Guides / Running and maintaining
Spending less on gas
You can't control the price of gas, but you can control how much you use. Driving habits make the biggest difference.
What to know
- Drive smoothly
- According to fueleconomy.gov, aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking) can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds.
- Keep tires inflated
- Underinflated tires waste fuel and wear faster. Check monthly.
- Lighten the load
- Remove heavy items you don't need and roof racks you're not using.
- Use the right fuel
- Use the octane your manual recommends. Premium fuel in a car that doesn't require it usually doesn't help.
- Combine trips
- Several short trips from a cold start use more fuel than one longer trip.
Questions to ask
- Does my car require premium fuel, or only recommend it?
- Which errands could I combine into one trip?
Where to check
- fueleconomy.gov
- Official fuel economy information and tips from the US Department of Energy and EPA.
General information for US drivers, not financial, legal or mechanical advice for your situation. Consumer protection, title and lemon laws vary by state. The Nickel Stretcher isn't paid by any dealer, lender, insurer or brand mentioned here.