Road trips for summer vacations, holiday visits, and school commutes are an exciting adventure – but a stressful time for your car. While most drivers are familiar with easy car maintenance to do before any road trip, most people don’t know how to use less gas on road trips and save both money and fuel efficiency.
Our auto shop experts in Maryland pulled together our top tips for saving gas on road trips. This saves you money, reduces the environmental impact, and helps with overall fuel efficiency of your vehicle, so you can go further and see more.
Dive in to our auto shop secrets to save gas on your next road trip and improve fuel efficiency.
The first step to using less gas on road trips is to properly maintain your vehicle. Proper maintenance goes a long way in optimizing fuel usage, including annual inspections, tire care, wheel alignment, and fuel checks.
Make sure to perform routine oil changes, replace air filters, and check spark plugs before any big road trips. Clean the air filters to help improve airflow to the engine, which enhances fuel efficiency and reduces your gas usage.
Don’t forget the tires and wheels. Under-inflated tires can increase rolling resistance, causing your vehicle to use more fuel. Check your tire pressure regularly, especially before a road trip, and inflate them to the recommended PSI. Not only will this improve gas mileage, but it also enhances safety. Misaligned wheels can also create additional drag, which forces the engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Getting your wheels aligned at an auto shop ensures that your car is running smoothly and efficiently.
And always always, remember the oil. Using manufacturer-recommended motor oil can improve fuel efficiency by 1-2%. Consider using synthetic oil, which reduces engine friction and boosts gas mileage an additional amount.
You can always stop into a local auto shop for a car tune-up to handle all of the basics before you hit the road.
Excess weight in your vehicle directly impacts fuel efficiency and causes you to use more gas. Carrying unnecessary items increases the load on your engine and reduces your gas mileage.
To help use less gas on road trips, remove unneeded items from your vehicle. Clear out your trunk and back seats of any items you don’t need, including the bed of your trunk. Every extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce fuel economy by up to 2% – and you’d be surprised how fast that adds up.
When looking for storage options, avoid roof racks if possible. Roof racks, though convenient, increase drag. If you don’t need the roof rack for your trip, remove it to reduce wind resistance and improve gas mileage. If necessary, consider using a rear-mounted cargo box, which causes less drag than rooftop alternatives; most cars have a towing capacity that is better than roof rack storage.
At the end of the day, pack smart. Overpacking will not only reduce your car’s gas efficiency but also make your trip less comfortable. Stick to essentials and minimize your luggage to improve gas mileage on your next road trip.
How you drive plays a major role in determining how much gas your vehicle uses. Certain driving habits can help you improve fuel efficiency on road trips and use less gas.
Our first tip: maintain a consistent speed, especially on highways. This reduces the amount of fuel your vehicle burns. Use cruise control when possible to keep your car at a steady pace, to reduce gas usage from excessive acceleration and deceleration.
You also want to avoid aggressive driving. Rapid acceleration, frequent braking, and speeding can lower your gas mileage significantly. Smooth acceleration and gentle braking are key to saving fuel and using less gas on road trips.
Did You Know? Aggressive driving can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 33% on highways and 5% in city driving.
If your car is equipped with overdrive, use it when driving on the highway. Overdrive gears reduce your car’s engine speed, saving gas and reducing engine wear. And finally, anticipate upcoming traffic lights or stops and coast towards them rather than braking at the last minute. This allows your vehicle to conserve momentum and use less gas on road trips.
Air conditioning is often a necessity during road trips, especially in hot weather, but it can also be a major fuel drainer. At lower speeds, using the air conditioner increases the engine’s workload, which in turn consumes more fuel. When possible, roll down your windows at slower speeds (under 40 mph) to improve fuel efficiency.
At higher speeds, it’s more efficient to use the air conditioner with the windows closed. Open windows create aerodynamic drag, causing your car to use more fuel, so switch it up when going above 50 mph.
For maximum fuel efficiency, before starting your trip, open the doors and let hot air escape from your vehicle. Once you start driving, you won’t need to blast the air conditioner, allowing you to conserve fuel at those lower speeds.
A well-planned route can save you significant amounts of gas. By taking into account traffic, road conditions, and the geography of your route, you can improve your fuel efficiency.
Apps like Google Maps and Waze not only help you avoid traffic jams but also suggest the fastest and most fuel-efficient routes. Choose routes with fewer stops, minimal elevation changes, and less traffic congestion. Sometimes the extra ten minutes is worth the savings in gas along the way.
Take care to avoid rush hour whenever possible. Getting stuck in traffic consumes fuel as your car idles or moves at slow speeds. Plan your departure times to avoid rush hour or busy road conditions. It also helps to know the locations of fuel stations along your route and fill up when necessary.
Avoid refueling at gas stations located in remote areas, where prices tend to be higher – Google Maps and other navigation apps can even suggest the lowest prices in the area, so consult your smartphone safely during stops to plan your gas stations.
Modern vehicles are equipped with fuel-saving technologies that can greatly enhance your car’s efficiency on road trips, a big step up from older vehicles that didn’t give such options.
If you own or rent a hybrid or electric vehicle, take advantage of regenerative braking systems and electric mode options to save fuel. Hybrids, in particular, are ideal for city driving as they can switch between electric and gas power, depending on driving conditions.
Even without a hybrid car, many newer cars are equipped with start-stop technology that automatically turns off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop. This reduces fuel consumption, particularly in heavy traffic or at traffic lights.
Some vehicles even feature real-time fuel economy displays that show how efficiently your car is using fuel. Keep an eye on these metrics to adjust your driving habits for better gas mileage to watch your savings happen in real-time.
Not all gas is created equal. Using high-quality gasoline can improve engine performance and fuel efficiency. This is because top tier gasoline contains more detergents that help clean your engine and improve fuel economy. These fuels are endorsed by many automakers and can reduce the buildup of carbon deposits in the engine, helping it run more efficiently.
While it may be tempting to fill up with the cheapest available gas, low-quality fuel can harm your engine over time and decrease fuel efficiency. Invest in high-quality gas to save money on repairs and improve mileage in the long run.
Maximizing fuel efficiency on your road trip doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following these auto shop secrets, you can significantly reduce the amount of gas your vehicle uses, save money, and enjoy a more environmentally friendly journey.
From maintaining your car to driving smartly, the steps you take before and during your road trip will make all the difference. Want more tips on car care and improving your vehicle? Check out our blog posts to see all the ways you can save money with your vehicle.
How can I save money on gas during a road trip?
To save money on gas during a road trip, you want to maintain a steady speed, avoid rapid acceleration and braking, use cruise control when possible, and stick to speed limits. Driving slower, especially on highways, can improve fuel efficiency. Plan routes with fewer stops and traffic, and use apps to find the cheapest gas stations along the way.
Does keeping my tires properly inflated help save gas?
Yes! Properly inflated tires reduce rolling resistance, which means your engine doesn’t have to work as hard. Check your tire pressure regularly and keep them inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended level. Under-inflated tires can lower your fuel efficiency by up to 3%.
How much can reducing excess weight in the car save on fuel?
Extra weight can significantly reduce fuel efficiency, especially in smaller vehicles. For every 100 pounds of extra weight, fuel efficiency decreases by about 1%. Remove unnecessary items from the trunk and roof racks to improve your vehicle’s mileage.
Is it better to use air conditioning or roll down windows to save gas?
At lower speeds, rolling down the windows is more fuel-efficient. However, at highway speeds, the drag caused by open windows can reduce your car’s efficiency. Using air conditioning at highway speeds may be more efficient, but keep it at a moderate setting to save fuel.
How does regular vehicle maintenance impact fuel efficiency?
Regular auto maintenance, such as oil changes, replacing air filters, and ensuring your engine is running smoothly, can greatly improve your car’s fuel efficiency. A well-maintained engine burns fuel more effectively, which helps you save gas over the course of a long trip.
Can using the wrong type of fuel affect gas mileage?
Yes, using the wrong type of fuel can reduce your engine’s efficiency. Make sure to use the fuel recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Using premium fuel in a car designed for regular gas won’t necessarily improve performance but will cost you more.
What are some basic road trip maintenance tips to prevent breakdowns?
Before heading out, check your tire pressure, fluid levels (oil, coolant, brake fluid), and battery. It’s also a good idea to inspect your brakes and belts for wear and tear. Bringing along an emergency kit with tools, jumper cables, and a spare tire can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.
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