With gas and diesel prices spiking, many people are turning to the Internet to find tips for improving gas mileage. If you don’t drive a fuel-efficient vehicle, your gas mileage might be a constant thought in the back of your mind.
In this article, we will talk about how to improve gas mileage so you can stay away from the pump longer!
Properly Inflate Tires
Did you know that properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%? Making sure your tires are properly inflated keeps your gas mileage looking great!
It is recommended to check your tires on a weekly to monthly basis. Not only does keeping your tires properly inflated help with fuel consumption, but it also reduces uneven wear and tread.
Lighten the Load
It seems like simple math when you think of how much effort it takes to pull heavier things. An extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 1–2%. This especially comes into play when you’re in stop-and-go traffic.
Lightening the load in a non-hybrid car can come in various forms. You can go as far as removing seats from the vehicle to just cleaning out the vehicle of useless items.
Don’t Idle
Not only is idling your car bad for the environment, but it’s also bad for your wallet too! Idling your vehicle for two minutes is equivalent of driving a mile. You can waste almost a gallon of gas if you leave your car idling for more than an hour.
Maintain Your Vehicle
This one seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised what a simple oil change or spark plug replacement can do for your car! Some of the things you can do for your vehicle to increase gas mileage are:
- Change your oil
- The rule of thumb of changing your vehicle’s oil is every three months or 3,000 miles. Old oil causes more friction in the engine, which creates more heat. With more heat, your fuel burns at a higher level. This means that more fuel will burn with each stroke of your engine.
- Change your air filter
- You should change your cabin’s air filter every 15,000-25,000 miles or at least once a year. A clean air filter can improve mileage by as much as 10%, and nearly 25% of all cars could use a new air filter. Replacing a dirty air filter can save you 39 cents a gallon or take you 23 miles more on a typical tank of gas.
- Check your sensors and spark plugs
- Getting your vehicle serviced and making sure your sensors and spark plugs can greatly improve your gas mileage. If any of the sensors in the vehicle, such as the Mass Air Flow Sensor or the Oxygen Sensor becomes dirty or damaged the readings become inaccurate. This can throw off the balance of the vehicle’s fuel economy, causing the engine to “work harder” than it really needs to due to the inaccurate air flow readings.
Conclusion
There are many little things you can do to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. As gas prices go up, keep in mind some of these tips to help improve your mileage!
If you’re looking to upgrade to a fuel efficient vehicle, check out our inventory and schedule a test drive online!
