Gas prices are rising in WA. How to save pennies at the pump

Gas prices across the nation and in Washington resumed an upward climb this week after holding steady at the turn of April.

Along with escalating crude oil costs, pumps are facing pressure from seasonal factors — refinery maintenance, the switch to summer gasoline and rising demand, according to GasBuddy, which tracks gas prices.

“OPEC’s production cuts continue to cause declining global oil inventories, with escalations between Iran and Israel adding to concerns of further destabilization,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in an April 8 blog post.

In Washington, the nation’s third-most-expensive market for gasoline behind California and Hawaii, drivers are paying an average of $4.66 per gallon. This is about $1 over the national average and 26 cents more than Washington’s average this time last year, according to AAA.

Among Washington’s 14 metros, the Seattle area has the highest gasoline prices, with the average price of $4.81 per gallon as of Thursday.

San Juan County has the state’s most expensive gas by county, with the average price of $5.08 per gallon as of Thursday. Wahkiakum County ($4.97), Pacific County ($4.89), Jefferson County ($4.88) and King County ($4.85) round out the remaining top five, according to AAA.

Drivers across the country this week are seeing gas prices rising about 6 cents compared to a week ago. The nationwide average is $3.63 for a gallon of regular gas as of Thursday, up 23 cents from a month ago and 2 cents from last year, according to AAA.

In the U.S., Colorado is the cheapest state for gas, where drivers paid an average of $3.08 for a gallon of regular at the pump as of Thursday, according to AAA.

Gas prices on the West Coast are likely to continue to rise, and in a week or so, will be joined by the mid-Atlantic and Northeast states as they wrap up the transition to summer gasoline, De Haan said.

For those looking to cut down fuel use and make the most of each drop, AAA has some fuel-saving tips:

Ownership, maintenance and repairs

• When buying a car, look for models that offer the best fuel economy in their class. Most drivers do not need optional larger and/or more powerful engines, AAA said.
• Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular service will help ensure optimum fuel economy and longevity.
• If the “check engine” light comes on, take your car to a repair shop as soon as possible.
• Keep tires properly inflated.

The daily drive

• Slow down and drive the speed limit. As speeds increase above 50 mph, fuel economy drops off due to aerodynamic drag.
• Avoid “jack rabbit” starts and hard acceleration. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption.
• Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in winter. If your car will be stopped for more than 60 seconds, shut off the engine to save fuel.
• When driving in town, adjust speed to “time” the traffic lights. Doing so reduces repeated braking and acceleration that consume additional fuel.
• When approaching a red light or stop sign, take your foot off the gas early. Allow your car to slow down until it is time to brake.
• Accelerate smoothly with light to moderate throttle. Doing so reduces engine rpm, saving fuel.
• Using cruise control helps maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, because of safety concerns, never use cruise control on slippery roads, AAA said.
• If your car has a manual transmission, upshift as soon as you can without “lugging” the engine. You can also save fuel by skip-shifting (for example, going directly from first gear to third) when practical.

Other ways to avoid wasting gas

• Minimize the use of air conditioning. Even at highway speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel economy than using air conditioning.
• Plan ahead to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, and whenever possible, travel outside high-traffic times of day.
• If you own more than one car, use the most fuel-efficient model that meets the needs of any given journey.

Information from The Seattle Times archives was used in this report.