Wouldn’t it be nice to watch your car gain an extra five miles per gallon? As gas prices steadily rise and fall unpredictably, we are all looking for ways to save a few dollars every time we fill up.
Unfortunately, no magic elixir can drastically bump up your vehicle miles per gallon. But there are steps you can take to help it out. Car experts agree that following these basic steps can extend the life of your gas tank. Is it worth trying? I think so!
1. Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Keeping your tires filled with the proper amount of air can directly impact your fuel economy. Under-inflated tires cause more resistance on the road, which in turn causes more friction, making your engine work harder. When engines work harder, they suck up more gasoline, causing you to stop at the pump more often than a vehicle with properly inflated tires.
2. Lighten your Car Load
A car weighed down with extra weight will need more gasoline to power the engine, especially if most of the weight is in the back trunk. Try removing excessive cargo from the trunk and storing it in your garage to see if your miles per gallon increase. Experts believe that an extra 50 pounds in the rear of your car can increase fuel consumption by 2%. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can add up over time.
3. Keep the Air Conditioning On
There is some debate about whether running the A/C increases fuel consumption, but it’s a fact that driving at high speeds with the windows down creates a lot of drag. This drag produces resistance, which in turn makes your engine and components work harder to fight the wind pushing your vehicle back. Instead, relax and blast that A/C. It will keep you comfortable and save you money on gas.
4. Drive a Comfortable Speed
There is always a perfect speed for getting the most out of your vehicle’s gas mileage. Driving at higher speeds burns more gas, but moving too slow is equally bad because you drop into a lower gear. What you really want to focus on is your car’s RPMs. For optimal fuel efficiency, try to maintain an average of 1,300 to 1,500 RPMs. This equates to about 65 to 75 miles per hour on the highway.
5. Accelerate Slowly
Speaking of RPMs, reviving or flooring your engine at a green light causes your RPMs to skyrocket, thus killing your fuel efficiency. It is much better to slowly accelerate, keeping those RPMs low as you shift to the proper gear. Next time you are merging on the freeway, try to speed up at a steady pace instead of pretending like you are auditioning for NASCAR.
6. Avoid Aggressive Braking
Try to avoid slamming on your brakes as much as possible. When you brake aggressively, you drop speeds quickly, which means you will need to accelerate up to the average speed as quickly as possible. As we discussed earlier, speeding up too fast puts your vehicle in the low fuel economy range due to the RPM spike. Also, breaking fast is a sign you are tailgating, which is another hazard.
7. Use Cruise Control
The use of cruise control can help you travel at speeds that maximize your fuel economy. Once you get on the highway, you can find the speed that puts your engine in the RPM sweet spot. After that, you can sit back and relax and think about everything you will buy with all the money you will save.
8. Practice Predictive Driving
Using navigation and driving apps like Waze can help you predict traffic patterns and avoid bad habits like aggressive braking and accelerating too fast. You can see when the traffic breaks and know when to use cruise control, stop, and accelerate. You can also use these apps to find gas stations on the route with the cheapest prices and amenities, like free air and tire pressure checks.
9. Try to Avoid Rush Hour
Rush hour traffic is horrible for many reasons, but one of them is it can cause your fuel economy to plummet. The constant stopping and starting can confuse your engine, making it use more gasoline. Engines want to run at a steady speed, so these fluctuating speeds make it impossible for your engine to fall into a groove and minimize its gas consumption.
10. Don’t Stay Idle for Long
Another downside of stop-and-go traffic is the long periods when your car sits idle. An engine sitting at idle can burn half a gallon to a full gallon in an hour. While you might not be sitting there for a consistent hour, the time you are idling can add up quickly if you are stuck in traffic.
This is also great advice for those who live in cold climates. Instead of sitting in your car to let it warm up, drive it. It will warm up faster and use less fuel than sitting there running in one place.
11. Keep Your Car in Shape
How you care for your car will show it its fuel economy. Making sure all of the components and belts are in working order will ensure the car runs as smoothly as possible. Make sure you take it in for regular oil changes, use the right type of oil, and clean the lines as often as possible.
Think of it as eating your vegetables. The better you eat, the better your body feels. The same concept applies to your car.
12. Replace Air Filter
A clean air filter can increase fuel economy by 10%. A clean filter allows more clean air to flow into the engine, which means the engine needs less gas to travel the same distance. However, having a dirty air filter will reduce gas mileage by allowing less air into the engine. Check your air filter often, but most vehicles require a new filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on where you live and how often you drive.
13. Check Alignment and Suspension
Misalignment in the suspension and chassis can lead to drag and resistance on the highway. Factors contributing to bad alignment include bent wheels, axles, worn shocks, and broken springs. It can also cause your tires to wear unevenly, which could affect tire pressure and the overall feel of your vehicle. Have these items checked every 30,000 miles to extend your car’s life and fuel economy.
