Do These Car Features Use Up Your Gasoline?

For many years, people have often claimed that certain features, such as using A/C or riding with the windows down, use up your gas faster than usual. People assume that these particular car features are using the fuel, but is this true? We will look at certain car gasoline myths, which features cause gas to burn faster in a car, and how to make fuel last longer in a car. Some of the car features that may or may not use gasoline might surprise you. As a general rule of thumb, if a car feature draws some type of energy use from the engine, then it is probably using gas. Let's get a closer look at some of the most popular gas mileage myths over the years.

Does Running A/C in Your Car Waste More Gas?

It's commonly debated, but is it true? Does A/C use gas at all? Yes, it actually can. On average, running the air conditioner every time you operate your vehicle, might lower your fuel efficiency by about 3 miles per gallon. Does the A/C use more gas than rolling down the windows? Not in most scenarios.

If You Drive with the Windows Down, Do You Use Up More Gas?

Driving at higher speeds with your windows down can reduce your fuel economy even further than using A/C. As the wind enters your vehicle, it creates a drag that causes the car to work harder in the long run. Large spoilers on a car will cause the same effect. If you want to burn less gas, avoid driving on the highway with your windows down. The wind-drag created forces your vehicle to work harder. In most driving situations, you would use less fuel by running the air conditioning.

Does Running the Car Heater Use Up More Gas?

While heat is one of the car features that use fuel, it's not using as much as you would think. Your car heater recycles the heat that is already coming off of the engine so that you won't notice a significant decrease in fuel mileage resulting from heater usage.

Does Putting Your Car in Neutral Save Gas?

You might think it's a waste of time to shift your car in neutral, whenever it is safe, but this practice does have benefits. Shifting to neutral calms the engine and lowers the RPM. In turn, you will save fuel. You can shift into neutral at a traffic light and avoid the extra load put on the engine by sitting in Drive. Idle is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to fuel consumption. Idling is one of the main reasons the automatic Stop/Start technology was invented. If you drive in the city often, experience frequent gridlock, or rush hour traffic, then safely shifting your vehicle into neutral or utilizing the Stop/Start technology will save fuel in the long run.

Does the Type of Tires You Have Affect Your Gas Mileage?

You're mistaken if you thought that tire type affecting fuel economy was one of the car gasoline myths. Your vehicle tires make a big difference on the miles you drive per tank. While tire maintenance plays a factor, so does the type of tire you use. Different types of tires feature varying rolling resistances and create a unique degree of inertia which affect your fuel economy.

Does Cruise Control Save Gas?

We often hear - does cruise control waste gas? The answer depends on how you use it. When heading down the highway, cruise control can save gas by keeping your vehicle at a steady speed instead of slight or big changes in speed intervals. However, your cruise control works too hard to maintain the exact speed when you are on hilly terrain or elongated downward/upward slopes. In these situations, you would be better turning it off.

Does Driving with Eco Mode on Really Save Any Gas?

The Eco Mode can save fuel because it forces the gears to change sooner, which reduces gas consumption. However, using Eco Mode affects the "sportiness" and performance of the vehicle as opposed to a normal Drive Mode or Sport Mode.

Does the Type of Gas You Put in Your Car Affect Fuel Economy?

Not really. Today's fuel injection systems are very sophisticated, so the fuel type doesn't matter as much. The difference is too minuscule to make a noticeable change. Premium gasoline does feature a higher-octane rating, but it only produces a minimal more amount of power when burnt. The main benefit of premium gas vs. unleaded gas is that high-octane gasoline avoids detonation better. Octane ratings are a representation of a car's resistance to knock. A "knock" is the sound an ICE (internal combustion engine) makes when the gas inside the cylinder ignites before the spark plug fires. When the compressed fuel ignites before the spark plug fires, this is called "detonation" or "preignition." Knocking robs your vehicle of power, and could also damage several mechanical components. Instead, you should be asking - can needing an oil change affect gas mileage? That answer is yes. Anytime your gasoline or diesel engine is not running the way it should, you are wasting fuel.

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