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Proper braking techniques can save fuel.

Energy that could be used to move your car down the road is effectively converted into friction, heat, and brake dust under braking…so obviously, you should try to use the brakes as little as possible, as they put a real drag (pun intended) on gas mileage. One way to get in the habit of staying off the brakes is to drive like you don’t have any! This should keep your foot off the accelerator and extend the amount of time available for the vehicle to naturally coast to a stop.

Nevertheless, whatever goes, must also sooner or later stop. So, when you do have to slow down or stop…

Assuming adequate warning time, coast to a stop with the engine off. Failing that, if possible at least coast down in Neutral with the engine idling without hitting the brakes (note this may be illegal in some areas).

Try to avoid stopping completely. It takes much less energy to accelerate a vehicle that’s already in motion—even if in motion at a very low speed—than it does to accelerate that same vehicle from a complete stop.

By planning ahead as discussed in previous tips you should be able to minimize hard braking. But for every rule, there’s always an exception: If faced with an unanticipated slowdown or possible need to stop, sometimes braking hard initially actually can save fuel.

Huh? Let’s consider, by way of an example, an unexpected encounter with a “stale” green light. In this case, there’s no pedestrian signal providing a clue that the light is about to change. Suddenly, the light turns yellow. Normal moderate braking would result in the vehicle coming to a complete stop at the intersection and then an idle period waiting for the light to change back to green (a double fuel-economy hit). Assuming you are driving far enough “ahead,” initially slamming the brakes really hard (traffic conditions permitting) could allow coasting into the intersection at a low-speed, thereby providing enough time for the light to cycle back to green without the need to come to a complete stop.

This about it for my fuel economy tips…at least for now. But I’m sure you guys have plenty more of your own. Feel free to comment and chime in with your own!