DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado’s altitude can impact things like baking to the dryness of your skin. It can also affect more, lesser-known elements.
While the high altitude in Denver is often touted for causing dehydration and shortness of breath, it can also change how often you need to put gas in your car.
Why driving at higher altitudes uses less gas
According to Skylar McKinley with AAA, a car uses less gas at higher altitudes because it runs on a combustion engine, a fundamental chemical process requiring oxygen. So, when the air isn’t as dense, the car will use less power and therefore less gas.
McKinley said the reduced oxygen also helps reduce the drag on the vehicle, which ultimately improves the aerodynamics and increases fuel efficiency.
However, using less gas at a high altitude doesn’t matter as far as trying to save a few bucks on fuel.
Gas mileage at higher altitudes usually evens out
McKinley said many consumers report worse mileage at high altitudes. While less gas is used in higher altitudes, drivers still have to deal with the elevation increase, ultimately offsetting the reduced gas with the load and inefficient operation it takes to get there.
“You can’t gain in altitude without driving to altitude, and the trip ‘up’ requires an increased load on the engine — just as walking up a mountain is harder than walking down one,” said McKinley.
That said, it depends on where drivers are traveling. If they stay around Denver, the altitude could help save gas as Denver is a mostly flat city that’s already at a high elevation.
“It’s complicated. Many factors influence fuel economy; it’ll depend on your vehicle, your driving style, your route, and more,” said McKinley.
In short, driving at higher altitudes uses less gas, but oftentimes it doesn’t matter at the end of the day because people will often use more gas going up in elevation.
