If you feel like you’re filling up your tank way too often, it’s time to improve gas mileage for your vehicle. Even with gas-guzzling cars, there are still ways to stretch out your fuel until your next fill up.
Not only do you save money by improving gas mileage, but by implementing just a few of these tips, you may also find yourself on the road longer without having to stop for gas. Check out these 10 tips for how to improve gas mileage in your car.
Accelerate Gently
You’re at a stoplight, and you see the light turn green. Your immediate reaction is to punch the gas to avoid getting honked at by the cars behind you. However, this isn’t doing your gas tank any favors.
When you quickly accelerate from a complete stop, your engine requires more gas to increase the speed. By slowly accelerating and gradually building up speed, your engine uses less gas.
How To Improve Gas Mileage: Slow Down
Cars have city and highway mileage for a reason. On a highway, you’re stopping less and going faster, while in the city, you tend to stop more but drive slower. However, at speeds over 60 miles an hour, the miles you get per gallon drops significantly.
As your car moves faster, it encounters air resistance. Therefore it must pump more gas to the engine to keep the same speed. At speeds between 30 and 60 miles an hour is when your car’s fuel efficiency is most cost-effective.
So, let up on the lead foot and try going the speed limit; your car and your wallet will thank you!
Coast to a Stop
As we mentioned previously, the quicker you accelerate, the more gas you use. However, this is also the case for how often you decelerate. When you come to a stop or brake at all, you’ll have to regain that speed to start your car back up.
To get the speed back to where it was before you slowed down, you have to inject more fuel into the engine than if you coast to a stop. Still, having trouble driving? We have plenty of options available for those just learning, or in need of a refresher course on defensive driving.
Reduce Weight
The heavier your car is, the harder it is to accelerate. If your trunk is filled or your car is weighed down, it’s no wonder you’re getting bad gas mileage. Lighten the load to reduce your payments at the pumps.
If you can avoid it, try not to lug heavy items around unless necessary. It saves your car from straining and your gas.
Avoid Idling
Many people believe that by turning an engine off and back on, you’re wasting more gas than when you idle. This is not the case. You actually waste more gas idling than you may expect.
Not only are you wasting gas, but you’re wasting money. Some experts have found that depending on your car’s fuel efficiency, you can use around half a gallon of gas by idling for one hour.
So instead of sitting around in the parking lot with your car idling, turn it off for a while. If you need the A/C, turning your car off and back on won’t waste gas, you’ll use more by idling for long periods of time.
Save Money By Improving Gas Mileage: Check Tire Pressure
It’s no surprise that by when your tires are in tip-top shape, you can get farther. But did you know it can also improve your gas mileage? By keeping your tires at the proper air pressure, you can ensure that your car is getting the mileage expected out of it.
Check out the recommended psi for your tires and car. If your tires are pumped up to the same amount recommended by the manufacturer, you’ll be more likely to get the expected fuel mileage out of them.
Just be sure not to over-inflate your tires; it can compromise the integrity of the tire material. Blowing a tire is not cost-efficient!
Maintain Your Engine
Keeping your engine running efficiently can increase your fuel mileage. Just like your body, when it’s healthy, it can run farther. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to run a marathon. The same rule applies to your car’s engine!
Even replacing small things like your cabin air filter or spark plugs occasionally can increase your engine’s performance. The key thing to remember is that if your vehicle is working harder than it should be at anything, it’s also probably using more gas.
Follow Manufacturer Instructions For Oil Changes
The oil lubricates the engine for optimal performance. There’s a reason manufacturers instruct you to use a specific type of oil for their cars. It’s so that the engine runs more efficiently.
You should use the manufacturer’s recommended oil because they choose the type of oil based on how the engine performs.
Tighten Fuel Cap
When your fuel cap is loose, it allows oxygen to get into the tank. The presence of air in the tank lowers the air pressure and makes it harder for fuel to reach your engine.
When your gas cap clicks and seals your tank, it creates a vacuum, which allows for better fuel efficiency. Make sure that your fuel cap is completely tightened after you fill-up. If you suspect there might be an issue with it, such as a loose gasket or broken piece, you can easily replace them by ordering a new one from your car’s dealership.
Avoid Roof Racks and Storage Accessories
When you add any addition to your car, whether it be a cargo carrier, bike rack, or even those little antlers during Christmas, your car experiences more friction from the wind. Large items like roof racks can cause a significant drag on your vehicle, making it work harder to go the same speed. To avoid poor gas mileage, remove these items when not in use.
Improve Gas Mileage For Your Vehicle
If you’re tired of looking for ways on how to improve gas mileage, look no further. This guide should give you everything you need to know about keeping you on the road longer.
Not only do you save money by improving gas mileage, but your car is saved the wear and tear on low fuel efficiency.
Learn more tips and techniques from Drive Safe Online today! You can become a safer driver and save money on insurance by taking one of our defensive driving courses.
Patrick M. is Editorial Director for the always expanding DriveSafe Online library of courses. With over two decades of experience developing award-winning training, he now focuses on innovating online driver safety training. Pulling from his background in journalism, he steers the wheel behind the creation of top-tier content that promotes a better journey—whether on the digital highway of learning or the real roads we travel every day.