Fuel is one of the few car costs you can influence every day. Most of the savings come from how you drive, a few from simple maintenance, and almost none from the gadgets sold online.
Slow down a little on the highway
Speed is the single biggest factor. Above roughly 50 mph, fuel use rises quickly because air resistance grows with the square of speed. Driving at 65 instead of 75 mph usually saves more fuel than any other tip in this article, and on a typical commute it costs only a few minutes. Cruise control helps hold a steady speed on flat roads, but on hilly ones it can be better to let the speed drop slightly uphill.
Accelerate gently and anticipate
Every hard stop throws away energy you paid for. Look well ahead, lift off early when traffic slows, and accelerate smoothly. The US Department of Energy estimates that aggressive driving can lower fuel economy by roughly 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. In a hybrid, gentle braking also lets the system recover more energy.
Keep the car in good shape
- Tire pressure: check it monthly, cold, using the pressure on the door-jamb sticker. Under-inflated tires waste fuel and wear faster.
- The right oil: use the viscosity grade in your owner’s manual.
- Warning lights: a lit check-engine light can mean a fault that raises fuel use, such as a bad oxygen sensor.
- Alignment: if the car pulls to one side, the tires are being dragged slightly sideways.
Seasonal changes also play a part, which is why we cover maintenance for different weather conditions separately.
Plan trips and lighten the load
Short trips with a cold engine are the least efficient kind of driving. Group errands into one loop, avoid rush hour when you can, and use a navigation app with live traffic to skip jams; we list a few in our roundup of traffic apps worth installing. Remove roof racks and boxes when you do not need them, and do not carry heavy items around for no reason.
Myths to ignore
Fuel-saving magnets, additives that promise big gains and devices that plug into the cigarette lighter do not work. Premium fuel does not improve economy in a car designed for regular. Turning off the engine at every short stop is useful in long waits but not at each traffic light if your car lacks an automatic start-stop system.
The fueleconomy.gov driving tips page lists estimated savings for each habit. If you are thinking about a more efficient car altogether, see the most fuel-efficient cars; for the environmental side, making your car more eco-friendly.
