With fuel prices being the way they are today, it is becoming more and more important to find ways to conserve gasoline. Many drivers who purchased SUVs and other inefficient vehicles a few years ago, when gas prices were at an acceptable level, are now deeply regretting their decision. Some people cannot even afford to get to work, as their gas costs exceed what they earn for the day. There are many methods for reducing fuel consumption, some of which are easy to do and others which are more difficult (yet more effective) to implement.



There are innumerable simple rules one can follow to conserve gas and, in some cases, improve fuel efficiency. In the morning, there is no need to let the engine idle for more than a minute, as a car can warm up in half the time. Every second extra you wait is gas that is consumed for nothing. While this may not sound that important, over time, the gas savings can accumulate substantially.

Avoid consistently turning off and restarting your car, as the amount of gas required to start the engine is approximately equivalent to that which the engine consumes during a minute of idling. Therefore, even if you are stuck somewhere for a moment, resist turning off the engine.

It can sometimes be quite tempting to speed out as fast as we can from a dead stop. Doing this is an easy way to burn gas, so be sure to accelerate relatively slowly when coming from a non-moving position. The reason this should be done is because the carburetor operates at its highest efficiency when acceleration is slow.

A clever way to gain more usable energy from the same volume of gas is by filling up when it is cool outside. Gasoline becomes denser as the temperature becomes colder, and the denser the gas is, the more energy you get. Also, be careful not to overfill your tank, as doing so is a complete waste.

The slower you drive, the more fuel efficient your car is. An important transition point is any speed over forty miles per hour, as when you go that fast, the wind resistance a car must overcome becomes much more substantial. Therefore, it is a wise choice to stick to roads where the speed limit is forty or lower. Speaking of speed limits, following them is an important responsibility, not only for safety reasons but for fuel efficiency. In the 1970s, during the fuel crisis, the government changed the national highway speed limit to fifty five miles per hour, in an attempt to save fuel (and it was somewhat successful).

When deciding on what route to take, try to follow the lightest, smoothest path. Bumpy, rugged roads can take away almost a third of your overall gas mileage. Therefore, it is best to try to avoid these types of roads as often as possible.

If you take every single fuel tip in to account when driving, it will matter little if you own a car that has poor gas mileage. Since gas has become so expensive, car buyers are putting fuel efficiency high on the list of demands. Many new, innovative cars are being released that can get upwards of fifty miles a gallon. Notable car manufacturers who are working on improved vehicles include Kia, Mazda, and Cadillac.