Want To Cut Gas Costs Without Changing Your Routine? Try These 16 Simple Tricks

You want to save money on gas? There are lots of ways to do it without buying a new car or changing your whole routine.

Small tweaks to how you drive and care for your car can add up fast. You’ll save money, reduce emissions and keep your ride running smoothly.

These are some easy, low-effort habits that fit into everyday driving, whether you’re commuting, running errands or taking a weekend trip. You won’t find any extreme hacks here – just smart, simple moves that work.

Saving gas doesn’t have to mean cutting down on how much you drive, getting a new vehicle, carpooling or making any inconvenient changes to your lifestyle. There are a lot of simple, easy habits you can get into that help you save gas all the time, no matter how much you drive.

Easy Gas Saving Tips

Keep Tire Pressure To Manufacturer’s Recommendation

Many gas stations have free air pumps you can use anytime you want, and some tire chains will inflate your tires for you for free. Check the inside of the passenger door or drivers’ manual to get the ideal pressure for your tires. Ideally, you should do this one day when you’ve just started driving, and the car and tires are still “cold” – that’s how you’ll get the most accurate level of pressure.

Use Tech That’s Already in Your Car

Many cars have hidden features that help you drive more efficiently. Watch the instant fuel economy gauge. The live feedback teaches your foot what “efficient” feels like. You’ll start to see how small throttle changes affect consumption.

Try to “game” the fuel economy gauge. Every car has a sweet spot where the engine and transmission settle into a low-effort groove. On highways, that’s often between 55 – 65 mph, but it varies.

Watch the tachometer: lower RPM at steady speed usually means less fuel.

Drive Moderately

I’ve ridden with people who are braking or accelerating constantly. This isn’t necessary. If you accelerate gradually instead of quickly, and slow down ahead of time instead of zooming up and then slamming on the breaks, you can save over 30% on gas costs.

Think of it this way: when you accelerate, you’re using gas, right? But whenever you brake, you’re canceling the use of that gas – wasting it. The less braking you do, the better gas mileage you’ll have. So the more time you spend with neither pedal depressed, the more gas you’ll save.

Drive in Economy Mode

If your car offers driving modes, “Economy” will give you the best fuel efficiency your car is capable of whether you’re driving to work or taking a road trip on the highway.

Watch Your Speed

Driving at reasonable speeds really does save gas. The US Department of Energy says most cars lose fuel efficiency at speeds above 50mph and “You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.”

Consolidate Errands

With a little planning, you can map out your errands in such a way that you drive more or less in a circle instead of crisscrossing all over town. Before heading out, glance at a map and sketch a loose loop: go to the farthest stop first if it’s along a highway, or save it for last if traffic clears later in the day.

Aim for a circle, not a zigzag. Hitting the next stop that’s already on your way keeps you moving instead of crisscrossing town.

If two grocery stores or pharmacies are near each other, do them back-to-back. Put time-sensitive stops (like a pickup window) in the middle of your route so you’re not rushed and forced into aggressive driving that burns fuel.

Avoid Idling

Anytime it makes sense, turn the car’s engine off or down to “accessories”. This means when you’re sitting in parking lots waiting on a passenger, or sitting in a line that’s not moving at a drive through, or even during serious gridlock.

If you need the heat or air conditioning, you can turn it to accessories. That saves less than turning the car off, but it still saves some.

Use your car’s AC instead of rolling windows down

A few decades ago, the AC used lots of extra gas compared to having windows down. But modern cars are engineered to be aerodynamic and fuel efficient.

Opening the windows can wreck the aerodynamics, and turning off the AC doesn’t save enough fuel to offset it. In some cars, turning off the AC actually causes them to burn more fuel.

So use your climate control instead of driving with open windows or sunroofs. And a few more tips:

Use recirculate in hot weather. It cools already cooled air, which takes less energy. You’ll reach comfort faster and keep the compressor from working as hard.

In mild weather, use ventilation. On cooler days, fan-only at lower speeds can be enough, especially in town where speeds are low and aerodynamics matter less.

Cruise control is your friend

In tests, cruise control really does make a difference, so use it whenever you have the chance. Check your owner’s manual to see the minimum speed you can set it on. It’s lower than it used to be, so you can sometimes even use it in town.

Fill up your car when it’s cool

Gasoline is denser in the morning or evening than it is in the hottest part of the day. You’ll get more for your money by fueling up at those times.

Use apps to spot price trends

Prices change daily – and sometimes even during the day. Apps can flag cheaper stations along your route so you’re not stuck paying a premium near highways or tourist areas.

Choose the right octane

If your manual says regular is fine, premium won’t help mileage or performance. You’ll just pay more. If your car requires premium, stick with it – engines designed for high octane can knock or lose efficiency on lower grades.

Get regular oil changes

It’s true you don’t need an oil change every 3000 miles or 3 months anymore, because newer oils have gotten better about not degrading and creating sludge. But every oil degrades sooner or later, and sludge compromises your gas mileage and can cause other problems.

It’s hard to say when’s the right time to get your car’s oil changed because different driving situations and different car models vary, and people who want to sell you oil always insist it needs frequent changing. Do some research and check some online forums.

Get your air filter changed

Tell your mechanic to change the air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, or once a year if you drive less than that in a year. It really makes a difference in how much gas your car will burn.

Take routes that avoid idling

If a short route involves lots of stops at lights, and a longer route doesn’t, the longer route may actually give you better gas mileage and get you there just as quickly.

Park in the shade

Gas actually can evaporate from your tank when it’s exposed to sunlight.

Avoid unnecessary weight

The more your car weighs, the more gas it will use. Don’t store stuff in your car unless you regularly use it there.

Roof racks and boxes also increase drag. If you don’t need them, take them off. Even empty racks can ding your fuel economy. If you use a cargo box, remove it between trips.

Try Synthetic oils

These blends supposedly save you gas mileage compared to petroleum. Moreover, they last longer than petroleum. Contrary to what you may have heard, they are not better for the environment – except in that you can change them less often, which means less crap getting disposed of.