Have you been filling up your gas tank lately and cringing at the rising prices? There’s nothing quite like watching your hard-earned cash flow into your vehicle, never to be seen again. The good news is there are some simple driving hacks you can use to squeeze more miles out of every drop of fuel and keep more money in your wallet. You don’t need to buy an expensive hybrid or electric vehicle to start saving on gas.
Put these 5 driving hacks to the test and watch your fuel efficiency soar and fuel costs plummet. With gas prices constantly on the rise, every penny saved counts. Why pay more than you have to for gas when a few easy changes to your driving habits can add up to huge savings at the pump? Put the pedal to the metal and your money back in your pocket with these practical driving hacks.
Why Saving Gas Is Important
Saving money on gas is important for your wallet and the environment. Every cent and gallon counts these days, especially with gas prices constantly on the rise.
Drive efficiently
The way you drive has a huge impact on your fuel economy. Accelerate gradually, avoid aggressive driving, and maintain a steady speed. Drive the speed limit – going over 60 mph significantly reduces your gas mileage. Also, avoid excessive idling which wastes fuel.
Observe traffic reports
Check traffic reports before you head out and plan your route accordingly. Sitting in traffic or taking unnecessary detours wastes gas. If there’s a jam or accident on your usual route, find an alternative way to get where you’re going. Sometimes taking side streets or less traveled roads can save time and gas.
Remove excess weight
For every 100 pounds of extra weight, your gas mileage can drop by up to 2 percent. Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle like heavy equipment or gear you don’t need. An empty roof rack or open windows also reduce aerodynamics and hinder fuel efficiency.
Maintain your vehicle
Keep your vehicle properly maintained with regular oil changes, filter replacements, and tire rotations or alignments when needed. A well-maintained vehicle operates more efficiently and safely, saving you money at the pump. Check your tire pressure monthly and inflate to the recommended PSI listed in the owner’s manual. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure of all four tires.
Avoid aggressive starts and stops
Aggressive driving with rapid accelerations and heavy braking reduces your gas mileage. Avoid jackrabbits starting at stoplights and slamming on the brakes at the last second. Not only does aggressive driving waste fuel but it also reduces the life of your brakes and tires. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and anticipate stops to coast to lights when possible. Smoother driving is safer and more efficient.
Drive Fast When You Need to Stop
Driving fast when you need to stop seems counterintuitive, but it can actually save you gas. As you approach a stoplight, take your foot off the gas and let the car coast in neutral. This is known as engine braking and it reduces the amount of fuel injected. The momentum from coasting will allow you to travel further, so you may be able to avoid coming to a complete stop. If the light changes, just pop it back into gear and continue on your way.
When driving downhill, do the same thing—take your foot off the gas and let the car coast in neutral. The fuel supply will be cut off since the engine is disengaged from the transmission. Let gravity do the work for you instead of constantly applying pressure to the gas pedal. Your gas tank and wallet will thank you.
Shifting into neutral not only saves gas but also reduces brake wear. The less you have to brake, the less friction there is on your brake pads. Your brakes can last up to 30 percent longer by utilizing engine braking techniques.
Other ways to save gas when stopping include timing stoplights, avoiding aggressive driving, and leaving space between you and other vehicles so you’re not constantly accelerating and braking. All of these techniques allow you to maintain momentum and use less fuel getting back up to speed.
So next time you see some red lights ahead, don’t just slam on the brakes. Take your foot off the gas, pop it into neutral, and coast. Saving gas is as simple as changing a few habits behind the wheel.
Coast in Neutral Towards Stoplights
Coasting towards stoplights is one of the simplest ways to improve your fuel economy. As you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas and shift into neutral. Your vehicle will continue moving forward using the momentum it already has, rather than wasting fuel to keep the engine running.
When the light turns green, shift back into an appropriate gear for your speed and continue driving as normal. This technique works best when you have a long, open stretch of road ahead with few stops. On a busy road with frequent stops, the constant braking and accelerating will reduce the impact. But on an open road, coasting for even a few seconds can save a surprising amount of fuel over the course of your drive.
Some other tips for effective coasting:
- Shift into neutral once your vehicle has slowed to around 20-30 miles per hour. At higher speeds, staying in gear is more efficient.
- Time the lights when possible so you know when they’re about to change. This allows you to coast for longer without braking. Of course, safety is the priority, so don’t run red lights just to save fuel!
- Release the brake and shift to neutral as soon as the light turns red. The sooner you start coasting, the more momentum you’ll retain to carry you forward.
- The resume accelerates gently once the light turns green. Aggressive acceleration will counteract any fuel you saved by coasting. Accelerate like there’s an egg between your foot and the pedal.
- Practice the timing of lights on your daily commute. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at maximizing your coasting distance. With regular practice of coasting and other eco-friendly driving habits, you can improve your fuel economy by up to 33% at lower speeds and 5% on the highway. Every little bit helps when gas prices are high, so put these techniques to use on your next drive.
Use Light Acceleration and Shift Gears Early
One of the easiest ways to improve your fuel economy is to accelerate gently and shift into higher gears early. Jackrabbit starts and aggressive driving significantly reduces your miles per gallon. Instead, gradually press the gas pedal when the light turns green or as you pull out into traffic. This allows your engine to operate in its most efficient power range.
As your speed increases, shift into higher gears to keep your engine running smoothly. Most vehicles get the best fuel economy between 1,500 to 3,000 RPM. Watch your tachometer to see your engine’s revolutions per minute and shift around 2,000 RPM for the best efficiency. Staying in a lower gear for too long forces your engine to work harder, which wastes fuel. Shift up as soon as you’ve reached the optimal speed for that gear.
Conversely, when slowing down, shift into lower gears to avoid engine braking. As you release the gas pedal, the engine’s RPM will drop. Shift down before the engine starts lugging to keep it in its efficient operating range. Time your downshifts so the RPMs don’t drop below 1,500. With some practice, you’ll get better at anticipating when to upshift and downshift for optimal fuel efficiency.
Following these tips can significantly improve your miles per gallon and save money at the pump. Accelerating and shifting smoothly keeps your engine running efficiently and prevents wasted fuel. While aggressive driving may get you to your destination a few minutes sooner, gentle and thoughtful driving habits pay off through better fuel economy and lower costs in the long run. Optimizing your driving style is an easy way to make a big impact on reducing fuel consumption.
Employ Engine Braking When Going Downhill
When driving downhill, take your foot off the gas and let your engine’s momentum and friction slow the vehicle. This is known as engine braking and it’s a great way to save gas. As you coast downhill, your engine is doing little work so it requires almost no fuel. Compared to riding the brakes the whole way down, engine braking can increase your fuel economy by up to 5 percent on hilly roads.
To properly employ engine braking, shift into a lower gear as you start descending. For manual transmissions, shift down one or two gears. For automatics, slide the gear selector from ‘D’ to ‘2’ or ‘1’. As your speed increases, the lower gearing causes your engine to brake. You may need to lightly tap the brakes at first, but then take your foot completely off the gas.
Let the lower gear and engine friction slow you down. Only apply the brakes if needed for safety or if your speed gets too high. The key is to keep your engine in its efficient operating range by choosing the appropriate gear for your speed. Shift to higher gears as you continue to slow to prevent lugging the engine.
With some practice, you’ll get better at timing your downshifts to maximize the effects of engine braking. On steep hills, start downshifting early, before you reach maximum speed. On more gradual slopes, you can downshift in stages. Either way, engine braking works best when you anticipate the downhill and plan your gear changes ahead of time.
Using this simple technique on hilly roads and when approaching stoplights is an easy way to boost your gas mileage and put more money back in your wallet. Every time you avoid riding the brakes downhill is a small victory for your fuel economy and the environment. So take your foot off the gas, shift into a lower gear and let your engine do the braking for you.
Check Your Tires Regularly for Proper Inflation
Checking your tire pressure regularly is one of the easiest ways to improve your gas mileage. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure of all four tires.
Proper Tire Pressure
For the best fuel economy and handling, inflate your tires to the pressure recommended in your owner’s manual or the tire information placard located in the driver’s side door jamb or fuel door. This is usually higher than the minimum pressure listed on the tire itself. The recommended pressure typically provides the best balance of handling, tread life, and gas mileage.
Most tire experts recommend checking your tire pressure at least once a month. It only takes a few minutes and can really pay off at the gas pump. Here are some tips for maintaining proper tire pressure:
- Invest in a quality tire pressure gauge. Inexpensive gauges can be inaccurate and lead to over or under-inflation.
- Check your tires when the air in them is cold for the most accurate reading. After driving, your tires heat up and the pressure increases.
- Don’t rely on your tire pressure monitoring system (if you have one). It can miss gradual pressure loss and only alerts you when a tire is significantly under-inflated.
- Look for the recommended pressure listed on your owner’s manual or driver’s side door jamb, not the tire itself.
- If your light comes on indicating low tire pressure, fill your tires to the recommended pressure as soon as possible. Driving on under-inflated tires reduces their lifespan and wastes fuel.
- Consider using nitrogen to inflate your tires. It does not change pressure as much with temperature changes as compressed air. Many service stations offer free nitrogen tire inflation.
Maintaining proper tire pressure is such an easy way to save money on gas and keep your vehicle handling and performing well. Take a few minutes each month to check and adjust your tires—your wallet will thank you!
Remove Excess Weight and Roof Racks When Not in Use
Removing excess weight from your vehicle is one of the easiest ways to improve your gas mileage. For every 100 pounds of extra cargo, your gas mileage can drop by up to 2 percent. That may not seem like a lot, but over the lifetime of your vehicle, it can really add up.
When you’re not using them, take off roof racks and cargo boxes. These significantly impact aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, especially at higher speeds. Roof racks alone can lower your gas mileage by 5% or more. If you only use them occasionally, consider renting them when needed instead of leaving them on full-time.
Clean out your trunk and interior of unnecessary items. Do you really need to haul around extra gear, equipment, and clutter with you everywhere you go? Lighten your load by removing things you don’t use regularly. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used something in the past month, you probably don’t need it taking up space in your vehicle.
Check your tire pressure regularly and keep tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended levels. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.
Avoid aggressive driving habits like rapid acceleration, heavy braking, and speeding. These behaviors waste fuel and are hard on your vehicle. Anticipate traffic conditions ahead and accelerate/decelerate gradually. Observe the speed limit and avoid speeding up/slowing down unnecessarily.
Making a few simple changes to your driving and vehicle can significantly improve your miles per gallon. Save money at the pump and do your part for the environment by traveling lighter and smarter. Every little bit helps!
How to Calculate Your Car’s Fuel Economy
Knowing your car’s fuel economy is useful for budgeting gas costs and seeing the impact of any fuel-saving driving techniques you employ. To calculate your miles per gallon (MPG), you’ll need to track your mileage and fuel-ups.
Check your odometer
The odometer reading shows how many total miles your vehicle has traveled. Note the odometer reading right before you fill-up the gas tank. Let’s say it’s 23,456 miles.
Record your fuel purchase
When you stop for gas, note how many gallons you purchase. For example, 10 gallons.
Subtract your previous odometer reading
The next time you buy gas, check your odometer again. Let’s say it now reads 23,678 miles. Subtract your previous reading to get the miles traveled since your last fill-up: 23,678 – 23,456 = 222 miles.
Divide the miles traveled by the gallons used
Take the miles traveled (222 miles) and divide by the gallons of gas purchased (10 gallons) to get your MPG for that tank of gas:
222/10 = 22 MPG
Calculate your overall MPG
To determine your vehicle’s overall MPG, add up the miles traveled between fill-ups and divide by the total gallons purchased for those fill-ups. For the best accuracy, calculate your MPG over at least 3 to 5 tankfuls of gas. Make a habit of checking your MPG with each fill-up to see if your driving habits or any engine issues are impacting your fuel efficiency.
Knowing your MPG helps determine how much you’re spending on gas and can motivate you to employ fuel-saving driving techniques like avoiding aggressive driving, observing the speed limit, avoiding excessive idling, and removing unnecessary weight from your vehicle. Making minor adjustments to improve your MPG by just 5% can save you hundreds of dollars per year in fuel costs.
Additional Gas-Saving Tips and Hacks
There are a few more tricks you can try to squeeze every last mile out of a gallon of gas.
Drive the speed limit
Speeding reduces your fuel economy by up to 33% at lower speeds and 5% for every 5 mph over 60 mph. Stick to the posted speed limits and you’ll see noticeable savings at the pump.
Avoid aggressive driving
Sudden accelerations, heavy braking, and speeding up and then slowing down wastes fuel. Maintain a steady speed, avoid tailgating, and brake gradually. Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by up to 33% at lower speeds and 5% for every 5 mph over 60 mph.
Remove excess weight
For every 100 pounds of extra weight, fuel economy can drop by up to 2 percent. Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle like tools, equipment, and clutter. An extra 200 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 4 percent.
Observe traffic reports
Listening to traffic reports can help you avoid congestion and unnecessary idling. Idling for long periods of time, such as in heavy traffic or at railroad crossings, wastes fuel. Turn off your vehicle if you plan to idle for more than 30 seconds.
Combine errands into one trip
Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multi-purpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Plan ahead and combine errands into one trip whenever possible.
Keep your engine properly tuned up
A tuned-up engine uses less fuel and runs more efficiently. Replace your vehicle’s air filter and perform other routine maintenance like oil changes, tune-ups, and tire pressure checks regularly. In fact, replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
Following these additional gas saving tips and hacks can improve your fuel economy by up to 33% overall, saving you hundreds of dollars per year in fuel costs. Every little bit helps!
Conclusion
So there you have it, five easy ways to squeeze more miles out of every gallon and keep more cash in your wallet. Implement these driving hacks and before you know it saving money on gas will become second nature. While gas prices may be out of our control, little changes to our driving habits can go a long way. Who knew saving money could be this simple? Next road trip, give these tips a try—your bank account will thank you, and you’ll feel good knowing you’re doing your part for the environment too. The open road awaits, now get out there and start saving! Every little bit helps.
