There’s a good chance the state of the world changed your driving habits this year. Commuters who can’t work from home are trading their train tickets for the solitude of their personal vehicles, while travelers are forsaking flights for road trips. And with everyone feeling the squeeze, every penny counts when it’s time to refuel. So why throw money away? These seven ways to increase your car’s fuel efficiency will keep hard miles off your car, put money back in your pocket, and maybe even help you feel a little better about your carbon footprint.
Check Your Tires
Just like you can’t run a 5k in bunny slippers (or, at least, you shouldn’t), you can’t drive efficiently on bald or underinflated tires. When you wear out your treads, your car has to work harder, and that means paying more at the pump. Fortunately, you don’t need a mechanic to check whether your tires are safe. Make sure your tires are in good condition: not only is it bad for mileage, but it’s bad for your safety, too.
Don’t Floor It
We all love the thrill of the open road, but this thrill isn’t cheap. Sustained driving over 50 mph increases fuel consumption. And the faster you go, the harder it is to slow down in a pinch. Decelerating abruptly puts strain on your vehicle and uses up gas, so leave some space between you and the car in front of you.
Avoid Idling
Picking someone up? Waiting for someone to bring your food out? Try not to leave the car running if you think you’ll be there a while—say, more than a minute. There’s not a worse way to waste fuel: you’re using up gas while standing still. You might as well just turn off the ignition.
Stop the Stop-and-Go
Similarly, bumper-to-bumper traffic is woefully fuel-inefficient, and it’s not even as fun as draining the gas tank by flying down a country road without a care in the world. Furthermore, all that stopping and starting means more routine maintenance. Avoid expressways at rush hour to the best of your ability; instead, explore alternate routes or time your commute to dodge traffic at its worst.
Plan Ahead
Leave the wild-goose chases to experienced outdoorsmen. If you have to run some errands on a Saturday afternoon, think your trip through so that you can avoid doubling back and racking up redundant miles. This practice is especially crucial in colder climates where winter driving can put even more strain on your car.
Shed Some Weight
We’re not talking about literal or figurative spare tires here. Rather, check your backseat and trunk for heavy objects that you may have accumulated without knowing it: stuff from the office, sporting goods, that box of college textbooks you’ve been meaning to donate. Less weight in the car means it won’t have to work as hard.
Go for a Cruise
Maintaining a constant and comfortable speed, where feasible, not only relieves some stress behind the wheel, but it’s also great for your mileage. Using cruise control on open highways will take accelerating and decelerating out of your hands (or feet) and is quietly one of the most effective ways to increase fuel efficiency.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
