Car Care Tips

How to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage

Here are some of the things you can do to ensure improved gas mileage for your car:

Driving Habits

  • Keep your car clean. Mud on the undercarriage can weigh a significant amount and slow you down.
  • Consolidate your daily trips and errands. This will also save you the cost of restarting your engine, which uses a lot of gas.
  • Avoid air conditioning when possible. However, when driving at higher speeds, having your windows open also creates drag.
  • Don’t throttle the gas or brake! Sudden starts or stops use more gas than gradual changes of speed.
  • 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, more drag.
  • Avoid high speeds. We know this is almost impossible to resist but you can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
  • Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing use it as soon as your speed is high enough.
  • Use cruise control. Keeping a constant speed is ideal for improving your gas mileage.

Servicing Your Vehicle

  • Improve the spark to your engine. This way, the air and fuel mixture will be burnt better.
  • Improve your intake/output system. Helping gas get in and exhaust out of your vehicle will improve 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 is using by 10 percent.
  • Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Check regularly to ensure your wheels are fully inflated and your alignment is good.
  • Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks. A lot can go wrong with a car. Damaged spark plugs or transmission problems can also contribute to poor gas mileage.
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