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Top 10 Ways to Save on Gas

Balance out high prices at the pump by boosting your fuel efficiency.

With gas prices at record highs, getting the most mileage out of what you put into your tank is more important than ever. By implementing a few simple fuel-saving tips, you can not only save money but also help reduce your family’s impact on the environment. Here are the top 10 things you can do right now to save gas, according to David Greene, research staff member at the U.S. Department of Energy–affiliated Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which addresses national and global energy and environmental issues.

1. Be an easy driver. The most effective thing you can do, besides buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, is to change the way you drive. Aggressive behavior such as speeding, changing lanes and darting in and out of traffic forces your engine to work harder and can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% around town.
2. Commute creatively. Talk to your employer about telecommuting or adjusting your workday so that you spend less time sitting in traffic during rush hour. Also, consider car pools or ride-share programs to help save gas.
3. Plan your errands. Between chauffeuring kids to soccer games, picking up the dry cleaning and running to the grocery store, you can easily make several trips back and forth from home in just one day. But starting a cold engine uses up a lot of energy, so save gas — and time — by combining as many errands as possible.
4. Stay tuned. Routine maintenance repairs such as replacing spark plugs, wires and other parts can help your engine run at its highest efficiency, improving gas mileage by an average of 4%.
5. Keep it clean. Air filters prevent impurities from entering and damaging your engine, so make sure to check them regularly.
6. Get ready to roll. Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned to reduce rolling resistance — the friction between your tires and the road — can improve gas mileage by about 3.3%. Another bonus: Properly inflated and aligned tires are safer and last longer.
7. Lighten your load. An extra 100 lbs. in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by 1% to 2%, so take unnecessary items out of the car. If you have a roof rack and it’s empty, remove it to reduce aerodynamic resistance and further boost your mileage.
8. Speed not, want not. A vehicle’s optimal gas-mileage speed can vary depending on its make and model, but on average, following the speed limit can save you 7% to 10% on gas.
9. Don’t idle. While it may be tempting to leave the engine running when you run and get the kids from school or soccer, doing so for more than 30 seconds wastes gas, particularly if you have a bigger engine. Think of it this way: Idling gets you zero miles per gallon.
10. Cruise along. Using cruise control on the highway will help you maintain a constant speed and thereby save gas.