Aug 29 2008
70 Gas Saving Tips
- 1 Comment
- Drive 5 MPH below the freeway speed limit. I’ve noticed about a 10%-15% increase in fuel efficiency because of this. I used to drive 5 MPH over the speed limit.
- Use Cruise Control. It prevents you from speeding up and slowing down which wastes gas.
- Don’t Idle for more than 30 seconds. If you know will be idling for that period of time, try turning off your car.
- A/C versus Windows. Roll down your windows at low speeds, but use A/C at high speeds. Ideally, you should keep your windows up and your A/C off but try telling that to someone in Phoenix, AZ.
- Don’t Drive Aggressively. Flooring the gas pedal just to slam on the brakes is a complete waste of fuel. I once drove for 15 minutes with the guy next to me flooring it and stopping at each light. We both traveled the same distance in the same amount of time but I used WAY less fuel.
- Coast to a stop. If you see a red light ahead, just let your foot off the gas till it turns green. No need using gas if you are going to have to stop anyways.
- Plan the lights. On your regular route, pay attention to long lights and quick lights and try to time it so you always hit a green or at least minimize red lights.
- Keep low RPMs. If you have a manual transmission, aim for the lowest RPM possible.
- Accelerate Slowly. Don’t push down on the pedal more than one quarter of the way down.
- Idle in neutral. If you have to idle, you will use the least amount of gas in neutral.
- Get prepared for a hill. Speed up before getting to the hill and let inertia take you most of the way.
- Use a MPG meter. Many new vehicles will show you your live MPG readings. This will help you to pay attention on when to slow down.
- Stay off dirt roads. Dirt and poorly maintained roads reduce your MPG.
- Ride the line. Most roads develop dips over time where most car wheels drive. Stay a little to the right and closer to the line. This will keep you out of the dips which reduce MPG.
- 55 MPH gives you a 21% better gas mileage than 65 MPH and 70 MPH.
- Keep your tires fully inflated. Flatter tires may stick better but it hurts your gas mileage.
- Use overdrive if your car has it.
- Park your car on an incline in a way that you can roll forward to start moving.
- Park your car in a way so that you don’t have to use reverse.
- Walk or bike instead of drive. If your destination is close enough it will save gas and help your health.
- Car pool. Split the gas between multiple people.
- Do all of your errands at once.
- Drive without shoes. If local laws allow, this gives your more precision over each pedal.
- Empty your car. Unnecessary items in your car equal unnecessary weight. Empty everything you can, but keep the spare tire. You will need that.
- Use side streets. If you can use less traveled streets, there is less traffic to cause you to stop.
- Avoid rush hour. This causes lots of stop and go which hurts gas mileage.
- Average the stop and go. Instead of driving as fast as the guy in front only to stop again, try to average your speed so you reach the car in front of you just as he’s hitting his gas again.
- Use Fuelly.com to track your fuel.
- Compare your gas mileage to other vehicles on Fuelly.com and try to beat them.
- Get things delivered rather than go to pick them up.
- Use public transportation. It’s like one big carpool.
- Keep track of traffic jams and accidents to avoid unnecessary waits.
- Make wide turns. This means you won’t have to decelerate as much coming into the turn and won’t have to accelerate as much after coming out of it.
- Choose the slow lane. This will encourage you to drive slow.
- Check wind patterns. If you live in a windy area, having a tailwind can increase gas mileage.
- Clear snow from your vehicle. It weighs a lot and causes more drag.
- Don’t warm up the car. It will warm up quicker by driving than by idling.
- Don’t drive during the hottest time of the day when you need your A/C the most.
- Don’t run the heater immediately. Let your engine warm up first. This will increase efficiency.
- Park in the shade to reduce the amount your A/C will have to work when you get in.
- Close unused vents. If you don’t have a passenger, the seat next to you doesn’t need A/C.
- Turn off the radio. Any extra electrical equipment makes the engine have to work harder.
- Wait to start the car. Get everything settled and your seat belt on before starting the car and wasting gas.
- Use recommended gas. Higher octane doesn’t mean higher quality gas. Don’t put “premium” in unless it calls for it.
- Remove unused roof racks. This decreases drag.
- Use the trunk instead of a roof rack. This decreases drag.
- Buy the smallest car that will meet your needs. Smaller cars have less weight and less drag which gives them higher gas efficiency.
- Drive a light colored car. Black cars draw in heat while white cars reflect heat. This will reduce the need for A/C.
- Avoid gadgets. More car gadgets mean more weight and more electrical draw.
- Diesel versus Hybrid. Hybrids perform better in city conditions while diesels perform better in highway conditions. Sometimes a regular gas vehicle can be the cheapest when you consider the extra costs of diesel and hybrid vehicles.
- Don’t get a sunroof. If you have one, keep it closed. Sunroofs increase drag.
- Remove snow tires as soon as possible. They hurt your mileage so should only be used during their proper season.
- Get frequent oil changes.
- Use synthetic oil.
- Get regular maintenance.
- Rotate your tires. This prevents wear.
- Check alignment. This prevents wear and drag.
- Tighten your gas cap. This prevents gas evaporation.
- Cut addiction errands. Running to buy cigarettes or Starbucks everyday costs a lot up front and in gas.
- Get a manual vehicle. You can save money by driving a stick.
- Get tinted windows. It will keep your car cooler thus needing the A/C less.
- Get rid of the truck. If you don’t really need a truck it’s just costing you gas.
- Choose certain brands of gas. I’ve noticed decent changes in gas mileage between 2 gas stations of the same price.
- Drive the speed limit. Stop lights are usually timed for those driving the speed limit.
- Don’t make unnecessary trips. If it can wait till you are already traveling, than do so.
- Make a grocery list for a week or two to limit trips to the store.
- Leave early so you aren’t forced to speed to make it on time.
- Don’t forget to release the emergency brake.
- Keep a steady foot. Don’t jiggle the accelerator.
- Keep brakes properly adjusted.
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