The average price of gas is as high as $4.70 in some parts of the country. Whether you're a daily commuter or a road trip lover, learning to improve your gas mileage can make a big difference for any trip.
Improving your everyday driving habits and keeping up with routine car maintenance are the two main ways to keep consumption (and driving expenses) down. This guide will go over tips for improving gas mileage on and off the road.
1. Plan Your Trips
Map fuel-efficient routes using apps like Google Maps to minimize unnecessary turnarounds and backtracking. Combine errands and go to "one-stop shops where you can do multiple tasks (banking, shopping, etc.). Avoiding peak traffic times can also help improve fuel economy by reducing the need to idle and constantly change speeds.
2. Reduce Weight
The heavier your car, the more fuel it needs to operate. This is especially true for small cars. Regularly declutter your car to reduce weight and keep your car tidy. Consider removing bike or roof racks if you're not planning to use them soon. Removing 100 extra pounds from your car can increase fuel economy by 1 percent.
3. Drive To Warm the Engine
In cold temperatures, start the engine and then drive the car normally to warm the engine rather than letting it idle. Driving brings the engine to operating temperature more rapidly and thus, saves gas.
4. Efficiently Cool the Car
Cars quickly warm up in warm temperatures. However, turning on the air conditioning or rolling down the windows can reduce fuel economy when it's hot.
Park your car in the shade and let out hot air before driving. To quickly air out your car, open the passenger side window and rapidly open and close the car door on the opposite side. This helps push out the hot air from the car. If you don't have time to spare, roll the windows down or open your sunroof when driving on side streets to minimize wind resistance. If you can, limit air conditioning when driving on the freeway.
When the heat is unbearable, try to air out some hot air before turning on your air conditioner to help your car reach a comfortable temperature faster. Park in shady spots throughout the day to minimize heat.
5. Anticipate Road Conditions
While on the road, watch the traffic ahead and "time" stoplights to maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary stop-and-go. Keep a safe distance between cars to help avoid sudden stops. If you hit unexpected traffic, try navigating to a different route as soon as possible.
6. Avoid Speeding
Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Wind resistance increases as you speed up, so maintaining a steady and safe speed can help avoid the decline in fuel efficiency.Driving the recommended speed limit can increase fuel economy between 7 and 14 percent.
7. Drive Conservatively
Driving at a consistent speed on the highway saves gas and avoids unnecessary braking or acceleration. You can use cruise control to maintain speed on long, straight streets or highways. However, never use it on slippery roads as it could cause a loss of vehicle control. Avoid fast acceleration and hard braking as well. This can lower fuel economy by 15 percent to 40 percent.
8. Shift Gears Efficiently
If you're driving a stick shift, upshift it as soon as it's practical. When stopping, put the car in neutral and use the brakes. Shifting efficiently can help reduce strain on your engine and maximize fuel usage.
9. Avoid Excessive Idling
When idling, car engines use up to one-half gallons of fuel per hour. Warm engines take about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Shut off your engine when stopped for more than a minute and if it's safe to do so.
10. Check Tire Pressure and Align Tires
Maintaining proper tire pressure reduces your tire's friction with the road. Less friction means less energy is needed to move, resulting in using less gas. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by .6 percent on average.
It's also important to check tire alignment at least once a year or every 12,000-15,000 miles. Proper alignment helps avoid wear and tear, veering and vibrating while improving fuel efficiency.
11. Routinely Replace and Use the Correct Oil
Routinely changing your oil helps your car's engine run efficiently by lubricating parts, cooling the engine and preventing buildup. Your engine will work harder if it's low on clean oil and uses more fuel. Whether you use conventional or synthetic oil, it's best to use the oil recommended by the manufacturer to avoid damage or violating your car's warranty.
12. Replace Air Filters
Your car works harder to clean its interior air if it has dirty air filters. The harder it works, the more fuel it needs to operate. For most cars, you'll need to replace your air filter at least once a year or every 12,000-15,000 miles. You may need to replace air filters more frequently if you live in an area like a desert or beach with lots of airborne debris.
13. Replace Spark Plugs
Worn-out spark plugs can result in engine misfire, slow acceleration times and fuel inefficiencies because the car is working hard to operate. Inspect spark plugs at least once a year and follow the manufacturer's replacement recommendations.
14. Address Car Warning Lights Right Away
You may have noticed a theme by now, issues that force your car to work harder can lead to increased fuel consumption. Prioritizing your car maintenance checklist helps it run efficiently and last as long as possible.
The check engine light is one of many signals on your dashboard. Familiarize yourself with other lights and what they mean. This includes knowing the lights related to your tire pressure, brake system and transmission temperature.
15. Maintain Regular Tune-ups
Proactive car maintenance can help you avoid common causes of gas mileage issues. Mechanics check critical components during a car tune-up to ensure everything works properly.
Improve Your Gas Mileage with AAA
Regular maintenance helps you get the most out of each gallon while helping your car run as long as possible. Visit one of 7,000 Approved AAA Auto Repair Facilities to take care of routine maintenance. As a AAA member, you can enjoy benefits like the Fuel Rewards® program and auto repair discounts for even more savings.