48 Fuel Saving Tips

Try googling “fuel saving tips” and you will get 2.89 million results. After I’ve gone through most of them, here is my summarized version.

photo credit: mac_filko

1. Slow down – just follow the speed limit
2. Check your tire pressure – at least once a month, in cool condition.
3. accelerate moderately
4. turn off air conditioner – (only applicable at night)
5. keep the original – don’t upgrade your car with fancy rim or tyre
6. reduce your car weight
7. downsize – use a smaller car (CLK? Cute Little Kancil.)
8. Don’t drive – those without driving license don’t spend much on fuel
9. Avoid extremely high speeds
10. Don’t brake hard
11. Keep windows closed at high speed (of course with air-con on)
12. Service vehicle regularly
13. Maintaining a constant speed
14. Avoid long idles – turn it off if it is going to be idle for more than 1 minute
15. Warming up engine is not necessary
16. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up
17. Buy fuel during coolest time of day – early morning or late evening is the best.
18. Use credit card with fuel rebate
19. Never fill gas tank past the first “click” of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.
20. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save fuel.
21. Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you’re on it.
22. Avoid rough roads whenever possible -  dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your fuel mileage.
23. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, straighter.
24. Place gear into neutral position when waiting at traffic light
25. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear
26. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment.
27. Set air conditioners to auto if available
28. Car pools reduce travel monotony and fuel expense
29. Do whatever possible online, by phone etc such as banking, document delivery, shopping etc
30. when filling up, don’t squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the fastest mode
31. Fill up when your tank is half full
32. Sometime it is worth to pay the toll
33. Look further to anticipate obstacle – don’t tailgate
34. Park at shaded car park – save your air-con
35. No unnecessary external accessories
36. Monitor your odometer or tripmeter
37. Use K-link fuel saver? If it really works, you don’t have to advertise it in this desperate situation.
38. Plan ahead by combining your errands into one trip
39. Plan your trips so you go out during less-congested times of day.
40. Work from home
41. Take public transportation (I am just kidding)
42. Cycling to work – it might be better than taking the public transportation
43. Use NGV – read this real experience by Fathersez
44. When going downhill, ease your throttle down and work with gravity to build up speed.
45. Move nearer to your work place
46. Use cruise control only on flat road
47. When there is a timer on traffic light showing “99” seconds and stays still, off your engine.
48. Scrap your car if all the above fail.
49. Buy BMW (men lap iu) or Mercedes (men siu lee) – This is a joke if you know Hokkien.

You might have noticed that I didn’t really go through all the 2.89 million search results. After studying the top 30 links, I realize that they are all singing the same tune.

Good luck! Do you have any tips that’s out of my radar?