How to Save Money on Fuel: Develop and Practise Good Driving Habits

Plan Your Route

To begin, attempt to drive less wherever possible by combining errands and selecting the option with the shortest overall trip while still getting as much done as possible. This is especially true if you reside a long way from your place of employment and shopping.

You can also avoid rush hour and places with heavy traffic, as well as stop-and-go driving, by planning ahead. This is vital since frequent stop-and-go driving wastes petrol and causes wear and tear on your car's components, such as the tires and brake system. Meanwhile, traveling at a constant speed on the interstate improves gas mileage and vehicle longevity.

Many people underestimate this, but if you make it a habit and do it every day and every time, the miles you save over the course of a month or a year will rapidly add up. But consider this: not only will this technique save you gas, but it will also save you time and the stress of navigating traffic in potentially congested areas.

Reduce the amount of time you use the air conditioner and heater.

Excessive usage of the air conditioner and heater, which forces the engine to work harder, is one of the most prevalent causes of high fuel consumption. To save money on air conditioning, open the windows for a few minutes or switch on the air vents to swiftly chill down the car before turning on the A/C. This is especially useful in the summer because it reduces the burden on the air conditioner.

However, remember to close the window before hitting the highway or increasing your speed to 80 km/h or higher, as open windows can cause aerodynamic drag, which increases fuel consumption.

On days when the heat isn't too oppressive, another trick is to open the windows. This will circulate the air and replace the heated air inside your vehicle with the cooler outside air. One clever trick is to park in the shade so that your car does not overheat. Simply keep the windows or sunroof cracked slightly to allow for some air circulation while it's parked to further reduce the use of the A/C when you return.

Of course, only do this if you're sure it's safe, such as if the car is parked in a secure place and you'll only be gone for a few minutes, or if you're close enough to run out and close the window if it starts to rain.

Reduce the amount of weight you're carrying.

Trying to decrease the load of your car is another often ignored way to enhance our fuel economy without sacrificing performance. If you look through your cargo trunk or truck bed, you might be amazed at how much stuff you transport around town every day that you might just as easily leave at home, such as extra heavy tools and supplies or your children's toys. Again, this strategy may appear insignificant at first, but it has a significant impact on long-term fuel use for trucks and drivers.

You can push even harder on your car's load by replacing bulky elements with lighter components throughout the vehicle without jeopardizing its integrity. Eliminating additional seats, replacing glass windows with acrylic, replacing traditional brakes with disc brakes, shifting parts in the engine block, and removing unwanted items from the trunk are all common areas for attention.

These will help you save money on gas by making your automobile more aerodynamic and so allowing the engine to use more power. Of course, you should consult a mechanic and spend some time studying blogs or video tutorials by car owners who have done this type of switch to discover what's doable and what's advised for your vehicle's make and model to ensure that what you do won't impair its performance.

Maximize the Aerodynamics of Your Vehicle

While we're on the subject of aerodynamics, keep in mind that if you drive a tiny passenger car, you should have strong aerodynamics to begin with. It's worth noting that, while many people use roof racks to transport their belongings, this adds drag to the vehicle, which uses more gas. Keep your roof clear at all times unless you need to transport something like a kayak or a few mountain bikes.

Trucks, on the other hand, have fundamentally weaker aerodynamics than compact cars, owing to their open beds and tailgates. These characteristics cause airflow turbulence and, as a result, increased aerodynamic drag, resulting in lower miles per gallon.

Many truckers believe that lowering their tailgates will reduce drag, however recent studies have shown that doing so actually increases turbulence and drag.

A tonneau cover will improve the aerodynamics of your pickup and help you get better gas mileage. A cover not only reduces airflow turbulence in a pickup, but it also protects your cargo and tools stored in the bed from the elements and improves the appearance of your truck. A retractable bed-cover would be great if you haul on a daily basis. Even better, one that includes an organizer system to keep your belongings organized and segregated for easy access.

Camper shells, which work similarly to tonneau covers, are another option for reducing drag. They also provide you with a spacious and safe cargo compartment. Although older Camper shells had an unattractive appearance, giving them the nickname "Grandpa's fishing outfit," modern Camper shells feature flush-mounted glass, are contoured, and come in a variety of colors, or can be painted to match your truck.

Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling for long periods of time consumes a lot of gas. Avoiding drive-thru windows with large queues is one approach to reduce wasteful idling. If you're waiting at a red light for a long time, or if you're picking someone up, don't let the car idle for 10 minutes; instead, turn it off. Idle time should be avoided whenever possible.

Steady Driving

Aside from idling, certain daily driving habits, such as harsh braking, prolonged acceleration and deceleration, can reduce your gas consumption unnecessarily. Keep in mind that accelerating requires more gas than maintaining the same speed.

Many people enjoy satisfying their impulse to surge now and then, but nothing uses more gas than a heavy foot, so keep it to a minimum. Even the most experienced drivers and truckers find it difficult to avoid constantly speeding up and slowing down along any route. One approach to avoid this is to use cruise control on the highway to help keep a consistent speed, which would result in greater MPG (MPG).

However, keep in mind that cruise control works best for gas savings on flat routes. It can actually reduce fuel efficiency on steep climbs. Unless you're towing or hauling, one driving tip advocated by commercial truckers is to engage Overdrive on automatics when on the freeway and upshift into Overdrive gear on manuals.

If you're not in a rush and aren't on the highway, remember to keep a light foot on the pedals. When you drive at higher speeds, your vehicle burns more fuel. Specifically, above 60 miles per hour, gas mileage drops dramatically. As a result, try to take it easy on the starts and stops and, if possible, slow down a little throughout the journey. Unless you're on a highway or it's totally safe and necessary, there's no reason to drive too fast.

Engage the Right Gear

If you drive a manual transmission vehicle rather of an automatic, there are more opportunities for wasteful fuel usage, especially if you're a novice driver. If you drive in a lower gear at a higher speed, the car will have to expend more energy to move, resulting in higher fuel consumption.

For example, if you're in second gear and traveling at 80 km/h, you're consuming too much gas. Avoiding acceleration and synchronizing the speed with the gear changes are the keys to saving gas when driving a manual transmission vehicle.