Save money and fuel by driving efficiently. (2024)

FAQs

Save money and fuel by driving efficiently.? ›

Accelerate gently

One of the most effective ways to save fuel is to practice smooth acceleration and braking. Sudden starts and stops not only consume more fuel but also wear out your vehicle's engine and brakes faster. When you accelerate gently and anticipate stops, you can significantly improve your fuel efficiency.

Drive evenly.

Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. In our tests, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced an older Toyota Camry's mileage by 2 to 3 mpg. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace. The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you use.

Midsize conventional gasoline cars achieve their best fuel economy at 55 mph. The fuel economy of midsize conventional diesel cars declines gradually from 45 to 55 mph and then drops quickly thereafter. The midsize hybrid electric vehicle loses efficiency more evenly between 45 and 75 mph.

Idle is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to fuel consumption. Idling is one of the main reasons the automatic Stop/Start technology was invented.

Yes: The alternator, which is powered by the engine, is what provides energy to the air conditioner. The engine runs on fuel, meaning you are using up gas when you run the AC. With that said, enjoying a bit of cool air doesn't necessarily mean you're being inefficient.

Does AC affect gas mileage? As a general answer, a Consumer Reports study found that, yes, running the AC does reduce gas mileage. Here are some tips to help you balance your fuel consumption with comfort. Generally, the air conditioner uses gas, so use it wisely.

What uses the most fuel when driving? ›

Aggressive braking and accelerating

Speeding around and braking and accelerating aggressively burn much more fuel than driving smoothly. Fuel consumption is at its highest when accelerating because the engine has to work extra hard to keep pushing the car forward.

How much is the cost of gas to drive for 1 hour? For example, if you'll be driving an average of 60 miles per hour and your car gets 25 miles per gallon, you'll need about 2.4 gallons of gas for your trip. If the cost of gas is $3.49 per gallon, your hour-long trip will cost $8.38.

Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Anticipate traffic situations and maintain adequate spacing between vehicles to avoid unneces- sary braking and acceleration.

Make sure you drive smoothly and don't accelerate too fast. Read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking. Slamming down hard on the brakes can affect fuel efficiency. Slow down gently by releasing the accelerator in time and leaving the car in gear unless you are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Avoid speeding and rapid acceleration. Fuel efficiency drops significantly at higher speeds, and constantly hitting the gas uses more fuel than maintaining a steady pace. Accelerate gently and avoid slamming on the brakes. Anticipate stops and traffic lights so you can slow down gradually.