You don’t need to change your life – or buy a new car – to save money on gasoline. A few simple steps can add miles to every tank and reduce the sting of rising fuel prices. You might go from five fill-ups a month to four, cutting your fuel bill 20 percent.
"People can save a lot by doing little things," said John Viera, Ford global director of sustainability.
A couple of pieces of basic maintenance rate high with Viera: regular tune-ups and proper tire inflation.
"You can raise your fuel efficiency 3-4 percent by maintaining the correct air pressure," he says.
Low air pressure makes the tires soft. That increases their rolling resistance and the amount of energy – fuel – it takes to keep them rolling down the road.
Check your air pressure at least once a month. Don’t over-inflate the tires. That doesn’t help fuel economy and can lead to blowouts and reduce your control of the vehicle.
"Regular tune-ups can have a huge impact on a vehicle that’s not getting good fuel economy," Viera said. When an engine is running rough, it’s using too much fuel. "Delaying tune-ups costs you money."
The idea that you can fix a rough engine, or improve your fuel economy, by using premium fuel when the manufacturer recommends regular doesn’t hold water, he said. It doesn’t affect how the car runs, "clean out" the engine or boost fuel economy.
"If using premium got you better fuel economy, automakers would tell their customers," he said. You should use the fuel grade the manufacturer recommends or requires. If you don’t know what that is, check your owner’s manual, the label inside the fuel door or, in Canada, the website of Natural Resources Canada.
Not running air-conditioning can boost fuel economy 15 percent. "If you don’t need air-conditioning, don’t use it," Viera said. Using the automatic setting in cars with electronic climate control minimizes the system’s impact on fuel consumption.
Driving with the windows down can use even more fuel than AC, however. "At over 50 mph, driving with the windows down burns more fuel than air-conditioning," Viera said.
Electronic engine controls also mean there’s no longer any reason to let your car run for a few minutes to warm up before driving.
Idling – leaving the engine running when you’re not moving – also wastes fuel, Viera said. "If you know you won’t be moving for more than 30 seconds, turning the engine off and restarting is better."
Cruise control can boost highway fuel efficiency significantly. Vehicles with electronic cruise maintain speed with imperceptible adjustments. Even the best driver can’t match their precision.
"We can’t control the price at the pump, but there’s a lot we can control," said AAA Michigan spokeswoman Nancy Cain.
Eliminate junk in the trunk; anything you don’t need that adds weight costs you money.
Paying with cash rather than a credit card can save you 10 cents or more at many gas stations, Cain added. Some grocery stores also offer fuel discounts to preferred customers.
"Plan your route to combine errands, and avoid driving at peak hours" when traffic moves slowly, she said.
Modifying your driving style will make the biggest difference of all. Cut out the jack-rabbit starts and stop accelerating when you see a red light ahead.