How to Save Fuel: Driving Tips to Reduce Consumption

Gas prices are always ebbing and flowing with global conditions, and unfortunately for drivers in the early half of 2026, they've soared to levels not seen in years. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA), as of April 2026, fuel price averages are up nearly 50 percent compared to this time ten years ago—up to $4.60 from $2.31. With some California cities seeing diesel prices in the low $8 range (trust me, I’ve paid it), fuel efficiency now matters more than ever—especially for lifted truck and modified Jeep® drivers.​

While the obvious fix is to park the truck and buy a cheap hybrid, that’s not the tradeoff most truck owners are willing to make long-term. After all, we buy and accessorize our trucks to drive them, not leave them parked in the driveway.​

Whether you’re driving a bone-stock Canyon or a lifted Super Duty on 37s, there are tried and tested ways to stretch your fuel further without getting a new truck. From driving habit shifts to maintenance, this guide covers the insights into why your vehicle may be running less efficiently and gas saving tips to extend your range between fillups.

Trucks and SUVs are inherently less efficient than compacts and economy cars—that’s the trade-off that drivers accept for the enhanced space, power, and capability of a full-size platform. However, when fuel economy drops noticeably or significantly below manufacturer estimates, it’s time to dive deeper to figure out what’s wrong.​

Poor maintenance, incorrect tire pressures, and certain modifications—like lift kits, oversized tires, and heavy bolt-ons—are the most common culprits. If you recently noticed a dip in fuel economy after a new modification or two, those add-ons are worth looking into as potential catalysts. Similarly, if you’ve noticed a gradual decline in fuel economy, it may be time for a tune-up.

It’s no secret that some vehicles get better fuel economy than others. A heavy, V8-powered truck is bound to visit the gas pump more often than a lightweight, four-cylinder car—however, you can lessen the disparity between fuel economy and vehicle class with a few simple tips we’ll get into shortly. But first, let’s take a look at the economy you should expect from your vehicle based on its class.​

To put things into perspective, here’s a general reference table:

For truck owners specifically, a few variables can move the (fuel) needle significantly. For instance, mid-size trucks typically average 3–5 more MPG than comparable full-size trucks.​

Additionally, diesel trucks often return 15–25 percent better fuel economy, especially under load.​

When comparing drivetrains, four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems add weight and rolling resistance, resulting in a 1–2 MPG loss versus comparable two-wheel-drive applications.​

Finally, heavily modified applications, especially those running heavy bumpers and accessories, lift kits, and oversized tires, can see a notable drop in economy (2–5 MPG).

Some of the most popular truck modifications net some negative results at the gas pump. Here are some of the key facts to know:

None of these factors should convince you against running the parts and accessories you need on your vehicle, but it’s useful when trying to understand why your modified truck gets less fuel mileage than the manufacturer’s estimate.

Alternatively, some modifications can improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.​

Performance tuners, especially those that prioritize fuel economy—like the Banks Economind—can help optimize specific vehicle parameters—such as fuel and ignition timing—for efficiency rather than peak power.​

Additionally, airflow modifications such as cold air intakes and performance exhaust systems can help eliminate restrictions, improving combustion efficiency.

Additionally, tonneau covers have been shown to provide marginal efficiency improvements, averaging approximately 1–3% gains. While not massive, these savings can seriously add up over a year of commuting. Learn more about tonneau covers’ impacts on fuel economy in our comprehensive article. ​

While none of these modifications will turn your Ram 2500 into a Prius, you’ll be able to recover some efficiency that other modifications—like lift kits and big tires—stripped away.

Aside from modifications, common maintenance and driving practices can have a significant impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Here are some fuel saving tips and habits to stretch out fill-ups.

While you may assume that the faster you get somewhere, the less fuel you’ve used, that isn’t always the case. Speed is actually one of the biggest factors in highway fuel economy, as drag increases exponentially with speed. Additionally, throttle fluctuations from passing other drivers and switching lanes can negatively impact efficiency. 

According to a study published by the U.S. Department of Energy, “Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.”

Rather than aiming to get somewhere as quickly as possible, try hovering a lane or two over from the far left and focus on maintaining speed—cruise control is an excellent tool for this.

If you’ve been putting off that scheduled tune-up for financial reasons, go ahead and schedule your appointment. The money you would have recouped in fuel savings would have likely paid for the job by now.​

A poorly maintained engine works harder than it needs to, and that extra effort is evident at the fuel pump. Fouled plugs produce a weaker spark, clogged fuel filters restrict fuel pressure, and dirty air filters smother the engine. A basic tune-up can recover noticeable fuel economy, including services like:​

• Replacing spark plugs

• Replacing fuel and air filters

• Changing the oil

• Running a fuel system treatment

Additionally, using the manufacturer-recommended oil grade can help to reduce friction and increase fuel economy. Unlike small-block Chevys and dated pushrod V8s, running a thicker oil weight in a modern engine with ultra-tight tolerances won’t do anything good for performance or longevity.

Especially on a vehicle without integrated TPMS, checking your vehicle’s tire pressure is crucial. Too low of pressures can increase friction and rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder to maintain the same speeds. According to Kelly Blue Book, “Underinflated tires can reduce fuel economy by roughly 0.2% for every one psi drop in the average pressure of all four tires.” While that figure might seem insignificant, the hit to efficiency only compounds with each additional PSI drop. For instance, if your tires are 10 PSI low at all four corners, expect a two percent decrease in mileage. 

Get into the habit of inspecting tire pressure monthly—ensure the tires are filled to the door sticker recommendation for the optimal balance of efficiency and ride comfort.

If your truck requires or recommends premium fuel, running regular isn't saving you money—it's costing you efficiency. Modern engines equipped with knock sensors will retard ignition timing when they detect detonation from lower-octane fuel, which reduces power output and fuel economy. For turbocharged and high-output engines, especially, using the correct octane rating is part of running the engine as intended. The per-gallon price difference is usually less significant than the efficiency loss (and engine wear) from running the wrong grade.

Air conditioning puts a direct load on the engine, especially at low speeds. Oftentimes, you can even feel a noticeable difference in the way your vehicle runs when switching the AC compressor on and off—especially while stopped at a light. At city speeds in moderate weather, rolling the windows down is almost always more fuel efficient than blasting the AC. However, at highway speeds, the inverse is true. Rolling the windows down can increase drag, making AC the better option.

A running engine that isn’t in motion is getting zero miles per gallon. Modern fuel-injected engines, especially those running thinner oil weights, don’t need extended warm-up periods like older carbureted engines did. Letting a car idle in a busy drive-through, while running a quick errand, or while waiting for your vehicle to reach operating temperature in the morning does nothing more than waste fuel in most cases. If you’re stopped for more than a couple of minutes, shut the engine down and save fuel.

Several navigation apps like Google Maps now offer eco-friendly routes to prioritize fuel efficiency over raw speed. These programs factor in elevation changes, stop-and-go traffic, and road conditions to give your vehicle the best chance of reaching record-high efficiency figures on your commute. Especially on longer trips, taking a slightly longer route—without traffic lights or hills—can use less fuel than a shorter one.

Every extra pound you pack into your truck requires more energy to move it. While more obvious when hitched to a sizable trailer, less noticeable weight—like a full toolbox or loaded recovery bags—can hurt economy. Saving full loadouts for when you need them can significantly improve fuel efficiency.

Hard acceleration and speeding are some of the fastest ways to burn through fuel. Getting from 0 to 60 MPH in five seconds uses significantly more fuel than doing so gradually. We know it’s hard to keep your foot out of it after adding performance mods like a tuner, intake, and exhaust system—but doing so will stretch your tank considerably further.

Cold engines operate far less efficiently than warm ones. As the engine heats up, the computer dumps considerably more fuel to compensate. Rather than spreading out your errands into individual drives, try consolidating them into a single trip to keep engine temps up and efficiency high.

Q: Is cruise control fuel efficient?

A: Yes. In most highway driving conditions, cruise control maintains a consistent speed and eliminates minor throttle fluctuations, increasing fuel economy on long drives. On hilly terrain, cruise control may negatively impact fuel economy, as your vehicle may accelerate harder up hills to maintain speed.​

Q: Is diesel more fuel efficient?

A: Generally, yes. Diesel fuel contains more energy per gallon than gasoline, and diesel engines extract that energy more efficiently with higher compression ratios. In most scenarios, diesel trucks can net 15–25% better fuel economy than comparable gasoline-powered trucks.​

Q: Does tire pressure really affect fuel economy?

A: Yes. For every 1 PSI drop across all four tires, you can expect a 0.2% efficiency reduction (U.S. Department of Energy).​

Q: Do cold air intakes actually improve MPG?

A: Yes. While modest, most real-world testing shows that cold air intakes can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 1–2 MPG.​

Q: What modifications hurt fuel economy the most?

A: Oversized tires and lift kits are the biggest culprits of fuel economy hits in pickup trucks.​

Q: Does cold weather affect fuel economy?

A: Yes. Since cold air is denser, the engine takes longer to reach optimal temperatures. Tire pressure also drops in cold temps, increasing rolling resistance. Learn more about the relationship between tire pressure and temperature in our comprehensive guide. ​

Q: Do truck bed covers improve gas mileage?

A: They can, though the results are modest. A tonneau cover can typically increase efficiency by approximately 1–3%. In the real world, that’s a 1–2 MPG gain at most. Learn more about these gains in our blog “Do Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage?”