Around six years after the last major fuel price shock – back then it was the beginning of the Corona crisis – drivers are once again facing expensive weeks, perhaps even months. At that time, gasoline cost well over two euros per liter. And even now after the military actions of the USA and Israel against Iran and its attacks on various neighboring countries in the Gulf region, fuel prices are already rising slightly.

How expensive it will be and how long it will take remains to be seen. To make matters worse, German climate policy only made fuels more expensive at the beginning of the year through higher CO2 taxes. There is only one thing that helps drivers: fill up the tank quickly – and then use the fuel for as long as possible. FOCUS online has collected the best advice on saving petrol for you.

1. Save on driving

Of course, you have the greatest influence on fuel consumption when you’re behind the wheel. This particularly applies to petrol and diesel cars, but electric cars also reward economical driving with less energy consumption. This is what you can do:

• After starting the engine, drive off immediately! A cold engine requires a particularly large amount of fuel. After starting, a mid-range car can mathematically require up to 40 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. Consumption only returns to normal after four kilometers. Therefore, drive off immediately after turning the ignition key and gently bring the engine up to operating temperature. Do not press the accelerator pedal when starting
• Be proactive and constantly on the move. Swim with the traffic. If you keep a sufficient distance from the person in front of you, you can react more gently to their driving style and, for example, better compensate for differences in speed. You can let it roll more often and don’t have to brake and accelerate as often. So avoid intermediate sprints and hard braking maneuvers.
• Accelerate only for as long as necessary. When accelerating, the car uses more fuel. But don’t be afraid to accelerate: pull your car up to your cruising speed as quickly as possible and as quickly as necessary. Then you can have it rolled in an economical way.
• Let it roll. If the car is coasting after accelerating, it needs almost no fuel. If you make consistent use of these rolling phases, you will save the most. Often you can take your foot off the accelerator just a few hundred meters before the town sign and get down to 50 km/h without braking. You can also use rolling phases in front of traffic lights or intersections. You don’t necessarily have to become an obstacle, but you can flow along with the traffic.
• Recuperation in electric cars : You can also save money on hybrid and electric cars by using recuperation (brake energy recovery). The best way to do this is to switch to “One Pedal Driving” mode, if available, as the generator braking is particularly efficient.
• Use cruise control: The automatic system keeps the speed constant, especially on flat, long routes, to save fuel. In the mountains, however, you should switch it off, as the acceleration and braking phases cause it to consume unnecessarily.
• Avoid unnecessary switching: Every time you change gears, the engine has to work – either accelerate or brake. So drive consistently in one gear for as long as possible. If your automatic car has different driving programs, select “Eco” mode.
• Stay in a low speed range: No matter whether manual or automatic transmission, low speeds help save fuel. The least fuel is usually consumed between 1500 and 2500 revolutions per minute. If your car has a recommended gear selection indicator – follow it. Even if your feeling and hearing tell you otherwise: modern cars can drive powerfully at surprisingly low speeds. Only switch back if the engine jerks or starts humming. Even in urban areas, the highest gear is often possible.
• Use navigation: The navigation system helps you find the most fuel-efficient route. The journey on the motorway is usually a little longer than on country roads, but thanks to fewer speed changes it also costs less petrol. Some systems, such as those from Kia, also link the navigation system with driving recommendations. They then show on the instrument panel when you can take your foot off the accelerator in order to drive exactly 50 km/h on the country road without braking before the next town sign.
• Switch off the engine when stationary: Many modern cars have an automatic stop-and-go system that switches off the engine at traffic lights or in traffic jams and switches it on again when you press the accelerator pedal. You should also switch off the engine manually before closed railway crossings, during longer traffic jams or when you are simply waiting for someone. However, without a stop-and-go system, it is not advisable to switch off the engine manually every time you stop at traffic lights – Wear and tear on the engine, starter motor and battery can be more expensive than the fuel savings, especially in older cars.

2. Think about saving before you travel

Smart fueling can still save you a bit of money. Use a fuel app that shows you the current prices at gas stations in the area. Avoid expensive gas stations. For example, if you are driving on the highway, Then it’s worth taking a two or three kilometer detour to a truck stop off the highway instead of stopping at a more expensive highway gas station. Choose the beginning of the week and the evening from 6 p.m. to fill up – then the prices at the pillars are usually a little cheaper.

You can also prepare your car if you internalize a few tips.

• Avoid gas guzzlers: Air conditioning, heating, seat heating and auxiliary heating are fuel guzzlers. Whenever possible, avoid it or use it more moderately – set the air conditioning to around 20 degrees instead of 15 degrees with the fan turned up to full speed. According to ADAC, depending on the vehicle model, technology and operating conditions, air conditioning leads to additional consumption of around 0.3 to 1.5 l/100 km. The seat heating increases consumption by up to 0.25 l/100 km. However, “opening the windows” instead of air conditioning is only a solution in the city: air resistance increases on the motorway and country roads.
• Park strategically: Whenever possible in the summer, park your car in an (underground) garage or at least in the shade so that you don’t have to turn the air conditioning on as soon as you start driving.
• Heat out: In the summer, let the accumulated heat escape by opening all the windows before you travel. In some cars, this can be done from the outside if you press the “open” button on the car key for a few seconds – then all four windows close.
• Optimize tire pressure: A reduction in air pressure of just 0.3 bar increases rolling resistance. If set correctly, the pressure not only saves fuel because of optimal rolling resistance. Incorrect pressure also causes the tire to wear out more quickly, especially when the vehicle is loaded.
• Remove the roof rack and take out the loads: If a roof box, bike rack or luggage rack is no longer needed after your vacation: get rid of it. Car manufacturers have put a lot of cleverness and money into making their vehicles as streamlined as possible. Add-ons increase the air resistance, sometimes considerably. And: clear out your car. Throw out what you don’t need and just go for a walk. The rule of thumb: 100 kilograms of additional weight costs around half a liter of fuel per 100 kilometers . For example, it makes little sense to have snow chains in the trunk in summer.