Idling for more than 30 seconds? Turn it Off!
It's not always practical advice, because many times you cannot stop your engine in the middle of a traffic jam. But if you'll be in a long line at the bank's drive-in window, it's worth considering. Even better: bypass the line altogether and come back another time. The same is true of congested routes that might be shorter in distance, but require more idle time. You might be better off driving a bit further than idling in the stop-and-go traffic.
Accelerate Slowly but Evenly.
Your father probably told you it's not a drag race once the light turns green, and he was correct. The winner in that race loses gasoline, and perhaps more. But this is not a safety lecture, it's an observation that punching the accelerator damages your mileage like few other bad driving habits. On limited access highways, use that acceleration lane to its fullest length, gradually adding miles per hour until you merge at a speed comparable to the existing traffic. Gradual, even acceleration is a fine art for good drivers, and practice pays off in better fuel efficiency.
Buy the Lowest Grade of Gasoline Possible
Owners manuals are notorious for recommending a middle or upper grade of fuel. These sections often are written by lawyers, not mechanics. They don't want you to sue their car company for making an inferior recommendation. To be sure, there are some models that require a high-performance grade. Those are few. Check with your mechanic and find out how well your engine will run on regular unleaded as opposed to a more expensive blend. Then, do the math. Paying an additional 10-20 cents per gallon will cost you the equivalent of about ten fill-ups a year. Unless it's necessary, are you willing to pay that much just so you can claim a better grade of gasoline is in the tank?
Can You Drive 55?
The signs in this picture were a humorous indicator of a sports car test track just ahead. Most of us must deal with much lower speed limits, and some drivers cannot abide 55 miles per hour if the legal speed limit is higher. However, it is worth considering that the typical engine loses two percent in fuel economy for every mile per hour above 55. So, a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon at 55 miles per hour drops to 21 miles per gallon when the speedometer hits 70.
Check Your Tire Pressure Frequently
Would you like half a gallon of gasoline added to your tank free of charge for each fill-up? Every station in the world offers such a deal, whether the manager knows it or not. All you must do is keep your tire pressure at the recommended level. This can boost fuel efficiency by a mile per gallon, not to mention improving the life of your tires and the overall ride. If this seems like obvious advice, consider that under-inflation of tires is considered the most common car problem on the road today.
Use Cruise Control
It's the old "Tortoise and Hare" story: Steady wins the economy race, too. If you use cruise control on the highway, you've no doubt observed many people do not. That's because you see them speed past you one minute, and then you must pass them a few minutes later. Maintaining a constant speed is pleasing to your engine. One exception: Don't use cruise control on wet roads, where it increases the risk of accidents.
Use Air Conditioning Wisely
On longer trips, air conditioning is actually fuel efficient. The reason is open windows and higher speeds create drag that makes an engine work harder than if the A/C was running. On shorter runs, use the A/C to cool off the interior and then either turn it off or to the lowest setting.
Get a Brake and Transmission Check-Up
This is a good idea for a multitude of reasons, probably the least of which is fuel efficiency. But it's true that an engine that has to work harder to slow down wastes fuel. A slipping transmission or weak, worn brakes don't help the cause.
Did you ever have a car that took 10 seconds or more to start? You know the annoying grinding sound, but did you know those cars waste enough gasoline to go a mile or two in the direction of your destination? Leaky valves, poorly-timed spark plugs, clogged air filters and slipping belts rob you of miles per gallon. Tune-ups have become much more expensive over the years, and people tend to shy away from them. To do so is "penny-wise and pound-foolish."
It makes no sense to drive 10 miles to save a few cents on a gallon of gasoline. But smart gas shoppers pull into a station when they see a good price, even if their tanks are half-full. Typically, a few stations in your city consistently offer lower gasoline prices. Identify them, and stop by when other business takes you past their driveways. In unfamiliar territory, you can now shop for gasoline online.
Web sites like GasPriceWatch.com post frequent updates for cities all along your travel route. The prices are likely to change by the time of your visit, but you'll get a feel for where the best deals are offered.
More Step-by-Step Budget Travel Tips
It's not always practical advice, because many times you cannot stop your engine in the middle of a traffic jam. But if you'll be in a long line at the bank's drive-in window, it's worth considering. Even better: bypass the line altogether and come back another time. The same is true of congested routes that might be shorter in distance, but require more idle time. You might be better off driving a bit further than idling in the stop-and-go traffic.
Accelerate Slowly but Evenly.
Your father probably told you it's not a drag race once the light turns green, and he was correct. The winner in that race loses gasoline, and perhaps more. But this is not a safety lecture, it's an observation that punching the accelerator damages your mileage like few other bad driving habits. On limited access highways, use that acceleration lane to its fullest length, gradually adding miles per hour until you merge at a speed comparable to the existing traffic. Gradual, even acceleration is a fine art for good drivers, and practice pays off in better fuel efficiency.
Buy the Lowest Grade of Gasoline Possible
Owners manuals are notorious for recommending a middle or upper grade of fuel. These sections often are written by lawyers, not mechanics. They don't want you to sue their car company for making an inferior recommendation. To be sure, there are some models that require a high-performance grade. Those are few. Check with your mechanic and find out how well your engine will run on regular unleaded as opposed to a more expensive blend. Then, do the math. Paying an additional 10-20 cents per gallon will cost you the equivalent of about ten fill-ups a year. Unless it's necessary, are you willing to pay that much just so you can claim a better grade of gasoline is in the tank?
Can You Drive 55?
The signs in this picture were a humorous indicator of a sports car test track just ahead. Most of us must deal with much lower speed limits, and some drivers cannot abide 55 miles per hour if the legal speed limit is higher. However, it is worth considering that the typical engine loses two percent in fuel economy for every mile per hour above 55. So, a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon at 55 miles per hour drops to 21 miles per gallon when the speedometer hits 70.
Check Your Tire Pressure Frequently
Would you like half a gallon of gasoline added to your tank free of charge for each fill-up? Every station in the world offers such a deal, whether the manager knows it or not. All you must do is keep your tire pressure at the recommended level. This can boost fuel efficiency by a mile per gallon, not to mention improving the life of your tires and the overall ride. If this seems like obvious advice, consider that under-inflation of tires is considered the most common car problem on the road today.
Use Cruise Control
It's the old "Tortoise and Hare" story: Steady wins the economy race, too. If you use cruise control on the highway, you've no doubt observed many people do not. That's because you see them speed past you one minute, and then you must pass them a few minutes later. Maintaining a constant speed is pleasing to your engine. One exception: Don't use cruise control on wet roads, where it increases the risk of accidents.
Use Air Conditioning Wisely
On longer trips, air conditioning is actually fuel efficient. The reason is open windows and higher speeds create drag that makes an engine work harder than if the A/C was running. On shorter runs, use the A/C to cool off the interior and then either turn it off or to the lowest setting.
Get a Brake and Transmission Check-Up
This is a good idea for a multitude of reasons, probably the least of which is fuel efficiency. But it's true that an engine that has to work harder to slow down wastes fuel. A slipping transmission or weak, worn brakes don't help the cause.
Did you ever have a car that took 10 seconds or more to start? You know the annoying grinding sound, but did you know those cars waste enough gasoline to go a mile or two in the direction of your destination? Leaky valves, poorly-timed spark plugs, clogged air filters and slipping belts rob you of miles per gallon. Tune-ups have become much more expensive over the years, and people tend to shy away from them. To do so is "penny-wise and pound-foolish."
It makes no sense to drive 10 miles to save a few cents on a gallon of gasoline. But smart gas shoppers pull into a station when they see a good price, even if their tanks are half-full. Typically, a few stations in your city consistently offer lower gasoline prices. Identify them, and stop by when other business takes you past their driveways. In unfamiliar territory, you can now shop for gasoline online.
Web sites like GasPriceWatch.com post frequent updates for cities all along your travel route. The prices are likely to change by the time of your visit, but you'll get a feel for where the best deals are offered.
More Step-by-Step Budget Travel Tips
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