How Can I Increase My Fuel Efficiency and Use Less Gas?

Fuel efficiency has as much to do with your car as your mindset. And with a little adjustment to both, you can save a lot at the pumps.

The price of gas has more than tripled in the past 10 years. And that trend is likely to continue. So, if you're one of the many motorists who rely on fossil fuel to get you where you need to go, here are some simple ways to up your fuel efficiency and save some money at the pumps.

(While doing any one of the following may help you use less gas, any of these combined may do even more. So the more you can do, the better off you — and your wallet — will be.)

Downgrade Your Fuel Grade

If you haven't already done so, reconsider the octane level you're purchasing at the pump. Check your owner's manual for your car's fuel specifications, and choose only the octane level that best suits your car and your budget.

Save at the Speed Limit

Speeding isn't just unsafe and costly if you get a ticket — it can cost you quite a bit in fuel as well.

As your speed increases, so does air-resistance, friction, drag, and other forces. Your engine must therefore work harder and harder to keep up the pace, which means its demand for fuel will increase exponentially as your speedometer ratchets up.

So backing off the accelerator can actually do noticeable wonders to stretch the fuel in your tank. (Of course, it goes without saying that if you're driving slower than the flow of traffic, even if you're driving at the posted speed limit, make sure you keep to the right-most lane — or pull over to let others pass you. Common courtesy is still the rule of the road.)

Let Your Car Help You

Most cars come equipped with cruise control and/or overdrive gears. Use both smartly and as liberally as possible when driving highways or freeways. The lower RPM afforded by overdrive gears and the consistency of speed that cruise control can give you will keep your gas consumption down.

Accelerate Smartly

Obviously, every time you punch the accelerator, you're using fuel. However, how you use your accelerator can make all the difference in fuel efficiency.

Bad driving habits such as tailgating and "rubberbanding" (making sudden stops followed by sudden acceleration) take extra fuel. So do your best to anticipate changes in traffic: leave ample stopping distance in front of you, and, whenever possible, accelerate gently and gradually. If your car has manual transmission, use the highest gear that works for the speed you're going. Do your best to maintain a consistent speed, and your wallet will thank you. (The other drivers around you will, too.)

Reduce Unnecessary Idling

If you travel the same route every day, chances are good that you already know which intersections have the longest traffic lights. Use this knowledge to your advantage: next time you're stopped at one of these intersections, turn your car off. (Same is true if you find yourself stopped in traffic for extended periods of time due to an accident or road construction.) Unnecessary idling uses a surprising amount of fuel, especially over the course of a full commute. Not to mention, it contributes greatly to air pollution and greenhouse gasses.

Up Your Pressure

Tire pressure is one of the most important — and most overlooked — factors in good auto maintenance. While it may be common, driving with under-inflated tires can increase your risks on the road and cost you at the gas pump.

"Soft" tires cause greater friction and drag, contribute to less maneuverability and responsiveness, and actually wear and degrade faster than properly inflated tires. Soft tires also contribute significantly to increased fuel demand. So it's well worth it to turn your attention to your tires.

Purchase a reliable tire gauge, and check your tire pressure regularly. This is best done when your tires are cold, so check your pressure either before you set out for a drive, or when you reach a service station that's very close to your home or office.

Keep your tires inflated to the exact pressure recommended in your vehicle owner's manual. Alternately, you can usually find tire pressure guidelines affixed to the inside doorjamb of the driver's-side door.

Focus on Maintenance

Keeping your car well tuned not only extends your car's life, it can also do wonders for your fuel efficiency.

There are many simple mechanical factors that can make a difference. First and foremost, change your air filter regularly. An air filter that's past its prime can deprive your engine of vital oxygen, causing less efficient combustion and greater fuel consumption.

Check your manual for information on air-filter maintenance. And, if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, have your mechanic check your filter whenever you service your car — or have him or her recommend a change schedule. You might also want to ask about non-disposable filters: these are much less restrictive when it comes to airflow within the engine, and they're also much better for the environment.

Changing your oil and oil filters regularly can also deliver high fuel efficiency.

Lose Excess Weight

In terms of the physics of velocity (speed), increased weight creates increased drag (or friction) that thereby causes velocity to reduce more steeply. That's a fancy way of saying that the more your car weighs, the more gas it'll take to drive that weight around. Sure, your car has a natural weight all its own, but you might be surprised how much extra weight your car is carrying.

Make a commitment to thoroughly go through your car (passenger cab, glove box, trunk, everything) and eliminate anything that's not necessary. It's actually fairly easy to free your car of five or more pounds, and every pound counts, as that's less weight your engine will have to propel. And less weight means less gas.

Errand with Efficiency

Whenever you set out to run errands, ask yourself first, "is this trip really necessary?" If the answer's "yes," then do whatever you can, whenever you can, to combine errands. This kind of "errand efficiency" is not only great for the planet (and perhaps your own schedule), it can also add up to substantial savings over time.

Open Up to Nature

It may seem trivial, but consider turning off your air conditioning or your heat. On a warm day, bring ice water from home in a water bottle, and try opening a front and alternate rear passenger window to get a natural cross-breeze going. Alternately, if it's cool out, try wearing extra layers when you drive.

Keep in mind, though, at higher highway speeds, an open sunroof or window can actually cause increased drag and wind resistance, which, of course, burns more fuel. So stay open around town, and leave your A/C for the highway.

Bigger Commitments, Bigger Returns

Of course, one of the most significant differences you can make — both in terms of your budget and the planet — is owning and driving a fuel-efficient vehicle. If it's feasible, consider selling your current car (or trading it in) and purchasing a state-of-the-art hybrid.

If that's not possible, consider … not driving. Carpooling, public transportation, biking, and walking are all options that could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on gas and even auto insurance (since the distance, or total miles you drive, is a factor when calculating your premiums).

And if you really want to save (and you live in an urban environment), car-share programs are sweeping the nation, offering eco-conscious and budget-minded people a chance to save money while still enjoying convenience.

Regardless, even if you can't make these kinds of larger changes, any of the above smaller changes can work alone — or better, together — to you keep your cash in your pocket, not in the pump.