Why the Way We Drive Has a Bigger Impact on Our Carbon Footprint Than the Cars We Choose
Gas is expensive, and everybody wants to spend less at the pump. Here’s something that most driving folk are unaware of: how you drive has more of an effect on fuel economy than what car you drive.
A new sedan can get 30 miles per gallon in town or as few as 20 miles per gallon. The difference? The person behind the wheel.
Today, I’m going to take that topic further and share with you nine things you can do right now behind the wheel to save fuel. We tested these methods in a variety of modern vehicles, everything from compact sedans to SUVs and pickup trucks. You won’t need fancy modifications or special equipment.
The small changes in driving habits that will save you big over the long haul, and no one seems to agree on.
1. Gas Goes Farther Than You Think with Smooth Acceleration
Gunning it incinerates gasoline faster than just about anything. When you press the gas pedal to the floor, your engine acts in much the same way that you would if running a sprint as fast as you possibly could. It works well for a little while, but then it starts to tire out because running hard requires a lot of energy and releases waste (carbon dioxide). The faster an engine runs, the more gas and air it has to pump through it.
Think of acceleration as going up steps. It takes less energy to walk up slowly than it does to sprint. Your car works the same way.
How to Accelerate Efficiently
Slowly press the accelerator pedal to the floor. Think of it like a raw egg under your foot that you don’t want to break. It’s a mental trick that helps many drivers learn to have a lighter touch.
You get the best feel from today’s cars by applying a soft touch. You’ll still hit your target speed, just a few seconds after you wanted to. Those seconds can translate into real money saved.
The 5-Second Rule
See what it’s like to accelerate from a dead stop to 15 m.p.h. in five seconds. You will become comfortable and this pace becomes natural as you do it a few times. Your passengers likely won’t even feel the difference.
Some studies indicate smooth acceleration can improve gas mileage by 15% to 20% in stop-and-go traffic. That’s significant savings without a compromise in safety or reasonable speed.
2. Learn How to Predict Traffic Like a Truck Driver
Professional truck drivers conserve fuel by reading well ahead on the road in real time. They see brake lights before they get there, observe patterns in traffic and slow down at the right time, not afterwards.
The good news: You can learn to be adept at this too.
Look Three Cars Ahead
Rather than staring at the car ahead of you, look three cars ahead. This extended field of view allows you to react more smoothly.
When you notice brake lights far ahead, lift off the gas early. And your car will naturally slow itself down, without expending even more energy to counteract the energy you already spent getting to that speed.
Traffic Light Timing
Notice the sequence of traffic lights on your everyday journeys. A lot of the lights work with predictable patterns. If you see a light turn from yellow to red 500 feet ahead, glide toward it instead of speeding up and braking sharply.
Every now and then, you’ll arrive at that intersection the moment the light turns green. You just keep pushing along instead of stopping, which saves a lot of fuel.
Maintain Following Distance
Leave at least three seconds’ distance between your car and the one in front of you. This space allows you to slow down slowly versus constantly tapping the brakes.
Stop-and-go driving kills fuel efficiency. Smooth, steady movement preserves it.
3. On the Highway, Use Cruise Control for an Extra Level of Consistency in Saving
Cruise control keeps a steady speed without the slight variations that are natural for your foot. This uniformity also helps deliver excellent highway fuel economy.
When Cruise Control Works Best
Flatter highways and interstates are perfect homes for the cruise control. Dial in your desired speed, and let the system take it from there.
New adaptive cruise control systems make this even better. They can change speed in response to maintain safe spacing with other vehicles and optimize energy use.
When to Turn It Off
Hilly terrain requires different strategy. Cruise-control settings that accelerate hard uphill, or brake hard when rolling downhill, are a waste of fuel. If you’re riding on mountain roads or gentle rolling hills, use your foot.
Lose a bit on the way up, make up for it on the way down. This is that technique — called “pulse and glide” — used more effectively than a conventional cruise control in such conditions.
Speed Selection Matters
Most cars operate at maximum efficiency around 45-65mph. For each 5 miles per hour you drive above 65, fuel economy begins to drop by about 7 percent.
Drive the slowest legal and safe speed that you think is tolerable for your highway trip. You might save $10-15 per tank between 70 mph and 60 mph.
4. Learn to Coast Towards Red Lights
When you brake, you transform momentum into heat and waste the energy it took to accelerate. Coasting minimizes this waste.
The Coasting Technique
As soon as you see a red light or stop sign ahead, lift your foot off of the gas pedal. Just let the car naturally reduce speed while you are still far away.
Don’t shift into neutral. New cars cut off fuel to the engine when you coast in gear; it’s more efficient than neutral coasting.
Calculate Your Stopping Distance
Learn to estimate distance by seeing how many blocks your car will coast down from different speeds. A vehicle’s glide ratio, with the engine off and at a cruising speed of about 30 mph is usually several hundred feet on flat terrain.
Knowing the coasting distance of your car, you can time approaches to stops perfectly. You will use less fuel and save on brake wear too.
Real-World Example
Think of coming upon a red light 1,000 feet ahead while driving at 40 mph. If you coast right away, then not only will you naturally slow down, but you could well time it to come up as the light turns green. If you keep going at 40 m.p.h., you’ll have to brake, hard, and throw away all that momentum.
Such small choices happen dozens of times during any drive. The fuel savings accumulate quickly.
5. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure on a Monthly Basis
Under-inflated tires generate more rolling resistance, which requires your engine to work harder. This simple maintenance fact is costing millions of motorists money each day.
Check Tire Pressure Monthly
Tires lose up to 1 PSI (pound per square inch) of pressure each month under regular conditions. Changes in temperature result in an even quicker pressure loss.
When tires are cold, before you have driven at all, check your tire pressure. The correct pressure is on a label inside your driver’s side door frame, not the tire sidewall.
The Impact of Low Pressure
Tires that are over 10 PSI under recommended pressure can reduce gas mileage by roughly 3%. That may not seem dramatic, but it accumulates over time.
| Tire Pressure Status | Impact on Fuel Economy | Annual Cost (15,000 miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Properly Inflated | Baseline | $0 extra |
| 5 PSI Low | -1.5% efficiency | $30-40 extra |
| 10 PSI Low | -3% efficiency | $60-80 extra |
| 15 PSI Low | -4.5% efficiency | $90-120 extra |
Using average gas prices and 25 MPG vehicle
Digital Pressure Gauges
Get yourself a good digital tire pressure gauge for around $15-20. They’re more precise than the stick-style gauges and they’re easier to read.
Store the gauge in your glove box, and check pressure on the first day of every month. This habit takes five minutes and is more than financially worth it.
6. Reduce Unnecessary Weight and Drag
Your car’s engine burns more fuel to carry that additional weight and push through the wind. Get rid of the excess: Reduce drag and add efficiency instantly.
Empty That Trunk and Back Seat
An additional 100 pounds of weight leads to an approximately 1-2% drop in fuel economy for typical vehicles. The effect is more pronounced in smaller cars.
Look in your trunk right now. Do you have golf clubs that have gone unused for months? A sack of old clothes headed for donations? Take out what you don’t need when driving around on a daily basis.
Roof Racks and Cargo Carriers
Roof rack systems, bike racks, and cargo boxes—all these accessories create wind drag. Depending on speed and design they can reduce highway fuel economy by 10-25%.
Take these accessories off when you’re not using them. The five minutes spent taking off a bicycle rack pays dividends in dollars on every road trip.
Window and Sunroof Position
On the highway, at speeds surpassing 50 miles per hour, it’s a drag to keep your windows down and let your hair flutter. Shut windows and opt for the A.C. instead to save energy.
While driving in the city at lower speeds, open windows should be sufficient and will save energy that would have been used to run the air conditioner. Change up your tactics depending on your pace.
7. Smart Route Your Trips and Group Errands
Cold starts for a number of short journeys use more fuel than one long journey or ride over the same distance. A cold machine operates less effectively until it is heated to its normal temperature.
Trip Combining Strategy
Too inefficient to go three times in one day, once each for groceries, dry cleaning and the post office? Organize your order to avoid doubling back.
Your engine takes 5-10 minutes of driving to reach its most efficient operation. Once warmed up, it stays just as effective. Of course, if you have to start cold three times then that is exactly three times too many to be burning fuel.
Use Navigation Apps Wisely
Applications like Google Maps and Waze display traffic information. Even if it’s a mile longer, if you’re moving rather than sitting all the time, you may actually use less fuel.
Choose “avoid highways” for short trips where you’re being taken out of your way by on-off-ramps that cover miles of unnecessary real estate. Opt for highways on extended drives where a constant speed increases efficiency.
Time Your Errands
There is a lot of stop and go traffic due to the rush hour. If it’s on your schedule, do some of your errands during mid-morning or early afternoon when traffic is lighter.
The same journey can consume between 20-30% more fuel in a jam than in light traffic. Timing is just as important as distance.
8. Save Energy When Using Air Conditioning at Various Times
A/C adds an extra strain to your engine, and uses up more fuel. But the effect depends on how you wield it.
City Driving AC Strategy
Open windows generate so little aerodynamic drag at speeds under 40 mph. Close the AC and open up a window for fresh air. Your fuel economy will improve.
It’s dead easy to switch AC on and off in modern cars. If outdoor temperatures will allow, only run the fan.
Highway Driving AC Strategy
At least at highway speeds (i.e., over 50 mph), aerodynamic drag from open windows outweighs the fuel cost of AC. Keep the windows closed and use AC for better all-around efficiency.
Leave the temperature moderate and avoid being ice cold. Less energy is used to heat a cabin up to 72-74°F than to bring it from 65°F to that range.
Parking Tactics
Try to park in the shade. A vehicle parked in direct sunlight reaches interior temperatures of 140-160°F. You’ll have to use maximum A/C to bring it down to a comfortable level, whereas you’ll burn a lot of fuel.
Purchase a windshield sunshade in the summer. It’s a $15-20 investment you can flip between your vehicle anytime the sun is shining. The interior temperature will be 20-30 degrees less, allowing it to cool down twice as quickly without the need for much A/C.
9. Express Maintenance in Accordance with the Manufacturer’s Maintenance Schedule
This keeps your engine operating smoothly. Unattended automobiles burn more gasoline and are at greater financial risk.
Critical Operational Maintenance
Air Filter for the Engine: A dusty air filter deprives the motor of air; generally, one wants about 15,000-30,000 miles to be replaced.
Spark Plugs: Worn-out spark plugs undergo poor combustion. Good-quality platinum or iridium plugs endure for 100,000 miles, which is an excellent bargain.
Oxygen Sensors: Faulty fuel sensors break down and could impair fuel economy rapidly by 20-40%.
Motor Oil: If the motor oil is incorrect, the engine will use additional fuel. Use a grade of motor oil that matches your owner’s manual. Perhaps due to this growing number of automobiles have automatic oil updates, it’s smart to obey the driver guidelines rather than forget about those notifications.
Records Must Be Maintained
Keep good records of your maintenance. Make a record of when you modified the oil, altered the air filter, and began performing your maintenance procedures. For more fuel-saving driving techniques and tips, visit our comprehensive resource center. Perhaps with current automobiles provided with advanced driver assistance technologies, the possibility to disregard maintenance might be apparently desirable, but staying on schedule prevents costly repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money will I really save with these skills?
When all nine skills are employed, fuel economy typically increases by 20-35%. For the person who drives 15,000 miles a year in a vehicle getting average of 25 MPG, it means $300-500 savings per year based on today’s price for gasoline.
Will any of these methods work for a hybrid or an electric car?
The majority of techniques also apply to hybrids and increase the efficiency of them. With electric cars, you get smooth acceleration, and coasting that are possible with lesser weight inside the car, plus apps to plan your route. These abilities are good on any type of vehicle.
If I don’t speed, will it make me late to everything?
On an average drive, the differential between driving like a maniac and a thoughtful driver is maybe 2-3 minutes. By getting on the road five minutes before, that problem is erased and you’re saving a bundle.
Can today’s cars maximize fuel efficiency on their own?
Some newer vehicles also have “eco mode” buttons that change throttle response and transmission behavior. These things help, but driver behavior remains the greatest variable for efficiency. Just as with eco mode, when combined with good driving techniques, maximum savings are added.
How long does it take to form these habits?
Many people see improvement after 2-3 weeks of intentional work. Around 30-60 days, efficient driving becomes second nature and you don’t have to think about it.
Is it useful to use fuel additives for better efficiency?
While good fuel from big name brands include the additives needed, aftermarket additives are also generally of little use in cars built today. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s fuel economy guide, focus on driving technique and maintenance instead.
Begin To Save Fuel On Your Very Next Drive
That’s 9 real tactics that save fuel without compromising safety, comfort or a realistic travel time. These methods work in any recent model and do not require any special gadgets.
Begin with two or three skills that strike you as easiest to introduce. Perhaps you’ll start by monitoring your tire pressure and learning to accelerate more gently. When those habits feel natural, gradually add additional techniques.
Monitor your fuel economy for the next month. The average MPGs are readily accessible on the dashboard of most cars. Note your figures and see how soon they increase as you practice.
The nicest thing about driving efficiently? The same habits that save you money are also easier on your brakes, tires and engine. You’ll save money on maintenance and help the environment.
Tiny shifts in your driving habits add up to huge savings over the long run. Begin today and see your fuel costs go down with every drive.
