While it may be challenging to find savings at the pump, experts are sharing advice to help drivers save on gas and visit the pumps less often.
As of Friday morning, advertised prices around Metro Vancouver ranged from $2.04 to $2.24 per litre.
The average cost has returned to heights seen before the federal government suspended the fuel excise tax from April 20 until Labour Day.
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Gas prices have been increasing around the globe since the onset of the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran and disruptions to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, curtailing the flow of millions of barrels of crude each day.
David Undercoffler, head of consumer insights for Car Gurus Canada, says drivers can conserve gas by moving “smoothly.”
He explains that accelerating is among the actions that use the most fuel, and recommends braking slowly, taking off slowly, and using cruise control whenever possible.
“If you can kind of lighten up a little bit, that’s one of just the easiest ways to save on gas,” said Undercoffler.
“Growing up and learning to drive, my grandfather taught me this mindset of ‘imagine you’re driving a bathtub full of water, and you don’t want to spill a single drop.’ If you were doing that, you would ease into acceleration because you don’t want the water to spill out the back, and then when you’re slowing down, you would slow into that. You don’t want the water to spill out the front. That’s a good mindset for also keeping good fuel economy.”
He adds that closing windows and using air conditioning, selecting the right motor oil, and maintaining proper tire pressure can help a vehicle use less gas.
“If you really want the true tire pressure for your vehicle, check the [label on the] driver’s door, see what it recommends. Then definitely keep all four tires at that level.”
Other details, he says, can be found in the owner’s manual.
Finally, Undercoffler recommends lightening up, literally.
“If you have cargo, heavy stuff in your car that you don’t need in your car, take that stuff out. Any extra weight is going to slow down your fuel economy,” he said, adding that unused bike or ski racks add a lot of weight and change the aerodynamics of a vehicle.
To track the effects of small changes, Undercoffler recommends setting and monitoring the car’s trip computer from one full tank to the next.
Depending on the vehicle, he says drivers can expect to improve their fuel economy by up to 30 per cent.
As always, the most fuel-efficient way to travel is by taking public transit, walking, or active transport such as cycling.
—With files from Sonia Aslam and Aastha Pandey-Kanaan