7 Gas Saving Myths Busted

If you're like most drivers, you've probably come across several quick fix ideas to help improve fuel economy. But many of these ideas are urban legends that don't actually improve gas mileage.

Morning Fill-Ups Get You More Gas

Fluids are denser at lower temperatures, so if you fill up your gas tank in cold weather you'll get more gas, right? Wrong. Gas tanks are kept at a set temperature, so there's no benefit in waking up early to buy fuel.

Turning Air Conditioning Off and Rolling Down Windows Increases Fuel Economy

Running your vehicle's air conditioning is no worse for your gas mileage than driving with your windows down. As your vehicle speeds up, air flow creates a drag against the vehicle, making the engine work harder and hurting gas mileage. In fact, air conditioning can be a more efficient option at higher speeds.

Letting Your Engine Idle Uses Less Gas Than Starting and Stopping

Modern vehicles use more gas while idling than they do starting the engine, so when you park your vehicle for a short period of time, you save fuel by turning the engine off and restarting it.

Spoilers Add to the Aerodynamics of a Vehicle, Increasing Gas Mileage

Spoilers add additional weight to your vehicle, making your engine work harder and lowering gas mileage. Getting rid of unnecessary junk, such as an old toolbox in the trunk, is a great way to lighten your load and increase your fuel economy.

Dirty Air Filter Leads to Bad Gas Mileage

Keeping your vehicle's air filter clean doesn't increase gas mileage. Your engine's performance may lag if the air filter is clogged, but it won't make a noticeable change in your fuel economy.

Purchasing Premium Gas Increases Fuel Economy

Each make and model of vehicle requires a specific octane to run efficiently. Using a higher octane than required can make it harder for the engine to burn fuel, resulting in lower gas mileage.

Chemical Additives Make Your Vehicle's Engine More Efficient

If a five dollar bottle of fuel additives could drastically improve gas mileage, gas stations would be scrambling to add it to their fuel. No additive can make gasoline burn more slowly, so don't bother wasting your money.

If you're one of the millions of drivers feeling pain at the pump, skip the gas-saving gimmicks and save money on your auto insurance. InsWeb.com's online auto insurance quote form can help you find the amount of auto insurance coverage you need.