We’re facing the highest prices at the pump we’ve ever seen and there doesn’t appear to be much relief in sight. That being said, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your fuel usage. You’ll be conserving gasoline and saving yourself some money along the way!
1 – Don’t Run the Air Conditioning
This tip may or may not be practical for all drivers depending on where you live. This feature makes your car’s motor work harder which reduces fuel economy. If you are able, park your car in a covered garage or in the shade so the interior doesn’t get as hot.
Use open windows to circulate air through the car. When you do need to use the air conditioning, turn it off a few minutes before you reach your destination; it should remain comfortable until you get there.
2 – Reduce Weight
A heavy car uses more gasoline. Try to reduce the weight your vehicle is carrying by emptying unnecessary items from the trunk. Be sure to keep things you might need in an emergency and, of course, your spare tire.
3 – Turn Off the Car
If you will be idling for more than a minute or so, it may pay to turn off your car’s engine. When running, a car uses a fixed amount of gas over a period of time especially if you are using the air conditioner.
4 – Slow Down
Driving fast increases fuel consumption. It’s pretty much as simple as that. It may not always be practical to slow down below the speed limit, and there truly is not a significant difference in consumption between 60 and 65 mph. But, if you regularly exceed that by 10 or more mph, slow it down and save.
5 – Re-Route
When possible, avoid heavy traffic or routes where it will be necessary to stop at many traffic lights. The shortest route is not the most fuel efficient if you have to spend much time in stop-and-go traffic.
6 – Pump Them Up
Make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended level. This small effort can help improve gas mileage. Also, use snow tires only during the season they are necessary. They will increase gas usage.
7 – Be Sure to Use the Correct Grade of Motor Oil
If you are not using the right grade, you could increase the friction in your engine causing it to run hotter and use more gasoline. And, have your oil changed regularly. Many manufacturers are now recommending every 5,000 miles as opposed to the older recommendation of 3,000.
8 – Turn Off the Lights
Never compromise safety. In limited light or inclement weather, leave the lights on. But, daytime running or automatic lights will increase the load on your engine, so turn them off on a bright sunny day.
9 – Drive Less
The obvious tip here is to carpool when you can. People have been doing it forever, but it has recently become en vogue again as the green thing to do. Central carpool parking lots have cropped up and you can even use the carpool lane if you’re buying in. Another suggestion? Combine trips. With a little pre-planning, you can group errands to keep yourself out of the car so much, saving time and money.
10 – Consider a More Fuel Efficient Car
When shopping for a new or new-to-you car, you should take fuel efficiency into consideration. A hybrid may or may not be the right choice for you. Even if it is not, manufacturers are working hard to improve fuel efficiency on almost all models. So looking for these numbers will be well worth your time.
This and other fun automotive articles come to you from the pen of Mary Smith who writes on fuel efficiency for Nissan manufacturer of the awesome zero emissions Leaf.
Photo credit: Adria Richards