Summer is here and so is summer road trip season. Unfortunately the price of gasoline and diesel are higher than previous years making vacation trips more expensive. But there are ways to make your car, truck, van or SUV more fuel efficient. Here are six simple ways to pick up a little more fuel mileage with your current vehicle.
Use The Correct Tire Pressure
Making sure your tires are inflated correctly is one of the easiest ways to save fuel. Follow the manufacturers tire pressure recommendations found on the driver’s door jamb of the vehicle. While the tires themselves also have tire inflation recommendations on them, it is best to follow the vehicle’s own recommendations. This ensures that the tire pressure matches how the vehicle was designed to handle. You may be tempted to overinflate the tires to reduce rolling resistance, but that also reduces grip and accelerates tire wear. Don’t ruin an expensive set of tires just to save a small amount of fuel.
Reduce Weight
Before you load up your vehicle with luggage, kids, and enough snacks to last three states you need to ditch any unnecessary weight. Time to drop off that box of donations you’ve been hauling for months. It is easy to forget about things stuffed in the trunk or storage compartments. Pull everything out and decide what needs to make the trip versus what can stay at home. You don’t need to go crazy, so leave the floor mats in place. But anything that adds weight that isn’t necessary for your trip is just burning extra fuel for no reason.
Get An Alignment
Your vehicle’s alignment is something that is easy to forget about over time. Maybe you just got used to how it pulls a little to one side. But it is possible for a vehicle to drive perfectly straight while still working against itself. If the tires aren’t pointed in the right direction not only can your tires wear faster, it makes the engine work slightly harder. Depending on your vehicle you may need only a front end alignment, or a four wheel alignment. The difference is in how the rear suspension is designed and whether there are adjustments for caster and/or camber.
Reduce Aerodynamic Drag
Anything you can do to reduce wind drag will also help fuel efficiency. You don’t have to go crazy modifying your vehicle, something as simple as a good wash and wax can help a little. Plus hitting the road in a clean vehicle makes you feel better. If you aren’t using the roof rack bars, take them off to reduce drag. The same goes for any racks you have mounted on the top. If you aren’t hauling bikes or a kayak, don’t leave the rack to whistle in the wind (and sap your fuel mileage).
Slow Down
As you drive down the highway your vehicle is constantly pushing the air in front of it out of the way. If you’ve ever put your hand out the window of a moving car and felt the air push back, then you have an idea of what your vehicle is up against. Automakers spent immense amounts of time tweaking vehicle exterior in wind tunnels to make them as slippery as possible. But the faster you drive, the more fuel you burn. Even a slippery sports car will need more power to achieve higher speeds, while the speed penalty is even worse for large trucks and SUVs. For the best mileage stick to the speed limit and just settle in for the long drive.
Drive Easy
You are going on a summer road trip, not entering a drag race. Accelerate gently (but don’t hold up traffic) and try to maintain the same speed. This can be tough in areas with lots of hills or mountains, which in that case try to strike a balance between the amount of throttle and a comfortable speed. Some vehicles have a built-in “ECO” mode, so make sure it is activated before you leave. This mode smooths throttle inputs and softens acceleration to reduce fuel usage. It is pretty much the opposite of “SPORT” mode so you may have to get used to the leisurely driving feel.
Conclusion
While none of these tips will suddenly make your Chevy Suburban sip gas like a Toyota Prius, they will make it the most fuel efficient version of itself. These driving habits will also pay dividends year round in the city or on the highway. Once you get into the habit of driving with a focus on fuel efficiency, it will become second nature. So hit the road knowing your ride is making the most of the fuel in its tank and enjoy your summer road trip!
