| The statewide gas price average in Texas is $3.26 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. That price is 39 cents more when compared to this day last week and is 59 cents more per gallon compared to this day last year. Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Texas, drivers in El Paso are paying the most on average at $3.55 per gallon while drivers in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area are paying the least at $3.07 per gallon. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.60, which is 35 cents more when compared to this day last week and 52 cents more when compared to this day last year. Gas prices are facing upward pressure as crude oil prices remain elevated amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Iran. At the same time, Spring Break travel is increasing demand at the pump, with many drivers hitting the road this month. Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline, so when oil prices climb, gas prices typically follow. In recent days, crude has topped $100 per barrel multiple times. To help ease rising prices, the U.S. announced it will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over four months, as part of a broader International Energy Agency effort to release 400 million barrels of oil — the largest emergency release in the agency’s history. “Drivers are feeling the impact of elevated crude oil prices just as Spring Break travel ramps up and more people are fueling up for road trips,” said Daniel Armbruster, spokesperson for AAA Texas. “With uncertainty surrounding Iran and increased seasonal demand, drivers may continue to see gas prices fluctuate in the days ahead.” AAA Fuel Saving Tips - Watch your speed. Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
- Avoid excessive idling. A car engine consumes one quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Where safe to do so, shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute.
- Regular vs. Premium. Pay close attention to the words “recommended” and “required.” If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Choosing premium when your car doesn’t require it will only cost you money and doesn’t improve fuel economy.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle (e.g., trunk, cargo area, etc. ) as weight increases the amount of effort it takes to move the vehicle.
- Check and maintain your tire pressure. Maintaining the proper pressure will save you gas money as it takes less effort to move the vehicle and proper tire pressure decreases wear on the tires. Follow the recommended pressure as identified in your owner’s manual and/or a decal located on the driver’s side door.
- For road trips, map out your route ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stops. Pack enough water and snacks to hold you over to avoid spending extra cash on fast food.
- AAA has a free travel tool TripTik Travel Planner that lets you identify gas stations, EV charging stations, hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, and attractions along your route. That helps keep you on track and avoids unnecessary detours.
- Another handy tool for road trips is the AAA Gas Cost Calculator which estimates fuel costs for your vehicle’s make and model.
- Take advantage of fuel rewards at gas stations. AAA members can save at the pump over Spring Break by signing up for Shell Fuel Rewards®. Members who register now through April 30 will get 35¢/gallon off their first fill at participating Shell stations, and all AAA Fuel Rewards members will save 10¢/gallon during that time period, which is an additional 5¢/gallon compared to the standard Fuel Rewards discount.
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