Introduction
Gas is way too expensive, and every trip to the pump feels like you’re spending even more money. Hardest of all, from the know-it-all perspective of hindsight, is that most drivers’ conception of themselves at the wheel is just … wrong. Routine habits may also be draining your tank faster than needed.
The typical American household spends more than $2,000 per year on gas. What if you could take that down by 20 percent or even 30 percent? You don’t need a brand-new car or expensive upgrades. And yet the answer is hidden in six straightforward driving habits most people forget daily.
These are not fancy tricks or esoteric skills. They’re practical shifts that anyone can begin making immediately. The best part? This is for a little bit of everything, any car or truck from compact to S.U.V.s
And there are more often-ignored fuel-saving habits that could save hundreds of dollars over time.
Why Your Type-A Personality Matters More Than You Think When It Comes to How You Drive
The way you drive is a huge factor in how much fuel you use. Two individuals driving identical vehicles on the same road can get a vastly different number of miles per gallon. The difference? How they handle the vehicle.
Studies have demonstrated that aggressive driving can decrease your fuel efficiency by 15 percent to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 percent to 40 percent during stop-and-go traffic. That’s a lot of money thrown away just because of some bad habits.
Your engine is under its heaviest load during braking and when accelerating. Each time you stomp on the gas pedal or brake aggressively, you’re using more fuel. Consider your fuel tank as a bank account. Deposits are made with smooth moving, controlled driving, and withdrawals result by sudden aggressive tactics.
That was not the top objective covered in most driving schools, even though drivers learned its underlying principles. Now, with gas prices going up and up, those ignored skills are invaluable.
Habit One: Easy Acceleration Rather Than Jackrabbit Starts
How fast you zoom from a stop influences just how much gas you will consume. Jackrabbit starts, which are rapid acceleration bursts toward the horizon, are fuel gobblers. When you press the gas pedal to the floor, your engine guzzles gas in order to deliver that jolt of power.
Consider it this way: if your engine were a person. Do you want to walk up that hill slowly and methodically, or run as fast as you can? The sprint also costs way, way more energy.
How to Accelerate Efficiently
Ease the gas pedal gently and easily. Take 5-7 seconds to have the speed you want versus 2-3 seconds. This allows your engine to operate efficiently as it is not consuming fuel.
Keep an eye on the tachometer if your vehicle has one. And don’t get the RPMs much above 2,000 when accelerating in normal traffic. More RPMs equal more gas.
Real-World Savings
Research indicates that easy acceleration could increase fuel efficiency by 10% to 15%. For a person who is paying $200 in gas each month, that’s at least $20 to $30 saved — all by altering the way you press just one pedal.
This is one of the many ways in which acceleration styles differ:
| Acceleration Type | Time to hit 40 MPH | Fuel Used | Monthly Saving (vs Aggressive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive | 3 seconds | High | $0 |
| Moderate | 5 seconds | Medium | $15-20 |
| Gentle | 7 seconds | Low | $25-35 |
Habit #2: Anticipate Traffic to Avoid Hard Braking
Other drivers had so little time to react that they fixed their attention only on the car immediately ahead. While bees around the outside of your sandwich make way, consider the whole traffic pattern ahead. It is that one habit which flips everything about fuel efficiency upside down.
Each time you stop, you’re wasting all that energy (and fuel) you put into accelerating. You then need to consume extra fuel to get back up to speed. It’s a wasteful cycle.
The Art of Looking Ahead
Look at traffic 10 to 15 seconds ahead of you. Look for brake lights a few cars up. Notice traffic light timing. Spot the stopped bus or turning truck before you’re on top of it.
When you see trouble on the horizon, ahead of time, you can ease off any gas and coast. Your auto slows naturally, without brakes. This preserves the momentum you generated already.
Coasting Techniques That Work
Imagine you spot a red light 500 feet away. Rather than hammering the gas pedal all the way toward your braking point on track, and standing on the brakes at that point, you want to lift off early. Allow the car to glide towards the light. It’s often green at the other end, and you will have some speed.
This tactic is applicable to highway exits, school zones, and construction areas as well. Anticipation removes the repetitive gas-brake-gas-brake habit that kills mpg.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
It turns out that drivers who look ahead and coast smoothly achieve 5% to 10% better fuel economy. That may not sound like much, but over a year it adds up to real money. And your brake pads will last longer, which saves you money on maintenance.
Habit #3: Consistent Highway Speeds
There is a speed limit to keep you safe, but there’s a lot in it for fuel savings too. You want to be at your most efficient driving while on the highway and most drivers waste fuel due to fluctuations in speed.
And every time you speed up and slow down on the highway, you’re using extra gas. Your engine is at its most strained under acceleration, even mild acceleration of 5-10 mph.
The Cruise Control Advantage
The constant speed of cruise control cancels out the little variations in velocity that a human foot would produce. When you are driving in manual mode, your foot unconsciously dances on the pedals, and creates mini accelerations or decelerations. These tiny modifications add up over long ranges.
Use your cruise control as much as possible on highways. Your engine is most efficient at a constant RPM. Today’s cruise control systems are extremely accurate.
The Sweet Spot Speed
Here’s what most drivers simply overlook: Fuel economy plummets when you go above 50 MPH. For every 5 MPH over 50 MPH, it’s like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon.
Here’s a look at the relationship between speed and fuel usage:
| Speed (MPH) | Relative Fuel Economy | Extra Cost Per Gallon (vs 50 MPH) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 100% (baseline) | $0.00 |
| 55 | 95% | $0.10 |
| 60 | 88% | $0.25 |
| 65 | 82% | $0.40 |
| 70 | 75% | $0.60 |
| 75 | 68% | $0.85 |
You can see how gas mileage drops as speed goes up, right? That’s because air resistance increases exponentially. When you’re traveling 75 MPH, your car plows through a lot more air than it does at 55 MPH.
Finding Your Car’s Optimal Speed
Best fuel economy for most cars and trucks is between 45-60 mph. Somewhere in that range, your specific car has a sweet spot. Here’s an experiment: fill your tank, reset your trip odometer, and drive 30 miles on the highway at 55 MPH. Note your average MPG. Repeat at 60 MPH and 65 MPH. You’ll discover the most fuel-efficient cruising speed of your car.
Habit #4: Shedding the Excess Weight and Resistance
Your car is not a storage unit, although most drivers essentially use it as such. More fuel is needed to move any extra pound. Everything causing drag through the wind forces your engine to work that much harder.
Imagine what it would be like to lug a heavy backpack all day, and then imagine what life is like unencumbered. Which is easier? Extra weight is just how your car feels about pounds too.
The Hidden Weight Problem
Look in your trunk right now. How many things are sitting there that you don’t need on a daily basis? Golf clubs, dusty old books, tools, cases of water bottles, sports equipment? 100 pounds subtracts about 1% from the fuel economy of a typical car, and even more from that of smaller cars.
Remove everything but your spare tire, jack and emergency kit. The gym weights you meant to bring inside three weeks ago? They’re costing you money.
Roof Racks and Cargo Boxes
That rack on your roof is cool — and it’s killing your gas mileage. Even roof racks with nothing on them cause wind resistance. Cargo boxes are worse. At highway speeds, a roof box can lower fuel economy by 25% or more.
Take off your roof racks when you don’t need them. If occasional hauling is a concern, opt for a hitch-mounted cargo carrier instead. It creates less drag, as the trailer is located in the “wind shadow” of your vehicle.
Quick Weight Reduction Checklist
- Take off roof racks and cargo boxes when not in use
- Clean out your trunk weekly
- Remove any unnecessary floor mats (leave the driver’s mat for safety)
- Take off aftermarket accessories you don’t use
- Do not leave heavy tools in the car unless you work as a contractor
These simple steps can improve fuel economy by 2% to 5%, which translates to real savings over time.
Habit #5: Keeping the Tires Inflated
This is the most neglected fuel-saving habit in the bunch. Studies show that 55% of vehicles have at least one underinflated tire. This single mistake adds up to billions of dollars in wasted fuel used by drivers each year.
Low pressure in your tires increases rolling resistance. It’s the difference between riding a bike with flat tires and one with air in them. Your engine has to exert more effort to move the car.
The Pressure-Performance Connection
Fuel economy can fall 2% to 3% when tires are under-inflated by just 10 pounds per square inch (PSI). It may not sound like much, but spread over millions of drivers and trillions of miles.
Drivers are likely to check tire pressure only when a tire looks clearly low. Before you know it, you’ve been burning extra gas for weeks or months.
Keeping the Right Tire Pressure
Monitor your tire pressure every month, not just when something appears wrong. All you need is a basic tire pressure gauge (around $5-10) and five minutes of time.
Locate the recommended PSI for your car on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb or in your owner’s manual. Do not use the PSI number on the tire, as that is its maximum pressure, not its recommended one.
Inspect tires when they’re cold (either before driving or at least three hours after driving). Add air at any gas station. Most have free air compressors.
Seasonal Adjustments Matter
Temperature affects tire pressure. As the outside temperature decreases by 10 degrees, tires deflate about 1 PSI. Once winter comes, check it more often. Under-inflated winter tires waste even more fuel, as the colder air is denser and has that much more resistance.
Here’s a simple maintenance chart:
| Season | Check Frequency | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Every 4 weeks | Pressure can rise with heat |
| Fall | Every 3 weeks | Cold lowers pressure |
| Winter | Every 2 weeks | Much colder = much lower |
| Spring | Every 3 weeks | Heating up means more pressure |
The correct tire pressure also ensures that your tires last longer and makes for better handling. It’s win-win-win, and it takes near-zero effort.
Habit #6: Intelligent Climate Control
There is nothing worse for fuel economy than air conditioning, yet most of us turn it on — at full blast, no less — when we don’t need it. Your AC compressor is driven by your engine, removing power and burning more fuel.
Running the AC on full blast can lower a car’s fuel economy by 25 percent in hot weather. That’s massive. But that doesn’t mean you should be sweltering all summer long. Smart AC usage is the key.
Temperature Management Strategies
Begin with parking in the shade, if possible. A car in the shade is 15-20 degrees cooler than one that’s parked in the sun. That’s less AC required later.
When you first enter a really hot car, open all the windows and drive for a minute or two. This forces the super-heated air to escape faster than with just AC. After the worst of the heat has passed, close windows and use AC.
AC Efficiency Tips
Run your AC in recirculate mode, not fresh air. It takes less energy to recirculate air that’s already been cooled than it does to cool air from scratch.
Set your car’s AC to “economy” or “eco,” if it has that option. It cuts back compressor use a little, saving fuel while maintaining your comfort.
On the highways (55 MPH and more) AC is better than open windows. With the windows open there is an enormous amount of drag at highway speeds. At 45 MPH and below, open the windows to let cool air flow in — no need to blast the AC.
Heating in Winter
In the winter, there is essentially no “cost” to engine heat, as it utilizes waste heat. But almost always defrosters turn on the AC compressor to dry it out. Only use defrost when you need it, not as your standard setting.
Seat warmers are far less energy hogs than cabin heat because they’re electric and they’re focused. If your car has heated seats, engage them and let the cabin temperature remain lower.
Tying It All Together: Your Plan of Action to Save Fuel
These six habits are most effective in combination. You don’t have to be perfect with any of them right now. Begin with one or two of them, make them sound organic, and then add more.
Week 1-2: Focus on Acceleration
During the first two weeks, concentrate on starting smoothly. Make it a game. Note how light the touch required to accelerate, and yet while you are adding only a minimal amount of speed. Your passengers will feel the difference in the ride as well.
Week 3-4: Add Traffic Anticipation
Once smooth acceleration becomes instinctual, begin scanning farther ahead. Practice coasting to stops. Calculate how many times you can save on braking through your anticipation.
Week 5-6: On the Highway and Speed
On the open road, keep cruise control enabled and drive at legal limits. Time yourself on familiar routes. You will find that 10 miles per hour slower – driving 65 mph rather than 75 mph, say – adds only a few minutes when you’re combining city and highway driving while saving loads of fuel.
Ongoing: Weight, Tires, and Climate
Make these maintenance habits. Inspect tire pressure on the first of each month. Clean your trunk weekly. Use AC smartly every trip.
The Real-World Financial Impact
Let’s calculate actual savings. Say you drive 12,000 miles a year and now get 25 MPG. At $3.50 a gallon, you dish out $1,680 for gas every year.
If you consistently practice these six habits, you should be able to increase fuel efficiency by at LEAST 20% (that’s a very conservative estimate from studies). That means:
- New fuel economy: 30 MPG
- Annual fuel required: 400 gallons as opposed to 480 gallons
- Cost per year: $1,400 versus $1,680
- Annual savings: $280
In five years, that’s $1,400 saved. Over ten years, $2,800. And remember, gas prices fluctuate. When gas prices shoot up to $4.50 a gallon, your savings increase even further.
Not to mention, such habits also prevent unnecessary wear and tear on brakes, tires and engines – reducing maintenance related costs even more.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even well intentioned drivers slip up and make errors that offset these fuel savings.
Mistake #1: Not Sweating the Big Stuff
Others go to extremes, such as coasting in neutral or turning off the engine at stoplights. These provide minimal savings, and they can be dangerous. Concentrate on the six predominant habits instead.
Mistake #2: Aggressive Eco-Driving
That doesn’t mean driving so slowly that you create traffic hazards. Gas mileage is important, but safety matters more. Accelerate reasonably, not painfully slowly.
Mistake #3: Over-Inflating Tires
Higher pressure must be better for fuel economy, some drivers believe. That’s kind of true, but overinflating causes less tire surface to be in contact with the road and is unsafe (not to mention will wear tires unevenly). Stick to manufacturer recommendations.
Mistake #4: Skipping Regular Maintenance
Dirty air filters, old spark plugs and worn oxygen sensors hurt fuel economy. These are the habits that work best when your car is well maintained. For more comprehensive information on vehicle maintenance and fuel efficiency, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s fuel economy guide.
FAQ Section
Q: When are the benefits of these habits seen in fuel savings?
A: You will realize it on your next tank of gas. But you will need 2-3 fill-ups to get an accurate sense of your average driving. Then follow how many miles per gallon your car gets over time to get the real point of it all.
Q: Are these practices applicable to older cars?
A: Yes! In fact, older vehicles actually get better results from efficient driving since their engines are less advanced. The physics of movement, friction, and aerodynamics don’t change with the age or type of a vehicle.
Q: Can I drive normally when I’m in a hurry?
A: Absolutely. These habits are suggestions, not commandments. When you actually want to go faster or are in a hurry, drive safely. The idea is to alter your daily default behaviors, not every trip.
Q: Can these habits help me on my electric vehicle?
A: Partially. EVs do not have traditional engines, but smooth acceleration and anticipation, proper tire pressure and less weight still make operating them more efficient and extend your range. Climate control has an even more dramatic impact on EVs than gas vehicles.
Q: How accurate are the fuel efficiency displays in today’s cars?
A: Most of them are estimates to about 5-10%. They’re great for comparing your different driving behaviors between trips, even if the total isn’t a perfect figure. Utilize them to measure progress over time.
Q: Should I use premium to save money in the long run?
A: Not unless your car calls for it. Running premium in a regular gas car provides zero fuel economy gain and is a waste of money. Refer to your owner’s manual for the right grade of fuel.
Conclusion
Fuel-saving driving habits are very easy to understand and execute, yet they’re routinely ignored. The six habits I cover here — smooth acceleration, traffic anticipation, steady highway speeds, weight minimization, correct tire air pressure and smart climate control — can transform your fuel economy.
These little known techniques are never considered by most drivers. They’re on autopilot, repeating wasteful patterns learned long ago. But you’re different. And now you know how to slash fuel expenses in a big way.
But we can start with one habit today. Master it in a week or two, and then add another. Small sustainable shifts yield sustained results.
Your wallet will love you at every gas station. Your car will last longer with less wear. And here’s the secret: You’ll find driving efficiently to be even more relaxing and enjoyable than driving aggressively.
You no longer ignore the six easy fuel-saving driving habits that most drivers ignore. Now it’s time to implement all of that and see your fuel costs fall month after month.
