Correct approach: Drive as usual with the proper gear engaged
The idea that coasting in neutral saves fuel is widely accepted among many drivers. Coasting in neutral refers to driving downhill or slowing down without engaging any gear. Many believe this method conserves fuel, but in fact, it does not. Professionals explain: “Driving in neutral not only violates traffic regulations but can actually waste more fuel, especially in vehicles equipped with electronic fuel injection engines.” Most modern EFI engines come with features such as deceleration fuel cut-off or reduced fuel supply. These cars can save fuel efficiently when coasting in gear at high speeds thanks to their built-in design. However, if you switch to coasting in neutral, this feature won’t function as intended — in reality, it leads to higher fuel consumption. “This belief that coasting in neutral saves fuel stems from an era when electronic fuel injection technology was not yet widespread. Today, EFI technology is commonly used, so there’s no need to coast in neutral to save fuel — just drive as usual with the proper gear engaged.”
Fuel-saving myth: Idling the engine for too long to warm it up
Correct approach: Warm up the engine while driving. As long as you don’t drive too fast, just one or two kilometers will bring the engine to its optimal operating temperature
Many people still prefer to let their car idle for a long time to warm up. A professional shared his own experience: once while waiting for a parking spot in an underground garage, he noticed someone starting their car and idling for several minutes without moving. This practice is completely wrong — prolonged idling wastes a lot of fuel and shortens engine life. Idling for just five minutes a day adds up to over 80 minutes per year, consuming significant amounts of fuel. Long periods of idling can also cause water droplets to form on the cylinder walls inside the engine bay. Water reduces the lubricating effectiveness of engine oil, which can easily damage the engine.
Modern vehicles no longer use carburetors, so there’s no need to use the choke to warm up the engine like in the past. The correct approach is to warm up the engine while driving. As long as you don’t drive too fast, just one or two kilometers will bring the engine to its optimal operating temperature. According to statistics, over 90% of engine component wear occurs within the first three minutes after a cold start. Ideally, warm-up time should be kept under one minute.
Fuel-saving myth: Always turn off the engine during short stops
Correct approach: Consider the duration of the stop. If it’s longer than 1 minute, turning off the engine is fine; if it’s a short stop, there’s no need.
Turning off the engine definitely saves fuel, but there’s another factor to consider: the fuel consumption during engine startup is very high, usually about 20% more than during normal operation. Whether it saves or wastes fuel depends on the situation. Some drivers like to turn off the engine at red lights, but now they should think about how long they’ll be stopped. If the stop lasts more than 1 minute, it’s okay to turn off the engine; if it’s a short stop, there’s no need. The engine is the heart of the vehicle, and frequent stopping and starting will reduce its lifespan.
Summary of fuel-saving driving tips — Sudden acceleration to overtake wastes fuel.
1. Reduce the vehicle’s weight
Vehicle weight is directly proportional to fuel consumption. It’s said that for every 10% reduction in weight, fuel consumption drops by a corresponding percentage.
2. Check tire pressure and tread wear
If you notice your car’s gliding distance has noticeably decreased while driving, check whether the tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure levels, which is typically found in your vehicle’s manual or on the sticker located in the driver's side door jamb. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Severely worn tires may also cause frequent slipping, leading to higher fuel usage. Replace them if necessary.
3. Use brakes and clutch properly
After a new car is broken in, for the sake of clutch maintenance, you should adopt the “brake first, then disengage clutch” method. Many new drivers, afraid of stalling the engine, keep their foot on the clutch pedal habitually. They press the clutch first whenever they want to slow down, even when driving in high or low gears, just to make shifting easier. While this approach might make the ride feel smoother for beginners, it causes significant wear to the clutch and increases fuel consumption. It is advisable to change this habit. In emergency braking situations, the braking distance using the “brake first, then disengage clutch” method is much shorter than the “disengage clutch first, then brake” method.
4. Maintain a reasonable driving speed
Every vehicle has an optimal economic speed range where it consumes the least amount of fuel. Typically, this speed range is between 65–90 km/h. Although it’s often difficult to maintain this speed during rush hour, drivers should still try to keep their speed within this range.
5. Avoid sudden acceleration and deceleration
In daily driving — especially in heavy traffic, at red lights, or when changing lanes — it’s common to see drivers suddenly accelerate to squeeze into a gap in the next lane, only to hit the brakes shortly after merging. Then, when there’s space again, they accelerate to move back. At a single intersection, some drivers may accelerate and brake sharply four or five times. While this might seem cool or assertive, it comes at the cost of significantly increased fuel consumption.
It’s recommended to maintain a moderate speed, avoid sudden acceleration or harsh braking, use gentle throttle input, and stay attentive to the engine’s sound.
6. Turning off the AC and opening windows at high speed is not advisable
Running the air conditioning consumes some of the engine’s power. To save fuel, some drivers turn off the AC and roll down the windows at high speeds. However, when driving above 80 km/h, the aerodynamic drag caused by open windows actually consumes more fuel than running the AC.
7. Maintain your air filter
Proper maintenance of the air filter is essential. A dirty or clogged air filter causes the air-fuel mixture to become too rich, increasing fuel consumption. Ensure the spark plug electrode gap is correctly adjusted and kept clean, as poor spark quality can also raise fuel usage. Brake adjustments also affect fuel economy — brakes must be responsive and reliable, but should also release quickly without dragging or seizing. This contributes both to saving fuel and ensuring safe driving. Also, remember to replace engine oil, gear oil, rear axle hypoid gear oil, and lithium-based grease lubricants in a timely manner.
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