Allowing the car's engine to do all the work may be convenient, but it is expensive. Also, police caution vehicle owners that an unattended, unlocked, idling automobile, is both attractive and convenient for joy riders or car thieves, not to mention the danger it presents to the general public. Resist the convenience of the drive through. For those who regularly use a drive through, the best choice is to park the car and go into the restaurant or business rather than sit in the car and allow the engine to idle. Five to twenty minutes of fuel is consumed each time the drive through is used and for those who use a drive through often, this is an unnecessary waste of fuel.
Simple solutions are sometimes the best.
The simplest way to reduce winter fuel costs is to drive fewer miles. Replace that regular weekend outing or out of town shopping excursion with an activity close to home. If rising gasoline prices present a problem, consider purchasing an energy efficient car for long term fuel savings and overall economy on a per mile basis.