(Image source: Dimitri Otis/The Image Bank/Getty)
To that end, we turned to the online Q&A community Quora.com to find out how users make the most of every tank of gas. While approaches vary from one respondent to another, most shared simple tips that help drivers go farther on a full tank.
Reduce weight
Alex Elderfield points out that carrying excess weight reduces engine fuel efficiency. He says, “Only carry essentials in your car and get rid of any junk or unnecessary items. Otherwise, you’re paying for gas to haul those things from one place to another.”
Drive smoothly — that is, avoid constantly accelerating and braking. Smooth driving is a one-size-fits-all approach. This advice aligns with Quora user Clint Law, who wrote: “All the kinetic energy dissipated by your brake pads had to be put there by burning fuel [in the engine].” Therefore, excessive braking should be seen as wasting acceleration. He believes: “It really does increase your fuel consumption.”
Maintain tire pressure
Maintaining the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure is another commonly recommended method among Quora users.
Marlyn Rosent says she checks her tire pressure every time she fills up her SUV. She writes: “I switch to new valve stems so I can check the tires without having to unscrew the little caps.”
Quora user Doug Dingus checks his tire pressure every weekend. He says: “Less tire contact with the road means less friction, which means less fuel needed.”
Air conditioning vs. windows
While many drivers roll up the windows and turn on the AC during hot summer months, some respondents believe air conditioning uses too much fuel. There’s a lot of gray area between the two.
Achilleas Vortselas says it largely depends on the vehicle’s speed. He writes that as a general rule, people should roll down the windows when driving around town, but use the AC on the highway, because open windows can hurt the vehicle’s aerodynamics at highway speeds.
However, more respondents seriously suggest driving with the windows down and the AC off as much as possible. Eddie Xue just wants to breathe fresh air. He writes: “At lower speeds, I often use the fan and have the windows down.”
But Jonathan Drake, citing the TV series MythBusters, believes there needs to be a balance between using the AC and the windows. He points out that at higher speeds, the AC should be used. He writes: “It’s not super scientific, but MythBusters tried this twice. On their second try, they found the break-even point was about 50 miles per hour.”
Fuel efficiency, straight from the fuel source
There’s a wide range of opinions on the site, some based more on intuition than hard science, so we cross-referenced suggestions from Quora users with those from ExxonMobil. It turns out many Quora users were on the right track.
Exxon says that reducing vehicle weight by 100 pounds improves fuel economy by 2%. Tire pressure also plays a critical role. ExxonMobil says properly adjusting tire pressure once a month can improve fuel economy by 3%.
As for smooth driving and reduced braking, Quora users were also correct. Exxon notes: “Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by roughly 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town.”
When it comes to using the windows or the AC while driving, Exxon recommends rolling up the windows and turning on the AC at speeds of 60 mph or higher, which reduces aerodynamic drag.
Of course, brave summer drivers can always follow the “hyper-miling” principle — a practice of saving gas through superior driving techniques. Even if you choose to drive economically, you don’t need to feel guilty about using the AC (at least not on the highway).