01 / SMOOTH DRIVING
Drive smoothly.
Look ahead and leave room to respond. Gradual acceleration and planned braking avoid wasted fuel from repeated hard starts and stops. Traffic, visibility and safe stopping distance come first.
02 / TIRE PRESSURE
Use the correct tire pressure.
Check cold tires with a gauge and use the vehicle manufacturer's pressure label or owner's manual. The maximum on the tire sidewall is not the target. Investigate recurring pressure loss or a persistent TPMS warning.
03 / VEHICLE WEIGHT
Unload what you do not need.
Extra cargo adds weight. Remove unnecessary heavy items between trips, while keeping required work equipment and safety supplies. Secure the load you do carry.
04 / STEADY SPEEDS
Keep a steady, appropriate pace.
Avoid needless speeding up and slowing down. Follow posted limits and adjust for weather and traffic. There is no single most efficient speed for every vehicle, and fuel economy never justifies unsafe driving.
05 / MAINTENANCE
Keep up with vehicle-specific maintenance.
Follow the manufacturer's service schedule and specified oil grade. Have warning lights, rough running or a sudden fuel-economy change checked. Diagnose the cause before buying parts; routine service does not promise a fixed mileage improvement.
06 / COMBINED TRIPS
Plan errands together.
Group nearby stops into a practical route when possible. Fewer separate trips can reduce repeated cold starts and extra miles. Leave enough time so saving fuel does not become a reason to rush.
07 / AERODYNAMICS
Remove unused roof cargo equipment.
Roof boxes and exterior cargo add wind resistance. Remove unused equipment according to its instructions when practical, and keep necessary loads within the vehicle and carrier limits.
08 / IDLING
Avoid unnecessary idling while parked.
An idling engine still uses fuel. Shut it off when safely parked if conditions and the vehicle's instructions allow. Keep visibility and occupant needs in mind; do not switch off a moving vehicle to save fuel.
FURTHER READING
Match the advice to your vehicle.
Fuel use varies with the vehicle, load, route and weather. Your owner's manual controls vehicle-specific procedures. See the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA guidance on efficient driving and vehicle maintenance.