Tips for Being More Fuel Efficient

Whether you drive to work every day, take your kids to school or soccer practice, or enjoy going on long road trips and weekend getaways, driving can be expensive. While it’s obvious that the more you drive the more fuel you will use up, are there ways to slow down your consumption rate?

Even if you drive long distances, there are strategies that you can use to slow down your car’s fuel consumption and become more fuel-efficient. But how? What can you do when you’re always on the go? Keep reading to discover a few tips and tricks that might come in handy and help you use less fuel and save more money, other than driving less.

Drive at a Steady Speed

One of the easiest ways to save up on fuel is to change your driving habits. You don’t have to drive less, but slower. Accelerating increases consumption at a fast rate, so if you’re constantly speeding then slowing down for traffic and traffic lights and then accelerating again, that’s not a good way to go. Instead, find a slow, steady pace that’s within the speed limit and won’t require constant acceleration.

When you do accelerate, keep in mind that the slower you speed up, the more fuel-efficient you’ll be. Pressing the gas pedal hard will use up a lot of fuel within a short period of time, so avoid doing that and press it slowly to gradually increase your speed.

Watch Your Braking Habits

Another driving habit that uses up a lot of fuel is braking. Avoid pressing the brakes when you don’t need to by driving at a steady pace with room in front of you, to avoid tailgating the car ahead. If you’re driving too close, you’re going to constantly need to hit the brakes and stop when the car straight ahead of you slows down.

Tailgating is also a dangerous driving habit that can increase your chances of getting into a car accident. You never know when the car ahead will randomly stop or slow down, and if you’re not paying attention or your reflexes aren’t super sharp, you might not have enough time to come to a stop. So for your safety and fuel efficiency purposes, avoid tailgating and keep a good distance between you and surrounding cars.

Turn Your Engine Off When You Can

Another fuel-saving driving habit to adopt is turning off your engine when it doesn’t need to be running. While you’ll obviously need it while driving, how soon should you turn it off before and after?

Running your vehicle’s engine without moving, otherwise known as idling, can use up a lot of fuel for no reason. While most drivers take the time to warm up their engines in the winter, experts say you shouldn’t do it for longer than 30 seconds. Your engine will naturally warm up as you start moving, so there’s no need to sit with your engine on for five minutes before you get going. It’s not being efficient and it’s harming the environment by emitting greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution. Also, if you need to make a stop for more than a few seconds, it’s a better idea to turn your engine off and start it back up than it is to keep it running.

Reduce Unnecessary Weight

It’s easier for your car to drive when it has less weight to carry. The more items you throw in the trunk, the greater your fuel consumption will be. It’s a good idea to take out the items you store in the back and avoid taking any unnecessary items with you on road trips. The less your car has to carry, the less fuel it will need to get going.

Other Tips for Saving Money on Gas

Besides adopting these highly efficient driving habits, we have a few tips that you can follow to save money on gas:

• Buy a fuel-efficient car – you can visit a new car dealership in Hollywood to find a wide range of cars with high fuel efficiencies.
• Consider carpooling – whether that’s taking turns driving to work with a coworker who lives nearby or driving all your friends together on a field trip, carpooling can save everyone involved a lot of fuel and have a positive impact on the environment.
• Keep track of your fuel consumption – take note of how often you change your tank, and see if the frequency decreases over time as you adopt fuel-efficient driving habits. You can even set goals for yourself and keep those in mind as you strive to become more fuel-efficient.
• Download a gas app – there are many apps out there available for smartphone users to download on their phones, that are designed to find the least expensive gas stations in the local area you’re driving in. These apps are constantly being updated to find gas stations with low prices in your area, so you can be sure that you’re getting the best prices.

If you’re looking to save money on gas without driving less, you need to become more fuel-efficient and decrease your car’s fuel consumption. If you’re happy with your car but want to save money on gas, you can be more fuel-efficient by adopting healthy driving habits, such as driving at a steady speed, turning your engine off when you can, being more cautious with your braking habits, and reducing unnecessary weight in the car. If you’re open to checking out new cars, you can find fuel-efficient models at a Honda dealership in Hollywood, and speak with a knowledgeable new car dealer in Hollywood.

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