How to save on gas as California prices continue to rise
With gas prices soaring across California, GasBuddy’s Patrick de Haan shares some simple tips drivers can use right now to save money on gas.
- Warmer weather improves fuel economy, but using air conditioning can offset fuel economy.
- To save fuel, roll down the windows at low speeds and use air conditioning on the highway.
- Parking in the shade and avoiding idling with the air conditioner on will help save fuel.
With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon in most parts of the United States, people are thinking about how to get the most mileage out of their cars this spring and summer.
In a post on its website, the U.S. Department of Energy said warmer weather can improve fuel efficiency because “engines warm up to efficient temperatures faster, summer-grade gasoline has slightly more energy, and warm air has less drag than cold air.”
The agency warned that potential fuel savings brought about by warmer weather could be offset by drivers’ efforts to keep their cars cool in the spring and summer.
AAA said the findings come as the average price of a gallon of gasoline was $4.12 as of April 14. The national average as of April 7 was $4.14, an increase from the previous month’s average of $3.63 per gallon, which remained stable.
With this in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team has compiled a list of tips from the Department of Energy to keep your car running at peak efficiency during the spring and summer.
1. Rotate the window at low speed. Use AC at high speed
The Department of Energy said, “Running a vehicle’s air conditioner in hot weather is a major cause of reduced fuel efficiency.”
“The impact depends on many factors, including outside temperature, humidity, and sunlight intensity,” the ministry said.
2. Don’t use the air conditioner more than necessary
“Open windows increase aerodynamic drag (wind resistance), which causes the vehicle to use more energy to push air out,” the Department of Energy said.
“This effect is very small at low speeds, but increases on highways,” the ministry said.
The police said, “Opening the windows to let the hot air out of the cabin is effective.” “A particularly good way to do this without significantly impacting fuel economy is to vent the sunroof during the first drive. This not only allows hot air to escape, but also helps maintain the vehicle’s aerodynamics at the same time.”
3. Park in the shade or use a sunshade.
Parking in the shade will keep your car cool inside, reducing the need for aggressive air conditioning.
4. Do not leave the air conditioner running and idling.
The Institute for Environmental Research and Education, a Washington state-based nonprofit, said in a post on its website that leaving an air conditioner running and idling is “particularly wasteful.”
“When the car is stopped, the engine only supplies power to the AC system,” the research group said. “This can consume a significant amount of fuel over time, especially on hot days when the air conditioner needs to be running to maintain a comfortable temperature.”
5. Follow the instruction manual
“Most manuals explain how the air conditioning system controls work and how to best use and maintain the air conditioning system,” the Department of Energy said.
6. Pre-cooling hybrids and EVs while connected to a charger
The Department of Energy said, “For plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, the range can be extended by pre-cooling the interior of the vehicle while it is connected to a charger.In addition, setting the air conditioner to a higher temperature will also reduce battery consumption.”
