save 10% or more. Congestion, stop-and-go traffic, and increased idling times burn gas needlessly. Keep in mind that your car gets exactly zero miles per gallon when you are sitting in traffic!

One of the ways I improve my gas mileage, that has added safety benefits, is making sure my tires are properly inflated. Tires with low pressure are much harder to spin, and create excess friction and drag. By keeping my tires at their correct pressure, I get another 2-3% gas mileage improvement. I also save unnecessary wear, extending the life of my tires.

There are many other basic maintenance steps that can boost mpg. Changing dirty or clogged air filters and dirty oil insure your car's engine will run at higher efficiency.

When asking why are gas prices so high, we should consider whether we are buying the cheapest gas available. I don't just mean finding the station with the lowest prices, but the grade of gasoline we buy. Most cars run just as well on lower octane, cheaper grades of fuel. With a difference as much as 20% between "Super" and "Regular", this could be one of the quickest, surest ways to save.