Driving Tips To Save Gas [3]

Brakes are for stopping
Keep your foot from resting on the brake pedal while driving. If you feel you are going too fast just let off on the gas pedal. Besides being the mark of an inexperienced driver the extra mechanical drag is using up gas and eating up your brake pads and rotors. Still don't think it makes a difference? Try riding a bicycle with the brake pads rubbing the wheels only slightly and you'll easily feel the extra effort required to pedal.

Get an E-ZPass and breeze through toll plazas
Are you still waiting on long lines at the toll booth? Get with the times and buy a monthly E-ZPass subscription and save a lot of time and gas. With an E-ZPass one can drive from New York to Washington D.C. with a side trip to Philly and never once have to stop to pay a toll. Your state may have a different name for it, but look into it.

Don't let the car idle
Excessive idling does nothing but use up expensive gas, produce more condensation in the oil making it thicker, pollute the air and rob money from your wallet. Back in the old days a car took several minutes to warm up on cold days. Modern cars however don't require that. Simply start up and the moment your windows are clear of any fog or frost begin driving, but avoid any quick acceleration for the first few minutes.

Turn off the car engine when waiting for more than a minute or so in a drive-thru line or when waiting for someone outside a store. It's amazing how many people throw money and gas away by not shutting off their cars when not it's moving. Turn the engine off if you are in park.

Choose your parking spot wisely
Park in the shade of a nice tree or building to keep interior temperatures down and lessen gas from evaporating.

Park in the garage
Parking your car in the garage instead of in the driveway can help in many ways. During the winter the car won't get as cold and so will start easier and take less time to warm up.

Share your tips
We'd love to hear about your gas saving tips and comments. Have you found them effective? Use the comment form below to tell us and it will appear here.

YOUR COMMENTS

When driving in the city I have found that when a light turn red a good distance ahead of me, I take my foot off the pedel and let car coast to the light or stop sign. You would be suprise to notice how much it seem you yet have your foot on the pedel unless you're going up a hill.

I have questions regarding more advanced driving tips to save gas.
* I know some people who step on the gas for a second or so, and then let it idle for the next 2 seconds or so. While I believe they do so to prevent their feet from getting tired, I would expect the best gas milage with as few changes as possible to the gas pedal. Or does it also depend on the car (see next question)?
* Some newer cars display the gas milage while you drive. I noticed that when I took my foot of the gas while going downhill, it actually claimed it wasn't using any gas. It was a manual car and when I pressed down the clutch, it would show a value again. I thought this was not correct until someone told me that newer cars switch of the gas when you take your foot of the gas and are going above a certain speed or rpm. I guess this means the engine valves would have to open up, right?
* On a car like this, I assume it can still pay of to switch into neutral on a downhill stretch: While in neutral, you still gas to maintain the engine idle, but you also avoid the engine break and pick up more momentum for the uphill, right? Of course, instead of breaking, engaging the engine would be safer and more efficient.
* How is that on a car which does not turn off the gas? Do higher revs going downhill also mean a higher idle gas consumption?
* At what point does it usually pay of to turn of the engine in idle? I believe starting up the car takes more gas then idle? How about stopping for 3 seconds to let a passenger get off? 10 seconds to look at a map? 30 seconds to make a phone call?
* About the cruise control: While I sometimes use it to let my foot rest, I actually don't like to use it on most highways unless there are no hills. On a car with a small engine, it maintains the speed of the car on an uphill. This often causes the car to push hard on the gas, switch into lower gears and rev high. Then, on the downhill, the idle basically is an engine break. When driving, I slow down enough on the uphill to stay in the highest gear unless I start slowing down traffic. On the downhill, I find just a little bit of gas will help me build up some momentum with very little use of gas. I feel that can easily beat the cruise controll and minimize wear on the engine. Do you agree (while of course safe driving must be maintained)?
* What actually is the rule for best gas milage? Is it really the constant speed of 55? Or is it a constant ideal rpm of maybe 2000? or whatever the engine is optimized for? together with the highest/overdrive gear?

Where can I find more information on efficient driving? Thanks for taking the time for all my questions?

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Save Money On Gas With Our Tips

1. Driving Tips [1]
   
2. Driving Tips [2]
   
3. Driving Tips [3]
   
4. Vehicle Car Care | Maintenance Tips [1]
   
5. Vehicle Car Care | Maintenance Tips [2]
   
6. Saving at the Pump | Find the Cheapest Gas Prices
   
7. Buying a Fuel-Efficient Hybrid or Diesel Car
   
8. Gas-Free / Gas Reducing Alternatives