Fuel Saving Tips
Go by bike - Occasionally
When the weather is good, and the days are longer, take the bicycle for some trips. I've been managing to commute to work by bike at least 1 day per week (its 25km each way, so takes about an hour x2). I'm saving 20% on my fuel bill and feeling fitter. You could also just cycle part of the way - drive half way, cycle the rest. Lots of benefits, few downsides if you want to make it work.
posted by JakobusVdL on January 16, 2015
this tip works for 79% of voting Fuelly members.
Save electricity - Save fuel
Winter puts alot of strain on the electrical systems Some vehicles will increase the engine rpm to help maintain a healthy battery charge rate Some engine start to bog - causing the engine to adjust the fuel to keep it running So when sat at traffic lights - turn things off For example, put wipers to intermittent vs continuous Switch any front fog lights off temporarily - unless condition dictate you shouldn't Take your foot of the brake pedal and use the handbrake All minor things, but it also helps prevent low battery's due to lack of charge time
posted by Ziggy122 on December 27, 2014
this tip works for 38% of voting Fuelly members.
Engine Load, not RPM's save gas
Despite claims that RPM's are directly tied to fuel economy, it's not the full story. Engine load has a big part to do with it. If you're going up hill, you'll need more gas get up that hill. The best way to find the best combination of throttle & gear is to get a Scan Gauge, Ultra Gauge, ELM327, or any type of OBD2 scanner that can approximate instantaneous fuel economy. You'll get a hang of driving techniques to maximize economy by watching that number rise and fall. My preferred setup is a WiFi ELM327, & DashCommand for iPhone that will give you both estimated fuel spent, and a history of your current drive's mileage estimates.
posted by outlaw240 on December 22, 2014
this tip works for 93% of voting Fuelly members.
Go WOT in turbocharged performance vehicles occasionally
Excessive low-load, low-RPM driving in turbocharged performance vehicles causes excessive carbon buildup in the cylinder and on the spark plug that can cause misfires and knock if left unchecked. It may seem counterintuative, but you need to burn off these carbon deposits occasionally by driving spiritedly for a little bit (note:obey all local speed laws).
posted by MD1032 on December 12, 2014
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
Ensure your wheels are aligned correctly
Make sure the wheels on your car are aligned by a specialist who knows how to use his equipment. Insist on a written report of the appropriate toe in/out and camber for front and rear wheels and compare with the manufacturer's recommendations. This improves fuel consumption with reduce rolling resistance, improves handling and braking, and will extend the life of the tyres considerably saving further dollars. Inspect tyres regularly to see if tyres are wearing unevenly which would indicate the car requires another alignment. Bad impacts with kerbs or pot holes can affect alignment.
posted by Gerrycan on December 9, 2014
this tip works for 97% of voting Fuelly members.
Anticipation saves - improvement
"... if you are going to have to stop that you take your foot off the accelerator and cruise up to the obstruction using your brakes as required." is an excellent tip. Improve on it, don't just cruise to the stop. If you are a good judge, hit the brakes early on, slow down, then cruise. You may not have to stop before the obstacle/stop light, and you will have more momentum as you start to speed up. Worst case you still come to a stop, no worse than cruising all the way and coming to a stop. Road rage caution: watch out for impatient drivers behind you, who will try to change lanes and zip in front of you. Stay calm, they will learn.
posted by guhanv on December 5, 2014
this tip works for 97% of voting Fuelly members.
Buy fuel cheaper with dollar cost averaging
Save money at the pump by using a trick smart investors use to buy stocks. Instead of filling up at the pump, buy a set $ amount each time you gas up. This will always buy more fuel when prices are cheaper and less fuel when prices are higher. Over time you will average a lower price on gas purchases. guaranteed.
posted by Praxis50035 on November 28, 2014
this tip works for 11% of voting Fuelly members.
Hot Air Intake
Cold Air Intakes are for the movies. They look cool and are easy enough for the average kid to do in the driveway. All cars already have a snorkel that takes in the air from the "cold" area outside of the hood. Cold air can increase power density but more power means more fuel is consumed. And cold air creates more heat loss of the combustion just to heat up the air. I made a simple hot air intake that picks up off of the catalyst and runs at 140F.
posted by sendler on November 27, 2014
this tip works for 11% of voting Fuelly members.
Skip gears
In the UK, learner drivers are now advised to skip gears to get up to top speed quicker and more efficiently. On slight downward hills, it's easy to pull away in 2nd, when you reach 30 MPH, select 4th or take the revs a little higher and select 5th. From 0-60 you only need to change gear twice so the engine doesnt go through the full rev range in every gear. Similar patterns can be applied when dowshifting too.
posted by Draigflag on November 19, 2014
this tip works for 70% of voting Fuelly members.
Deactivate Cruise Control on Steep Downgrades
Newer cruise control functions will actually hit the brakes to maintain set speed if you begin to accelerate down a steep hill, so that steep downgrade that you think is really going to help your MPGs could be only helping a little. Turn your cruise control off if you think the grade is steep enough. Remember, the faster you have the cruise set to, the lesser chance you have of this happening, as drag naturally increases with speed, which will require your engine to maintain that speed even when going down the hill. The slower your cruising speed equals a greater chance that your car will pick up steam going down that hill.
posted by RieBauer17 on November 15, 2014
this tip works for 57% of voting Fuelly members.
over inflate tires at least 10% for more mpg
I have found that on my tires that are rated at 35psi that when I inflate them while hot to 44psi (suggested max for Mich Defenders) that I get about 10% more mpg. Honda civic VX and my Acura Rl.
posted by softciyVX on November 10, 2014
this tip works for 38% of voting Fuelly members.
Safe driving essentials
1 - Focus, and concentrate all the time 2 - Take your time 3 - Scan, keeping your eyes moving 4 - Anticipate “what if?” 5 - Always drive at such a speed that you can stop within the distance seen to be clear 6 - Maintain a minimum 2-second following distance from the vehicle in front.
posted by WickedWeasel on November 7, 2014
this tip works for 95% of voting Fuelly members.
The Power of Coasting
Don't forget that when you're coasting, your car isn't using fuel. The car's momentum is actually turning the motor with the friction your tires have on the road. Make sure to reclaim some of the energy you spent to get your vehicle moving by coasting. Pay attention to stoplights ahead, learn the light patterns, and you can easily bump your AVG MPG by at least 5. The more braking, the more you're decreasing your fuel economy by turning that energy into heated brakes. Don't waste the energy you spent getting up that hill by excessively braking while going down. Drive safe, but keep that fuel economy in mind!
posted by falas on November 5, 2014
this tip works for 87% of voting Fuelly members.
Choose right vehicle
Use right vehicle for the work. For example, for city commuting in good weather, if you not need to carry much cargo with you, you can use a motorcycle, or even cub-bike ( underbone, step-throught) for commutiong. You have a big win throught that - no rush hours ( who consume your time and fuel), and much less fuel consumption - on my one chinese underbone i get into 2 litres per 100 km! my 600cc motorcycle get around 5 - 6 litres per 100 km in city, and my car - around 8 - 9 litres to 100 km. and there is a rush around...
posted by drago76 on October 29, 2014
this tip works for 66% of voting Fuelly members.
Turn A/C On While Traveling Downhill/During AFC (Free A/C)
On a modern car, auto fuel cut off will be activated when you remove your foot from the accelerator while traveling downhill. If you want free intermittent A/C turn it on while traveling downhill or slowing down with your foot off the accelerator. You may feel a very slight increase in engine breaking when you turn the A/C on but it is minimal. There is a kit available online that activates the A/C when auto fuel cut off is activated (I don't know where you can buy it as it was a while ago).
posted by Swiftkick on October 26, 2014
this tip works for 51% of voting Fuelly members.
Partialy Block Off Your Radiator Grill.
This especially applies to diesel vehicles. The sooner your engine gets up to temperature the more efficient it will be. For example my (diesel) car gets almost half the MPGs it would get when up to temperature. I have blocked off the lower grill (with black duct tape) which allows my car to warm up faster and keep a sturdy temperature. This also improves aerodynamics of your vehicle (if done correctly). I am doing this in about 6-15 Celsius weather and see a decent increase in MPG and I can also use my heaters earlier. IMPORTANT Be sure not to block off your intercooler (if fitted) as this helps MPG and keeps intake air temps low and intake air density higher. It is extremely unlikely your vehicle will overheat but for the first few journeys keep an eye on your coolant temp.
posted by Swiftkick on October 26, 2014
this tip works for 41% of voting Fuelly members.
Turn it off quickly
Whenever pulling into your spot, turn the vehicle off immediately if possible, then roll up electric windows etc, if your vehicle allows for this.
posted by BDX2 on October 22, 2014
this tip works for 54% of voting Fuelly members.
Avoid short distance
Daily short distance travel burn more fuel to warm up the engine thus reduces car kpl. Proper planning of your trip is crucial to high kpl.
posted by cheeyc on October 22, 2014
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
tire pressure
the recommended tire pressure is listed on the inside of your drivers side door, Front and Back check it often the seasons are changing and so is your tires air pressure. NOTE check it before you leave, Not after its been driven or if its been sitting in the SUN for a while.
posted by wasabi2u on October 19, 2014
this tip works for 92% of voting Fuelly members.
Avoid Stations Taking on Fuel
If you see a station being refueled or you know it has been refueled in the last couple of hours, go somewhere else. The turbulence from refilling the storage tank can kick up any muck and water laying on the bottom of the tank.
posted by rdskill on October 16, 2014
this tip works for 65% of voting Fuelly members.
Keep that diesel fuel tank full
Diesel fuel is highly hygroscopic. That means it sucks moisture and water out of the air, on a daily adiabatic cycle. The more air stored in the fuel tank, the more moisture is drawn into the fuel tank, condensing on the inside walls of the fuel tank, as the tank breathes in and out with the daily heat cycle. Keeping your diesel fuel tank fuel limits the amount of moist air drawn into your fuel tank, and into your fuel during humid seasons. This is less a problem in the arid SouthWest seasons with relative humidity below 20%
posted by Magalicious on October 16, 2014
this tip works for 52% of voting Fuelly members.
Know your shift points
I have 2 w-body GM cars 1 with 3400 and 1 3800 n/a. So here is what I do: In short: 1. Accelerate slowly 2. Know your shift points and stay near the shift. 3. Don't speed (why it doesn't save time really) In long: 1. Accelerate slowly usually 1500 RPM or so (I know it upsets some people BUT in the day to day city driving [and highway] I always catch up to those who pass me) 2. Know your transmission. If I am at 40-45 mph in my 2004 Grand Prix GT1 (3800 engine), It will shift around there and keep the RPMs around 1000-1200 to maintain that speed which is great for most driving in city. Try to keep your speed need where your transmission shifted but beware going up hills will cause it to down shift and RPM go up so play with it. 3. No need to speed! Unless you want to save 30 seconds or so (usually less) Why speed? I have always seen people accelerate past me only to catch up to them at a light or pass them as the turn into their neighborhood. Take it easy! The time you save is negligible. Your car will love you more with less maintainence and better MPG
posted by dickawg on October 12, 2014
this tip works for 77% of voting Fuelly members.
Anticipate
Conserve fuel by anticipating - ease off the throttle early on approaching red lights or queued traffic. If the light changes or traffic moves before you get there, you avoided a full stop (which is the most expensive fuel consumer). Added bonus, you reduce wear on brakes and might arrive more relaxed to boot!
posted by F1Rumors on October 9, 2014
this tip works for 99% of voting Fuelly members.
Tire pressure...
If you read the side wall of a tire you will see it tells you the max pressure @ the max load. This is because you will need this pressure to carry that load. If you are at lower load you will need a lower setting. Pressure has to match the load and when it does your tires will wear perfectly flat. For this reason you should never follow the recommended pressure from the car makers. You should be working out your own for your car or truck as you normally load it. With that in mind, most times you can run it higher and gain more savings in fuel then lose from wearing the tires out faster, all without hurting safety. But, also keep in mind to high can be a safety issue if you go to far. It is however always safer a to 5 pounds high over be 5 pounds low. When they are low the side walls will flex more building way more heat and destroying the tires. It will also reduce your control of the car when the tires just fold over when you are trying to turn.
posted by Crf450r420 on September 28, 2014
this tip works for 34% of voting Fuelly members.
Know before you go...
Don't just do the neutral cost or downshift until you know your vehicle. If you get a cheap bluetooth to OBDII adapter on say Amazon. You can use an app like Torque to see how your car works. Both my girlfriends and I have small cars one 1998 the other 2006 that both don't have trailing throttle (the injectors are not shut off when intake is under high vacuum) even though they are both well into the years you would guess they have such. This setup will also give you a way to add instant and average MPG, so you can develop efficient habit that fit that car. Then there are a ton of other things like code reading which also come with it.
posted by Crf450r420 on September 28, 2014
this tip works for 78% of voting Fuelly members.
want good FE? I want to help
1. I have found that cars get better mileage on better fuel. For instance keep track of different gas companies and what you get from them. For instance: my 2004 Ford Taurus gets better mileage from Shell or Cenex or BP vs some mom and pop stations. Just cause its cheaper don't mean its good gas! These name brand places also tend to use detergents and additives to help with engine cleanliness with prolonged usage. 2. If you can afford it and your car has less than 100,000 miles on it switch to synthetic oils. Less friction in engine/ transmission = longer life and better fuel economy. 3. If planning a longer trip, drive part of it while sun is down. You will achieve better mileage for several reasons: less traffic set your speed n go. And you will have a cooler engine and you may not have to use the AC as much. 4. Always fill your tank. If you live in the north like I do, in winter you never know what could happen when weather is bad. Better to have fuel and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Less chance of a freeze up from watered fuel (cheapskate stations) and you keep your fuel pump cool and save money on repairs! Expensive ones! Gas tank levels of less than 1/4 is playing with fire especially with older and higher milage vehicles. 4. Read these tips here on this page! I've probably gained a couple miles in overall economy by listening and finding what works! ;) and it has made me a better and more patient driver and more responsible. 5. If you're patient you can save fuel by paying attention to, AND driving speed limits! I do almost 100% of the time and I see about a 2mpg difference. Think about it: if you drive 60 instead of the posted 55 how much time are you really going to gain huh? 5 mins? Plus, you won't need to romp on the gas to pass eevery time you turn around. I get passed all the time and I usually see them at the next light anyways. Don't be impatient. If someone is driving the limit: simply re set your cruise and it won't be an issue. 5. When you see the 1/5 mile slow down speed sign, coast to new speed limit and reset cruise. Even if youre a little early.Speed limits start AT the sign, you'll optimize how much brakes are used and you avoid damage to your driving record and insurance premiums ;)
posted by hylander89 on September 21, 2014
this tip works for 57% of voting Fuelly members.
Consider a cold air intake
Letting your engine breathe better both improves power and economy, as well as giving a sportier note and better response at lower revs, allowing you to shift out sooner. Many auto manufacturers now offer these to be installed at your dealer, and if done at the dealer it won't void your warranty.
posted by Texas on September 19, 2014
this tip works for 18% of voting Fuelly members.
Back Into Parking Spots
By backing in (or pulling through to park nose-out, in lots that have two spots nose-to-tail), you do your reversing when the transmission is warm, eliminating having to drive in Reverse with a cold transmission and engine. You'll eliminate the loud "clunk" (which is hard on the transmission) and also only go through a single acceleration cycle on a cold engine when departing your destination. It's also safer, since you will see the surrounding area immediately before backing in, instead of seeing the area, getting into and starting your car, and then backing out.
posted by F14Scott on September 14, 2014
this tip works for 84% of voting Fuelly members.
Use the car that is best for your trip
Most people own more then one car, A smart person will own cars that fit different applications. Find out which car is more efficient on the highway, and use it strictly for long distance trips and keep your gas guzzlers in town where less distance is traveled.
posted by Macbriggs2 on September 4, 2014
this tip works for 50% of voting Fuelly members.
civic HX leanburn
On the 7th generation civic HX, Keep it below 68 mph to stay in lean burn mode.
posted by 01silvercivichx on September 3, 2014
this tip works for 42% of voting Fuelly members.
