Fuel Saving Tips
Avoid short trips
Trips that dont get your vehicle up to proper temperature are less efficient. Holding off to go to the store on your way home from work can increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle by a nice margain, so plan ahead.
posted by VaporRider on December 8, 2012
this tip works for 99% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't top off!
Never fill past the auto-stop on the pump - anything above that can spill and can be negated by emissions systems! Either way, topped-off fuel is wasted!
posted by vann90720 on December 8, 2012
this tip works for 44% of voting Fuelly members.
Use your garage in the winter
In the winter, a warm engine heats up faster, and runs more efficiently than a freezing cold engine. If you have a garage and are using it for storage instead of the car, make room for the car. It's also very nice to not have to scrape frost and brush snow.
posted by valleymd on December 4, 2012
this tip works for 93% of voting Fuelly members.
Dont use the heaters when the engine is cold
When you start the engine it'll slowly start to warm up the cooling systems fluids which powers the cabin heater When the engine is cold it uses a richer fuel mixture to help it warm up So putting the fans on to clear your screen when its still cold is only making the car cooler, wait for it to start showing signs of warming up before putting the heat on But remember you need clear vision, so use your elbows not your fans to get you going in a morning
posted by Ziggy122 on December 3, 2012
this tip works for 80% of voting Fuelly members.
Reduce your power consumption to save fuel
When you sit at the lights, heaters, fans, wipers, lights all set to max, the alternator demand is high, the engine idle therefore sits a little higher to try and feed this demand So when sat at lights or in traffic, turn the fans down a speed Turns the rear demister off for a few minutes, it'll stay warm for a few minutes continuing to clear your screen anyway!
posted by Ziggy122 on December 3, 2012
this tip works for 77% of voting Fuelly members.
drive the apex to reduce driving distance
On a 4 lane divided highway, driving closest to the apex of the turn can reduce your overall driving distance, while getting you to your destination faster, this does not directly affect fuel economy, but driving less distance means more fuel will be left in the tank to get you further down the road! As with every other time you are behind the wheel of your vehicle, you have to be aware of your surroundings, only change lanes when there are no fast approaching vehicles in the other lane, and it is safe and clear to do so, Most sharp turns will have a safe speed posted before the turn, and some turns will be marked to discourage lane changes. Do not cross solid yellow and white lines, or into merging lanes, I also suggest you use turn signals as required or as a courtesy to let others know your making lane changes intentionally, (and likely avoid being pulled over by the police) Although this sometimes means being in the left lane throughout the turn, it is the shortest route thru the turn, on a long trip this can add up quickly Additional Tip, Zoom out your GPS view and you can see upcoming turns preemptively and be in the correct lane ahead of time Also Google "Racing Line" to learn more on cornering, Early Ideal and Late Apex for the next time your on a familiar road in a capable vehicle and have the road all to yourself.
posted by crazywj242 on December 1, 2012
this tip works for 29% of voting Fuelly members.
Anticipation saves
If it's obvious from the conditions ahead that you are going to have to stop take your foot off the accelerator and cruise up to the obstruction using your brakes as required. This technique uses NO fuel. Rushing up to the obstruction at full speed wastes fuel, brakes and tyres. It also says to the world at large: (a) I am a moron or (b) I have a company car and I don't give a damn about you, the environment or anything else.
posted by grandadof6 on November 18, 2012
this tip works for 100% of voting Fuelly members.
Experiment with different fuel brands
Especially with modern motorbikes, some fuel brands might provide a better mileage than others. This might be highly subjective and hard to be sure if that extra MPG you got had anything to do with the last fuel you tried or not.
posted by JohnnyRook on November 6, 2012
this tip works for 78% of voting Fuelly members.
50/50 rule--updated
Although Mythbuster has "proven" that it is more efficient to have the windows up at 50 miles an hour and higher, likely their test was done with a car with belt driven A/C. This rule will not be true with newer cars that have electric A/C.
posted by LocoDiesel on November 6, 2012
this tip works for 28% of voting Fuelly members.
Use your mobile
Since taking a picture of the pump does not not work with the newer LED displays (multiplexed - some digits might go missing on the picture) I use the voice recorder on my mobile to record odometer reading, liters filled up, and price per liter quickly while waiting for the change. It beats any paper and pen or whatever. The most of today's mobiles have a built-in voice recorder or there may an app be available for free.
posted by expphoto on November 3, 2012
this tip works for 64% of voting Fuelly members.
Cheaper fuel is not THE cheapest
Try using fuel from the Majors every now and again. Having had a bad result from a Supermarket, I suspect they are not always using high grade stuff.
posted by badger999 on November 2, 2012
this tip works for 68% of voting Fuelly members.
Remember the optimum speed
My years of observation have shown me that optimal fuel mileage is achieved around 55-60 mph. If you go too far either side of that speed, you're either losing mileage because of increased aerodynamic drag, or because you're decreasing the rate that you're covering ground. So if fuel mileage is important to you, try to cruise around 55-60 mph and reap the benefits.
posted by Buddykitchen on November 1, 2012
this tip works for 75% of voting Fuelly members.
Plan and be consistent.
High MPG is helpful but using your head on when and how to drive can save a lot more. Going to or from work or another errand? Great time to fuel up if it's on the way. Hungry? If you can, stop at your destination and combine a little walking with grabbing your meal. Flexible on when you go? Driving at times when traffic isn't as congested is generally more economical of course, but often less congested equals less stressful too. Driving distracted (eating, talking to others in the car or on the phone, reading, playing a game on your phone, ...) is not only dangerous to you and others. It typically also has a negative impact on performance and therefore fuel economy. How fast do I speed up? Mash on the accelerator or barely push it? The trick is to use a fair amount of throttle so you get the most fuel efficient use of power while reaching the desired speed but not so much that the engine is working extra hard. This varies from vehicle to vehicle. Altitude, air pressure and humidity also play a role. Tire pressure - as recommended is usually best though the one in your guide or on the sidewall? Usually up to the sidewall indication but not more and check it before you get in to go somewhere every time. If you use pressure caps, this can be a simple look. Following another vehicle too closely is dangerous and often illegal but following at a safe distance at highway speeds can be helpful, especially if the other driver is driving at a compatible speed with cruise control set similarly to yours. Mail order saves having to go out. Last for now - use the phone to avoid unnecessary trips. here's no point in going somewhere to get one thing if they don't have it.
posted by ItalianHonda on October 30, 2012
this tip works for 83% of voting Fuelly members.
Stop/Go traffic keep your foot over the brake
When driving in stop and go highway congestion, instead of going for the accelerator when you normally would, keep your foot over the brake pedal(and creep) for another 2-3 seconds and you may find that traffic has once again come to a stop and you wont need to apply the gas pedal. By keeping it over the brake pedal instead of over the gas pedal, you resist the urge to use more gas.
posted by kjana24 on October 28, 2012
this tip works for 86% of voting Fuelly members.
To coast in neutral or not?
It has been suggested by some that the engine computer shuts off fuel to the injectors when under negative load (ie coasting to a stoplight). Using a Scangauge to read the instantaneous fuel consumption in 3 fairly modern vehicles and all of them did not turn off fuel and all used more fuel coasting in gear as opposed to neutral. Most engine management systems use the O2 sensor in the exhaust as the dominant factor in determining how much fuel to put into the engine. Probably the only vehicles that would not benefit from coasting in neutral are hybrids and/or vehicles with exotic engine management systems that automatically stop/start the engine.
posted by triangles on October 25, 2012
this tip works for 43% of voting Fuelly members.
Know Your Route
Getting lost or not knowing your route really can both result in a huge waste of gas. On the highway, missing an exit can take you miles to recover. In a city with lots of one way streets, one wrong turn can turn into numerous turns and red lights, wasting lots time and gas as you try to recover.
posted by AMS13 on October 18, 2012
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
Be Aware and stop sooner
Be aware when driving in the city. It is possible to stay off of the brake by removing your foot from the accelerator when you know a stop is coming up. This saves wear and tear on the brakes and improves gas mileage.
posted by TLee on October 13, 2012
this tip works for 100% of voting Fuelly members.
Better MPG Calculation
To have a better, more consistent MPG calculation, Fuel Up and calculate MPG after using most of the tank. That way, little variations in how high you fill up the tank will matter less. For example, if the way you fill a tank varies up to 1/2 gallon (sometimes to the top and sometimes not), then that variation matters less when filling up at 15 gallons (1/2 gallon of 15 gallons is about 3% variation) than if doing a partial fuel up of say 8 gallons (where 1/2 gallon of 8 gallons is about 6% variation). In other words, making the variation in fuel ups as low as possible helps get a more accurate read of MPG.
posted by AMS13 on October 10, 2012
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
Look farther down the road.
When driving, your attention should be as far down the road as possible. This gives you more time to react to changing driving conditions. Instead of hitting the brakes when the car in front of you does, you can see the congestion farther down the road. This allows you to coast earlier and farther, saving fuel. (Its also safer.)
posted by camio on October 9, 2012
this tip works for 98% of voting Fuelly members.
Braking means your too close
If you have to brake to avoid rear ending the car in front you're too close. Back off and use the 2 second rule. Increasing the gap between you and the car in front should avoid the unnecessary braking and often allows you slow enough just by letting off the accelerator a little or completely. This works particularly well on windy or country roads, which aren't the best for efficiency anyway, but this should help and also creates a more relaxed drive.
posted by jlundbe on October 8, 2012
this tip works for 84% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't keep it up
I'll happily lose a couple of mph when I hit an uphill - why burn extra fuel to hold a solid 30? For those without cruise control, this is the reason many people have suggested turning it off. The same goes for downhills - unless it's going to cause a problem you might as well use the free energy to roll yourself down the hill while in the highest gear you can get away with or is safe to use (so you don't roll too fast!).
posted by jlundbe on October 8, 2012
this tip works for 86% of voting Fuelly members.
Some tips
While idling, your car gets exactly 0 mile per gallon while starting the car uses the same amount as idling for 6 seconds. Park your car and go into the restaurant rather than idling in the drive-through. Idling with the air conditioning on also uses extra fuel. Also, avoid going so fast that you have to brake for someone. Whenever you brake, you waste the gas it took to get going that fast. Air resistance goes up as the square of velocity. The power consumed to overcome that air resistance goes up as the cube of the velocity. Rolling resistance is the dominant force below about 40 mph. Above that, every mph costs you mileage. Go as slow as traffic and your schedule will allow. Drive under 60-65 since air grows exponentially denser, in the aerodynamic sense, the faster we drive. To be precise, the most efficient speed is your car's minimum speed in it's highest gear, since this provides the best "speed per RPM" ratio. This is usually about 45 to 55 miles per hour.
posted by Snowflake on September 25, 2012
this tip works for 94% of voting Fuelly members.
Try to park in the shade
The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. When parked in the hot sun remember to put a sun shied on your windshield to help keep your car cooler.
posted by nikkilynn on September 23, 2012
this tip works for 75% of voting Fuelly members.
Google Location History
If you have a smartphone, a great way to help estimate your City/Highway Miles. Is to go into your maps application and turn on location history. It tracks your location throughout the day. That way you can look at your traveling day-by-day too see how much driving was spent in cities and on highways. It's private and only you can see it.
posted by T5i on September 22, 2012
this tip works for 67% of voting Fuelly members.
Consider a diesel vehicle if...
...if you commute more than 25 miles on a highway that moves, but not if it's stop and go. The extra cost of the diesel engine and fuel can be overcome in the long-term, but you've gotta get the best mileage out of your diesel. My commute is 100 miles R/T, so click my name below to see my vehicle's mileage!
posted by cameraperson on September 18, 2012
this tip works for 76% of voting Fuelly members.
Dont Stop...
If you can do it safely, just slow down way before the red light. This means you can keep your rolling momentum, and not need to get going from a dead stop, which kills your gas mileage. Or diesel mileage... ;-]
posted by cameraperson on September 18, 2012
this tip works for 100% of voting Fuelly members.
Follow the racing line
If you have a car with a small width, try following a racing line within your lane. In your corners, maintain your momentum appropriately and turn that corner without braking. Braking into a corner, then having to re-accelerate out of the corner burns more fuel and hurts your mileage.
posted by Billsmd on September 15, 2012
this tip works for 93% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't Idle Your Diesels for Long Periods
Many people let diesel engines idle for long periods of time while stopped. The engine uses far more fuel idling than restarting especially on a hot day. On cold days you may need to analyze how long you will be stopped and how much the engine will cool the figure out when to turn the engine off. Most large diesel trucks idle to keep refrigeration units, A/C units and heaters needed for cargo and sleeper units. Most of us with diesel pickups and cars don't have that requirement. So save your fuel and don't idle more than necessary.
posted by mapman on September 12, 2012
this tip works for 88% of voting Fuelly members.
Reset your ECU...
If you are new to monitoring your fuel consumption but have been driving your car for many years, try resetting your ECU if you have a vehicle that is newer(Disconnect your negative Battery terminal for 5 minutes). Your ECU will then relearn your driving habits. Think of it as, your car has been taught over the last 80,000km+ how to drive like the average person, but if you reset it and drive conservatively it will be a fresh start and all bad habits are forgotten.
posted by Aruna on September 10, 2012
this tip works for 46% of voting Fuelly members.
Turn Off in the Wash!!
Just as people here turn off their cars when at a long light, the same can be applied to the car wash. Keeping the engine running thru the gas station car wash will yield 0 MPG. The track pulls you along and your car is in Neutral. Turn off and let the Car Wash do the work!
posted by Dugg on August 28, 2012
this tip works for 84% of voting Fuelly members.
