Fuel Saving Tips From Driving Instructors: How to Spend Less at the Pump in Ontario

Fuel is one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning a vehicle in Canada, and with prices that can shift significantly from month to month, most drivers are looking for practical ways to reduce what they spend at the pump.

What many drivers do not realize is that how you drive has a bigger impact on fuel consumption than almost any other single factor. Natural Resources Canada confirms that driving behaviour is one of the most influential variables in actual fuel use, often more significant than the vehicle itself. Experienced driving instructors see this firsthand: the habits that waste fuel are the same habits that reduce road safety, and the habits that save fuel are the same habits that make a driver smoother, calmer, and more aware.

Here are the most effective fuel-saving techniques, explained through the lens of what driving instructors observe every day on the road.

1. Accelerate Gently and Smoothly

Hard acceleration from a stop is one of the single biggest fuel wasters. Every time you push the accelerator down aggressively, the engine demands a large burst of fuel to respond. The harder and faster you accelerate, the more fuel it burns.

The fix is simple: ease into speed gradually. Think of it the way CAA Ontario describes it, like having a full, open cup of coffee sitting on your dashboard. Accelerate just gently enough that you would not spill it. You will reach cruising speed at roughly the same time as the car beside you, but you will use noticeably less fuel getting there.

This is also one of the first habits a driving instructor addresses with new students, because smooth acceleration is not just efficient. It is safer, more controlled, and far less stressful.

2. Read the Road and Anticipate Stops

One of the most fuel-efficient things you can do on the road is to look further ahead and think earlier. When you see a red light, stop sign, or slowing traffic well in advance, take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to coast toward the stop. You are using zero fuel during engine braking, and you are giving yourself a longer, smoother deceleration rather than a sharp last-second brake.

This technique is a cornerstone of what Natural Resources Canada calls ecoDriving, and it is exactly what experienced driving instructors teach from day one. Anticipation reduces fuel consumption, reduces brake wear, and gives other road users more time to react to your movements. It is one of those habits where safety and efficiency point in exactly the same direction.

3. Maintain a Steady Speed

Constantly fluctuating between speeds is one of the most fuel-inefficient driving patterns there is. Research indicates that varying your speed between 75 km/h and 85 km/h every 20 seconds can increase fuel consumption by close to 20% compared to maintaining a steady speed.

On highways and open roads, use cruise control where it is safe and appropriate. It holds a precise, consistent speed far better than your foot can, and that consistency translates directly into fuel savings. When cruise control is not appropriate, such as in traffic or on hilly roads, focus on maintaining as even a speed as possible.

On hills, use momentum intelligently. Let your speed drop slightly on the uphill rather than accelerating to hold the exact same speed. Allow gravity to bring it back on the downhill. This is what smooth, experienced drivers do naturally, and it makes a measurable difference over the course of a longer drive.

4. Avoid Unnecessary Idling

Idling burns fuel and produces emissions while moving you nowhere. According to Natural Resources Canada, a vehicle with a 3-litre engine burns roughly 300 millilitres of fuel for every 10 minutes it idles. That adds up quickly during long warm-ups, drive-through queues, or waiting with the engine running.

The general rule: if you are stopped for more than 60 seconds and it is safe to do so, turn the engine off. Modern fuel-injected engines use less fuel restarting than they would burn sitting idle for that long. Contrary to older advice, you do not need to warm a modern engine up for more than 30 seconds before driving gently away.

In winter, the most effective way to warm your vehicle is to drive it at low speed, not to let it idle in the driveway. Your engine warms up faster under light load than sitting still, and your heater starts working sooner too.

5. Check and Maintain Tire Pressure

Under-inflated tires are one of the most common and easily corrected causes of excess fuel consumption. According to Transport Canada, tires under-inflated by 56 kilopascals (8 psi) can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%, and reduce tire life by more than 10,000 kilometres.

A large portion of vehicles on Canadian roads have at least one tire running outside the recommended pressure range, often without the driver being aware of it. Tire pressure also drops in cold weather, which makes this particularly relevant for Ontario drivers through autumn and winter.

Check your tire pressure at least once a month, and always when the tires are cold (before driving, or at least three hours after the vehicle was last used). The recommended pressure is printed on a sticker on the inside edge of the driver’s door or in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall; that is not the recommended inflation level.

6. Reduce Unnecessary Weight

The heavier your vehicle, the more fuel it takes to move it. Every 25 kilograms of unnecessary weight in your car increases fuel consumption by roughly 1%. That sounds small until you consider how much extra weight many drivers carry habitually: sports equipment, tools, bags of soil or sand left from a previous season, books, and other items that simply accumulate in the boot.

Go through your vehicle occasionally and remove anything that does not need to be there. If you use a roof rack or cargo carrier, remove it when it is not in use. Even an empty roof rack creates aerodynamic drag that increases fuel consumption, particularly at highway speeds.

7. Use Air Conditioning Thoughtfully

Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by up to 20% in city driving, because it runs directly off the engine. That is a significant number, and it is worth being intentional about when you use it.

In the city at lower speeds, opening windows is almost always more fuel-efficient than running the air conditioning. At highway speeds above roughly 80 km/h, the aerodynamic drag from open windows can start to outweigh the fuel cost of the air conditioning, so at that point the A/C becomes the better choice.

The practical approach: use the ventilation system on fresh air rather than recirculation mode when conditions allow, use A/C sparingly in city driving, and if the vehicle has been sitting in the sun, open the windows for a minute before starting the A/C to let the hot air escape first rather than trying to cool it immediately at full blast.

8. Plan Your Trips and Combine Errands

Cold engines use significantly more fuel than warmed-up engines. A vehicle making five separate short trips from a cold start will burn considerably more fuel than the same vehicle making one longer trip covering the same total distance.

When you can, plan errands to combine them into a single trip. Start with the destination that requires the most driving, so the engine is fully warmed before you begin the stop-and-go portion of your trip. Avoid the busiest traffic periods when you have flexibility, because stop-and-go highway conditions consume far more fuel than steady movement.

If you commute regularly, consider whether adjusting your departure time by 15 to 20 minutes avoids the worst congestion. Sitting in traffic is one of the least fuel-efficient things a vehicle can do.

9. Keep Up With Vehicle Maintenance

A poorly maintained vehicle burns more fuel than a well-maintained one. Specific maintenance items that affect fuel economy include:

Fresh engine oil reduces internal friction, so the engine works more efficiently. Use the grade recommended in your owner’s manual.

A clogged air filter restricts airflow to the engine, making it work harder and burn more fuel. Check and replace the air filter at the intervals your manufacturer recommends, or more frequently if you drive on dusty roads.

Wheel alignment affects rolling resistance. A vehicle that is pulling slightly to one side is fighting itself every kilometre it travels. If your steering wheel does not sit straight when driving on a level road, have the alignment checked.

Dragging brakes, caused by a sticking caliper or handbrake not fully releasing, create rolling resistance and waste fuel constantly. If your vehicle feels sluggish or the brakes feel warm after normal driving, have them inspected.

Fuel-Efficient Driving Is Also Safer Driving

One thing driving instructors see consistently is that the habits that save fuel are the same habits that produce a safer, more aware driver. Smooth acceleration, anticipating traffic, maintaining steady speed, and reading the road well ahead are all both fuel-efficient and safe. Aggressive acceleration, late braking, and erratic speed are both wasteful and higher-risk.

This is not a coincidence. Efficient driving is, at its core, disciplined, controlled driving. If you are looking to build these habits in a structured way, whether as a new driver or someone who wants to improve, our Driving Improvement Course (DIC) covers exactly these techniques, and our Corporate Defensive Driving Course is designed for fleet and professional drivers who want to apply fuel-efficient habits across an entire team.

For new drivers building these habits from the start, our Economy, Warrior, and Scholar Packages include in-car training with MTO-certified instructors who teach smooth, controlled driving technique as a foundation of every lesson.

Frequently Asked Questions

What driving habits waste the most fuel? Hard acceleration from a stop, frequent speed changes, late braking that requires more acceleration to recover speed, and extended idling are the most fuel-wasteful habits. Each one can be corrected through better anticipation and smoother inputs.

Does idling waste more fuel than restarting the engine? Yes, if you are stopped for more than 60 seconds. A modern fuel-injected engine uses less fuel to restart than it burns sitting idle for that long. In winter, you do not need to idle to warm the engine. Drive away gently after 30 seconds and the engine will warm faster under light load.

Does air conditioning really increase fuel consumption? Yes, by up to 20% in city driving. In city conditions, open windows are almost always more fuel-efficient. At highway speeds, the drag from open windows can start to offset the savings, so A/C becomes the more reasonable choice above roughly 80 km/h.

What speed is most fuel efficient on Ontario highways? Generally, fuel consumption increases significantly above 100 km/h due to aerodynamic drag. Driving at a steady 90 to 100 km/h is more fuel-efficient than 110 to 120 km/h, often by a meaningful margin. Natural Resources Canada notes that fuel consumption increases significantly at speeds above 100 km/h.

How much does tire pressure affect fuel economy? According to Transport Canada, tires under-inflated by 56 kPa (8 psi) can increase fuel consumption by up to 4% and reduce tire life by more than 10,000 kilometres. Check pressure monthly and when the tires are cold for an accurate reading.

Can reducing vehicle weight really make a difference? Yes. Every 25 kilograms of unnecessary weight increases fuel consumption by roughly 1%. Removing a roof rack and clearing unnecessary items from your vehicle can produce a noticeable difference, especially over time.