How to Improve Fuel Economy in Warm Weather

Warm weather months, particularly summer, are popular for travel and the price of gas typically creeps up throughout the summer months. The increased price of fuel can be particularly difficult for people who drive a lot for work. If you’re looking for “delivery jobs near me“ and will be behind the wheel a lot, you can maximize your gas mileage on the road with these useful tips to improve fuel economy in warm weather.

Let hot air out of the vehicle cabin

If it’s warm outside, chances are it’s going to be even warmer inside your car, especially if your car is sitting in the sun. When you get into your car, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends putting your windows down to let the hot air vent from the vehicle cabin rather than immediately starting your air conditioning.

Turn the A/C on after you start driving

The U.S. Department of Energy says that A/C can reduce the fuel economy of conventional vehicles by as much as 25% in very hot conditions. If you can start driving and allow the wind to remove some of the hot air from your cabin, the A/C has less work to do. So, drive a little bit before rolling the windows back up and putting the A/C on.

Don’t idle the engine

In a related point, when your car’s engine is running, it’s going to burn fuel no matter if it’s cruising down the highway or idling at the curb. The Energy Department estimates idling can waste $.03 of fuel per minute. Since a car doesn’t need to warm up in the summer, you don’t need to let it run for a few minutes when you first start it. It’s best to put the windows down and start driving immediately before turning the A/C on.

Use A/C on long trips; roll windows down for short trips

When you’re driving with the windows down, you may think you’re saving fuel by not running the A/C, but this is typically only true if you’re traveling a short distance at slower speeds. Driving with the windows open increases the wind resistance on your vehicle, according to the Energy Department, meaning it needs more fuel to push through the air, especially if you’re on a highway traveling at a high speed for a long distance. The DOE says you can improve fuel efficiency if you roll the windows down at lower speeds and roll them up and use A/C at higher speeds.

Keep your tire pressure up

You may not think it, but under-inflated tires can impact your fuel efficiency as well. The DOE estimates that for every 1 pound-per-square inch (psi) drop in the average pressure of all of your tires, gas mileage can be reduced by about 0.2%.

Park in the shade

A car parked in the sun can reach scorching temperatures. While it won’t always be possible, whenever you can, you should try to find some shade to park your car in.

Avoid rapid acceleration and deceleration

If you drive for work, maybe as a food delivery driver or making stops at customer homes for any number of occupations, every minute you’re on the road matters. While racing from stop to stop may save you some time, it may also be burning extra fuel, negating any benefit of getting to your destination faster. The Energy Department says that speeding, quick acceleration, and hard braking can all reduce fuel economy by as much as 15%-30% on the highway, and 10%-40% when driving in the city. A more patient approach could help you save on gas.

If you’re looking to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy in the warm summer months, these tips and tricks should help you avoid wasting gas no matter how much you drive.