10 Top Driving Tips to Help You Improve Fuel Economy

After a year mostly spent close to home, many Americans are out and about again. The daily commute has returned, and with it, frequent trips to the gas station. In the U.S., people spend an average of $250 per month on gasoline — about $3,000 per year. It goes without saying that most people are eager for any way to save money on gas.

The good news is, by following a few simple strategies, we can all improve fuel economy and travel further for less.

1. Observe the Speed Limit and Rules of the Road

Each vehicle reaches optimal fuel economy at different speeds, but gas mileage typically decreases at speeds over 50 mph. Once you reach 50 mph, every additional 5 mph will cost around $0.21 extra per gallon for gas.

Aggressive driving also wastes gas. It can lower your milage by up to 30% on the highway and 40% in stop-and-go traffic.

Always observe the rules of the road and respect the speed limit. It’s safer and it saves money, too.

2. Use Your Gears Properly

If you have a manual transmission, mastering the art of using your car’s gears efficiently enables you to make the most of every drop of gasoline.

If you over-rev the engine, the car guzzles gas. Similarly, it’s important not to stress the engine by staying in a gear that is too low for the terrain and speed.

Gasoline-powered cars typically achieve peak fuel economy somewhere between 1500 and 2500 rpm, or 1300 to 2000 rpm in the case of diesel cars. Move up a gear when you reach the upper end of those ranges.

3. Remove Excess Weight

The heavier your vehicle is, the more gasoline it will use. Anything you can do to make it lighter could ultimately save you money.

It may not seem like it would make a big difference, but removing unnecessary items from the trunk can have a substantial impact. Shedding 100 pounds could improve fuel economy by around 2%. This is why car manufacturers have invested so heavily in developing lighter models.

4. Check Tires and Tire Pressures

Tire performance is a critical factor in fuel economy — they are literally where the rubber meets the road. Underinflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency by about 0.2% for every 1 psi reduction in the average psi of all four tires. This means that you can improve your gas mileage by up to 3% by keeping your tires at the proper pressure.

Not sure what the proper pressure is for your tires? Check the driver’s side door of your car. Usually, manufacturers place a sticker here that lists this information. Do not inflate your tire to the pressure indicated on the tire — this is the maximum pressure the tire can withstand.

5. Avoid Excess Idling

Depending on engine size and air conditioner use, idling can use between a quarter and half a gallon of fuel per hour. This is why sitting in traffic is not just inconvenient and annoying, but also bad for your fuel economy.

Although in many cases, avoiding traffic is easier said than done, a quick check of your radio or smartphone before you set out could alert you to a traffic jam or accident. You could also use a tip that many delivery truck drivers use: avoid left turns, even if it makes your journey a bit longer. Making a left turn often involves sitting and waiting for a break in traffic to make your move, while right turns can be made more quickly.

6. Accelerate and Decelerate Smoothly

When the lights turn green, accelerating smoothly until you reach the desired speed uses much less fuel than stamping on the accelerator to get up to speed as fast as you can. Similarly, when braking, it is far better to take your foot of the gas in good time and brake gently until you come to a stop. Not only will this help you make your tank of gas last longer, but it also reduces the risk of you being rear-ended by a distracted driver behind you.

7. Use Cruise Control

In the same vein, cruise control on highways and freeways can help you maintain a constant speed, whereas constantly slowing down and speeding up greatly increases fuel usage.

8. Minimize Drag

Car makers go to extreme lengths to make their vehicles as aerodynamic as possible to improve both fuel economy and performance. Then we buy them and start adding all kinds of external extras, such as bike racks and roof boxes, creating drag.

Drag makes the engine work harder to maintain speed, which in turn increases fuel consumption. Even driving with windows and the sunroof open can have an impact, particularly when traveling at high speeds. Bike racks and roof boxes are sometimes necessary if you’re going on vacation, but consider taking them off when you return home and are only using the car to get around town.

9. Get a Front-End Alignment

Constantly driving over potholes and anomalies in road surfaces can throw your wheel alignment off kilter. This not only cause tires to wear out more quickly, but also makes the engine work harder and can reduce gas milage by up to 10%.

If the steering wheel pulls, it’s best to get it checked out. Getting a front-end alignment could potentially save you up to 28 cents per gallon.

10. Check the Gas Cap

An estimated 17% of vehicles on American roads have missing or broken gas caps. This not only reduces gas mileage, but results in harmful fumes escaping from the vehicle that contribute to smog. Replacing a faulty or missing gas cap is among the least expensive fixes for an illuminated “check engine” light.