How to Be Fuel-Efficient When Driving

Whether you’re looking to cut costs on your commute to Princeton, NJ, or you’re looking to shrink your carbon footprint, explore our overview of fuel efficient driving habits. We’ll cover many ways to go easy on your engine, including how you can save fuel while driving on hills. Driving fuel efficiently can be a fun way to drive more mindfully. Learn about the techniques to practice at home, and if you think you’re ready for a more efficient, new vehicle, fill out a pre-approval and contact Haldeman Lexus of Princeton to book a test drive in Lawrenceville. 

5 Effective Fuel Efficient Driving Habits 

Whether you’re wondering about how you can save fuel while driving on hills, or how to burn less fuel in stop-and-go traffic, you’ll find plenty of simple strategies among our tips on how to be fuel efficient. Take a look, and then have fun practicing these techniques: 

1. Acceleration: The harder you stomp on your accelerator, the more gas it guzzles. Practice accelerating more gently. Take five seconds to increase your speed by 10 mph next time you accelerate from a stop sign. 
2. Strategizing: Driving in stop-and-go traffic is expensive, and it puts unnecessary strain on your vehicle. See if you leave for work earlier in the morning, and return from work before or after rush hour. 
3. Speed: Next time you drive on the highway, aim to maintain a speed between 55 and 65 mph. Anything higher than 65 is going to drastically increase fuel consumption.
4. Coasting: Try gently coasting to a stop, rather than braking hard at the last moment. You can also apply this technique to driving on hills. How can you save fuel while driving on hills? Increase your speed at the first hill, and then use the momentum you’ve built up to coast down the descent. When going up the next hill, you’ll find you don’t need to accelerate as hard when ascending. When your speed starts to lag from lost momentum, accelerate and repeat the aforementioned steps. The goal here is to maximize the time you spend coasting as opposed to accelerating. 
5. Air Conditioning: It’s estimated that using your air conditioner can increase your car’s fuel consumption by 20%. Try using the air conditioner briefly and then using its recirculation function to keep the cold air you produced flowing through your car. 

Have More Questions About How to Be Fuel Efficient? 

Do you have more questions about how you can save fuel while driving on hills around Yardley, PA? Or, are you unclear about the methodology of one of our other fuel efficient driving habits? Perhaps you want to test drive some especially efficient Lexus models. Whatever your needs, give Haldeman Lexus of Princeton a call at (609) 454-2358. While you’re here, be sure to explore some of our other auto tips for other helpful reads about how often to change your oil and how to make your tires last longer on the streets of Hamilton, NJ.