Fuel costs can take a noticeable bite out of your monthly budget, especially if you drive to work every day, take frequent road trips, or spend a lot of time running errands. While you cannot control the price at the pump, you can make changes to how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Improving your car’s gas mileage does not necessarily require expensive modifications. Simple adjustments to your driving habits and routine maintenance can help your vehicle use fuel more efficiently.

Here are some practical ways to get better gas mileage from your car.

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

Your tires have a direct impact on how efficiently your vehicle moves. When tires are underinflated, they create more rolling resistance. Your engine then has to work harder to move the vehicle, which can increase fuel consumption.

Check your tire pressure regularly and inflate your tires according to the specifications recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. You can typically find the recommended pressure on a label inside the driver’s door or in your owner’s manual.

Avoid using the maximum pressure printed on the tire itself as your target. That number is not necessarily the recommended pressure for your specific vehicle.

Proper tire inflation can also support better handling and more even tire wear.

Avoid Aggressive Acceleration and Braking

Rapid acceleration may feel satisfying, but it usually requires considerably more fuel than gradually getting up to speed.

The same principle applies to frequent hard braking. If you constantly accelerate quickly and then brake hard, your vehicle is using energy inefficiently.

Instead, anticipate traffic conditions whenever possible. Leave enough distance between your vehicle and the one ahead so you can adjust your speed gradually.

Smooth acceleration and braking can improve fuel efficiency while also reducing unnecessary wear on components such as your brakes and tires.

Maintain a Consistent Speed

Constantly changing your speed can require your engine to use more fuel. When conditions allow, maintaining a steady pace can help improve efficiency.

Cruise control can be useful during highway driving because it helps maintain a consistent speed without frequent acceleration. However, cruise control may not always be ideal in heavy traffic, bad weather, or on roads with significant elevation changes.

Always prioritize safe driving conditions over maximizing fuel economy.

Reduce Unnecessary Weight

Are you carrying things in your trunk that you rarely use?

Extra weight means your engine has to work harder to move the vehicle. While a few small items will not make a dramatic difference, routinely carrying heavy equipment or unnecessary cargo can affect fuel consumption.

Take a few minutes to clean out your trunk and cargo area. Keep essential items, such as your emergency supplies, but consider removing heavy objects that do not need to travel with you every day.

Limit Excessive Idling

When your engine is running while your vehicle is stationary, you are using fuel without traveling anywhere.

Sometimes idling is unavoidable, particularly in traffic. However, avoid leaving your vehicle running unnecessarily while waiting for extended periods.

Modern vehicles generally do not need long warm-up periods before normal driving. Check your owner’s manual for guidance specific to your vehicle, especially during extremely cold weather.

Stay Current With Routine Maintenance

A properly maintained vehicle can operate more efficiently.

Follow the maintenance schedule recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Depending on the vehicle, routine maintenance may include oil changes, air filter replacement, spark plug service, fluid inspections, and other scheduled services.

Pay attention to warning lights as well. A check engine light can indicate numerous problems, some of which may affect fuel economy.

If you notice a sudden decrease in gas mileage without an obvious explanation, consider having the vehicle inspected.

Plan Your Trips More Efficiently

Sometimes improving gas mileage is less about changing the vehicle and more about reducing unnecessary driving.

Instead of making several separate trips throughout the week, consider combining errands into a single outing. You can plan a route that allows you to visit multiple destinations without repeatedly driving back and forth.

Route planning can also help you avoid heavy traffic, construction, and other conditions that result in excessive stopping and idling.

If your schedule allows, traveling outside peak traffic periods may also help reduce the amount of time you spend sitting in congestion.

Use Air Conditioning Wisely

Air conditioning requires energy, which can affect fuel consumption. However, simply turning off the air conditioning and opening all the windows is not always the most efficient solution.

At lower speeds, opening the windows may have a relatively small effect on efficiency. At highway speeds, open windows can increase aerodynamic drag.

The best approach depends on your driving conditions. Use climate control reasonably and avoid making yourself uncomfortable simply to save a small amount of fuel.

Pay Attention to Your Driving Speed

Fuel efficiency can decrease at higher speeds because your vehicle has to overcome greater aerodynamic resistance.

Driving at a reasonable, consistent speed can therefore benefit both safety and fuel economy. Follow posted speed limits and avoid unnecessary high-speed driving.

You may find that arriving a few minutes later is worth using less fuel along the way.

Track Your Fuel Economy

If you want to know whether your changes are working, start tracking your vehicle’s fuel economy.

Many modern vehicles display average and real-time fuel economy through the dashboard or infotainment system. You can also calculate it manually by recording how many miles you drive between fill-ups and how many gallons you purchase.

Tracking your mileage over several tanks can reveal trends and help you identify which habits make the biggest difference.

A significant, unexplained drop in fuel economy can also alert you to a potential maintenance issue.

Get More From Every Gallon

Improving your car’s gas mileage often comes down to consistent habits. Keeping your tires properly inflated, accelerating smoothly, reducing unnecessary weight, planning efficient routes, and staying current with maintenance can all contribute to better fuel efficiency.

Every vehicle is different, so always follow the maintenance and operating recommendations in your owner’s manual.

At Clement Pre-Owned, we understand that finding the right vehicle is about more than the initial purchase. Fuel economy, maintenance, reliability, and everyday ownership costs all matter. If you are shopping for your next pre-owned car, truck, or SUV, Clement Pre-Owned can help you explore options that fit your driving needs and budget.