How to save fuel money when driving an automatic car?
As a driver of an automatic automobile, it may appear that you have little influence over your fuel costs, but there are driving tactics that might help you get through the month.
1. Maintain your momentum
It’s simple physics: a moving body uses less energy and gasoline than one that is stationary. Avoid braking unless absolutely necessary, and drive gently and continuously to keep your car moving forward.
2. Avoid putting your foot on the brake.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal, no matter how lightly, causes immediate drag on the vehicle, which has a significant influence on fuel mileage. As it will create an unneeded stress on the engine and transmission.
3. Transmission
Some automated cars will stay in lower ratios for longer than is necessary for fuel mileage. After 50 km/h, take your foot off the pedal to seduce the transmission into shifting earlier than it wants to. When you’re in the higher ratios, accelerate carefully.
4. Take fewer journeys
The more trips you take, the less money you’ll save on gas. Because the engine has cooled down after being parked for a few hours, it will require more fuel for the first 10 kilometres or so. If possible, coordinate grocery shopping and collecting up your children from after-school activities.
5. Maintain traction
On wet or gravel roads, your tyres are more likely to slip, and each time this happens, you lose fuel mileage and put yourself and others in risk. When driving on unpaved or slick roads, exercise extra caution and slow down.
All of these modest, reasonable adjustments add up to money saved between paydays. Read our guide about what to do at a gas station and keep in mind that not all gas stations are created equal.
