Money Saving Tips: 10 Ways Being a Smart Driver Saves You Gas

Want to save on gas costs? Who doesn't? Especially since we're entering the summer season where millions load up their SUV, van, etc. and head on a long trip to see relatives, camp, visit tourist attractions and the like.

So today we're covering some gas money saving tips from Bankrate. Their ten ideas include:

1. Easy does it. You might enjoy flooring it at a stop light, but you're wasting gas and putting more strain on your car.

2. Be a smooth driver. Abrupt stops aren't great for your car or your car's fuel efficiency. Letting your car coast to a stop is a good way to improve your gas mileage.

3. Follow the speed limit. Speeding is a very expensive way to drive. The faster you drive, the bigger the fuel-economy hit on your car.

4. Avoid rush hour. Not only is stop-and-go traffic stressful and annoying, it's bad for your car's gas mileage.

5. Combine trips. You can save fuel and cut down on the wear and tear on your car by choosing the shortest route to your destination and combining short trips whenever possible.

6. Travel light. Remove any excess items from your car. Less weight means better mileage.

7. Clear the roof. A loaded roof rack increases your car's air drag and can pull down your car's mileage by 5 percent.

8. Go easy on the air conditioning. (But at highway speeds, modern cars are more fuel efficient with the air conditioning on than with the air off and windows down.)

9. Don't be idle. When you idle your car, its fuel economy crashes down to zero miles per gallon.

10. Watch your foot. Avoid resting your left foot on the brake while driving. The slightest pressure could cause a drag that will require additional gas.

I've covered gas-saving tips before, and this piece actually has some new ones to offer. Pretty good.

Here's where I stand on each of these ten:

1. Guilty.

2. Guilty.

3. Guilty.

4. Not much rush hour for me. I'm at work by 7 am and I go through the country and against the traffic flow into the city.

5. Guilty.

6. Guilty.

7. I never carry stuff on my roof -- but it would be cool to do! Oh, that's a BAD idea. Never mind.

8. Guilty. I hate being hot.

9. I'm not often idle.

10. I never do this -- I'm a one-foot driver.

Ok, so what I'm getting from this is that if I applied ideas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 that my mpg would go from 23 to something like 40? ;-)

Comments

[Flexo]

FMF - what do you drive? You've probably mentioned it dozens of times but I don't remember. :>

[FMF]

I drive a Subaru Forester. My wife drives a Toyota Corolla.

So along with #8, I've wondered if it saves anything to alternate between having the AC on and off, always keeping the air circulating inside, and always keeping the fan on. I've noticed I can have the AC on for a minute or 2, then switch it off, but the fan keeps blowing cold air for another couple minutes. Then when things get too stuffy, or the temperature goes back up enough, I just switch the AC on again. But does this really save any energy? Is more energy spent using the AC, or the fan, and how big of a difference is it? Anyone know?

[Etz]

Try again.