How To Improve Your Car's Gas Mileage
Here are some things you can do to help improve your gas mileage.
Driving Habits
- Keep your car clean. Mud and dirt add weight which can slow you down.
- Consolidate your daily trips and errands. Fewer trips means fewer fill ups.
- Use those pedals gently. Sudden starts and stops use more gas than gradual changes.
- Don't idle for too long. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait.
- Limit car warm-ups in winter.
- Clear out the trunk. More weight equals more drag.
- Avoid high speeds. We know this is almost impossible to resist but you can improve your gas mileage by up to 15 percent driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
- Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive use it as soon as your speed is high enough.
- Use cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed helps you improve your mileage.
Servicing Your Vehicle
- Replace the spark plugs in your engine regularly. This way, the air and fuel mixture will burn cleaner and more efficiently.
- Keep the fuel system clean. Periodic cleaning of carbon build up with an induction service can improve the vehicle's overall performance and gas mileage.
- Reduce friction. Use high-quality or synthetic motor oil.
- Check your oil! Low oil makes your engine work harder.
- Change your filters. Dirty filters can sometimes increase the amount of fuel your vehicle uses as much as 10 percent.
- Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Check regularly for proper inflation and irregular wear patterns.
- Get regular tune-ups and maintenance checks. A lot can go wrong with a car. Damaged spark plugs or transmission problems can also contribute to poor gas mileage.
