Although gas prices in 2018 have been surprisingly steady, the sudden changes in supply and demand can cause volatility in the prices over time. That said, you might not care about gas prices right now, but when they go up to $4 a gallon a year from now, you’ll want to get the most distance out of each fill-up. Unfortunately, you may have developed some poor driving habits that wreak havoc on your fuel economy. Here are a few to watch out for the next time you’re behind the wheel.
Not Using Cruise Control
Cruise control is one of the most convenient features of modern vehicles, but it often goes underutilized by drivers. However, setting the cruise control can save you up to 6 percent on your fuel costs because you’re driving at a steady speed rather than hitting the gas and the brake. If you’ve never used cruise control before or you’re a bit apprehensive, Toyota’s Dynamic Radar Cruise Control can take the guesswork out of driving, slowing down automatically when you get too close to another vehicle.
Idling for Too Long
If you’re waiting to pick someone up and let your car idle for more than one minute, you’re wasting fuel. Most modern cars will use less fuel to stop and start the engine than letting it idle for extended periods of time. In addition, if you’re waiting for your car to warm up on a cold day, don’t rev the engine. This doesn’t help the car warm any faster and wastes precious gasoline at the same time.
Aggressive Driving
When you’re heavy on the brakes and accelerator, it can cut your fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent — a shocking number that’s easily avoidable. Speeding for long distances, having bursts of speed, and slamming the brakes at stop signs and stoplights are all forms of aggressive driving, and collectively, one of the worst driving habits in terms of fuel consumption. If you get worked up behind the wheel, try to find methods to calm you down such as podcasts, music, or deep breaths.
Overusing the Air Conditioner
Using some of your vehicle’s electrical components is unavoidable, as you need them for safety (headlights) or entertainment (radio). However, if you don’t need to crank the air conditioner to the max, avoid it at all costs. When the temperature soars into the triple digits, it’s understandable, but turning the air to 10 on an 80-degree day isn’t just unnecessary — it’s wasteful.
Running the air conditioner at full blast can lower mileage by 5 to 25 percent, so if you can go without it, you’ll put a ton of extra money in your pocket. Whether rolling the windows down is better, well, that’s still up for debate.
From easing your lead foot to turning the air conditioner down, you can save some scratch instead of seeing it billow into the air from your exhaust. Once you’re self-aware of your driving habits, making a few tweaks is easier than you might think. Your wallet will thank you.
Image via Pixabay
Connect with us
