How To Improve Your Gas Mileage In 9 Easy Steps
With the price of gas being pretty high these days, there’s every reason to take all available measures to improve your gas mileage. After all, the more distance you can cover in one gallon of fuel, the less often you will have to get more fuel!
Here are 9 easy ways to increase the gas mileage that you should consider:
1. Lay Off The Pedal
Faster, more demanding motion requires more gas. Accelerating from zero to sixty in three seconds will consume more fuel than gradually accelerating to the same speed.
The harder you push your vehicle to gain speed quickly, the more fuel is wasted. Remember, saving a few minutes to get where you’re going isn’t worth that much!
2. Drive More Slowly
The faster you go, the more wind resistance there is and the less efficient your fuel economy will be.
Fueleconomy.gov claims that every five miles an hour over fifty results in a cost increase of about 22 cents a gallon. So drive slowly when you can.
3. Reduce The Weight
It doesn’t make much of a difference for big vehicles, but small ones are impacted by extra weight. An extra hundred pounds, due to unneeded luggage or passengers, can reduce fuel efficiency by around 1% for most small vehicles. That might not seem like much, but it could cost you around three cents a gallon.
4. Cruise Control
When it’s appropriate (such as on highways and long straights), cruise control can improve your fuel economy by around 14%, since it prevents fluctuation with constantly changing speeds. It only speeds up or slows down when it has to. This could translate to about 43 cents of savings per gallon!
5. Turn Off The Car
Your car still burns fuel even if it is idling. Needless to say, this is a waste of fuel, because you aren’t even using it to go anywhere! Turn off the car whenever possible.
6. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Tires lose pressure over time, and underinflated tires can reduce fuel economy by 3.3% per every 10 PSI below the recommended pressure. Consider visiting a tire shop in Pasadena to ensure that your tires are up to snuff.
7. Replace Old Spark Plugs
Bad spark plugs can have a whopping 30% negative impact on fuel economy. Replacing them is difficult though, so consider auto repair in Pasadena to get the job done quickly and easily.
8. Make Sure The Tires Are Aligned
Tires that are misaligned can reduce fuel economy by up to 10%, especially if the misalignment is bad. This also causes your tires to wear out more quickly, and you’ll soon need a tire shop. An auto repair shop should be able to align your tires for you.
9. Fuel Up During Cool Periods
Did you know that fuel is denser when it is cooler out? When gasoline is warm, it spreads out, meaning it takes less gas to make a gallon. So if you fuel up your car during cooler times, such as the early morning or night, you will be able to get more fuel for the same amount of money.
The Bottom Line
There you have it: 9 easy ways to increase your gas mileage! Now admittedly, they can’t help with all of these things, but if you are looking to up your gas mileage (or just need the service for any reason at all) consider stopping by Crown City Tire Auto Care. Our team offers tire services, engine repair and maintenance, and more. Give us a call at (626) 461-9165 and we’ll take care of your car!
