Nine tips on how to save gas while driving
1. Avoid aggressive accelerations
Accelerating aggressively wastes more gas because more fuel is consumed to power your engine. Pressing lightly on the accelerator will help you save fuel. By accelerating slowly and naturally your car will be more efficient and avoid unnecessary strain on your engine.
2. Use cruise control on highways
Driving with your cruise control is one of the simplest ways to conserve fuel. Most vehicles have a better fuel economy while driving on the highway. Driving at a consistent speed can improve your fuel efficiency, and cruise control is the best way to stay at a consistent speed.
Just like accelerating aggressively, slamming on your brakes hurts your vehicle’s fuel economy. In regular driving situations, be sure to coast to a stop sign or red light instead of harshly stepping on your brake. By keeping some momentum, your car will be able to accelerate more gradually than starting from a full stop.
Do not idle your engine for more than 45 seconds. This wastes gas and in fact, you are only legally allowed to keep your car idle for a short while, which varies by state.
5. Use air conditioning sparingly
Air conditioning can reduce a conventional vehicle’s fuel economy. Avoid overusing your car’s AC by rolling down windows when driving at slower speeds, parking in shaded areas and when in use, keep it on low.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated and aligned. Under-inflated tires can have more impact on your gas tank than you might think.
A well-maintained vehicle will always use fuel more efficiently, so ensure you are getting routine maintenance when needed, including oil changes, tune ups, and tire rotations.
8. Remove extra cargo from your car
Having extra cargo in your vehicle lowers your fuel efficiency. Unless you need all that cargo, leave it at home to help your car drive more efficiently.
If you are going on multiple short trips throughout the day, combine them all into one larger trip. This is even more important during the cooler months, as warming up your car’s engine takes gas and energy.
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