DETROIT — when Gas prices riseFilling becomes more painful. But consumers can do something to boost fuel economy a little further: change the way they drive.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow, isn’t it? You have to use gas to get through the day, get to work and pick up your kids from school,” said Michael Kroesen, director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports.
Here are seven expert tips for drivers looking to use less gas:
The vehicles are designed for maximum efficiency around highway speeds, said Sean Tucker, managing editor of compact and full-size vehicles at Kelley Blue Book.
“Stay at 65 (miles per hour, 105 kilometers per hour) on the highway,” Tucker said. “Today’s cars are designed to be most efficient at that speed, and you’ll lose a lot of fuel efficiency the faster you go.”
Some estimates suggest that idling increases fuel consumption by up to 14%.
“If you’re having a hard time doing that, cruise control is your friend,” Tucker said. This maintains the vehicle’s set speed, reducing the need to press the accelerator, and avoiding fluctuations such as jerky acceleration or hard braking.
Experts also recommend going to stop signs, whether there is a red light ahead or a green light that will likely change soon.
Use a Automatic vehicle ignitionExperts say. This turns the engine off at stoplights or when decelerating, and restarts it as soon as the accelerator is depressed.
“If you’re stuck in traffic and you see the car is bumped for a while and you have a stop, don’t turn that off,” said David Bennett, AAA’s senior director of automotive. “Allow the engine to start and stop as needed.”
This is especially true when drivers do not need to turn on the air conditioning while waiting for long periods of time.
Many drivers have roof racks on the top of their cars or bike racks in the back. It takes extra fuel to propel this structure through the air, and experts have found that it can cost several miles per gallon.
“If you’re not actually using these devices, it’s like pulling an awning behind your car,” Kroesen said. “Basically any other type of accessory that causes drag, you want to lose it.”
If you’re carrying heavy items in the back seat, trunk, or truck bed and don’t need them, leave them at home.
Experts say it is important to inflate tires correctly, based on what the car manual recommends. Checking tire pressure at every other fill-up is one suggestion.
“Low-profile tires will increase resistance on the road, so when inflated properly, the car will run more smoothly and will be able to accelerate properly,” Bennett said. Expect an impact on fuel consumption of up to 10%, according to estimates.
Auto shops may also be able to make some simple changes to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.
“If you find that you’re not getting as close as you’re supposed to, you need to go to the mechanic,” Tucker said.
For example, they may replace the air filter, or the oxygen sensors that tell the engine how rich the fuel mixture is.
Find carpools if you can, and you’ll effectively split the costs with the other participants.
And be more thoughtful about planning and organizing your driving to take fewer trips overall.
“Don’t make unnecessary stops. Don’t drive all the way across town just to save a dollar on eggs,” Crossen said. “Plan your trips. Don’t drive if you don’t have to.”
Experts say some cars require expensive premium gas, and that’s what you should get. But sometimes drivers fill up on insurance premiums when their car doesn’t need it — and they’ll do just fine on cheaper regular gas, they say.
Regardless of your octane choice, you can keep in mind the quality of your gas. Consider whether your local station carries what’s called “top class gas” — gas that has been developed with additives intended to remove carbon deposits from your engine. During periods of high prices or shortages, this is not a requirement, but is beneficial to vehicles in the long term.
Apps like GasBuddy are great resources for comparing local gas prices or prices along a driver’s route home.
Experts say to also start thinking about getting gas when you have about half a tank. This gives you some flexibility to monitor lower prices.
The average age of a vehicle on the road these days is about 12 years, and newer vehicles are more fuel efficient than older vehicles. Not everyone can afford a new car, but when the time comes, shoppers can consider a hybrid car if they’re not ready to switch to an all-electric vehicle.
And if you’re ready to ditch gas altogether, electric vehicles — including many used models — are right there.
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Alexa St. John is a climate reporter for The Associated Press. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Contact her at ast.john@ap.org.
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