As a car owner, you know too well that filling up your car’s fuel tank is a necessary evil. After all, fuel is the lifeblood of your car. If your car guzzles more fuel than it should, then you’ve got to learn how to improve your gas mileage before nothing is left in your pocket.
Regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, you can do something to maximize your fuel consumption as well as to save on gas and money. The following is a list of ways on how to improve your gas mileage.
1. Maintain your vehicle regularly.
This is the golden rule for every car owner. One of the benefits of keeping your car well-maintained is an improved fuel economy, meaning your car is able to travel more miles using a certain amount of gas. Aside from that, regular maintenance ensures that your car performs well at all times. Vehicle maintenance entails the use of right grade of motor oil and the right octane gas as recommended in your owner’s manual.
Also, proper maintenance involves checking the different parts of your car that directly affect fuel economy. Inspect your car for a clogged fuel filter, oxideized spark plugs, electrical leaks on the ignition wires, proper inflation on your tires, and faulty cold air intake. These problems can definitely hurt your vehicle’s fuel mileage. Replace the defective auto components right away—this is how to improve your gas mileage dramatically.
Washing and waxing your car regularly leads to about 7% improvement in fuel efficiency. Why? Keeping your car clean improves its aerodynamics, and more aerodynamics means better fuel economy.
2. Don’t push the speed limit when driving.
Okay, driving aggressively is a virtue—only on the racetrack. If you’re just cruising on the city streets, then there’s no point in speeding too much at the expense of your car’s fuel economy. Every 5 mph (miles per hour) in excess of 65 mph you drive translates to a 7% cut in fuel economy. How to improve your gas mileage? Drive smoothly and steadily within the speed limit and avoid braking hard. Doing so not only boosts your fuel mileage, but also lessens the chance of damaging your brakes.
3. Refrain from idling excessively.
Even if your car is not running, it still consumes fuel if it’s idle. If you need to leave your car for a while, then it would be better if you turn the engine off and start your car again when you come back.
4. Plan your errands.
A great way to boost your fuel mileage is to plan and combine your errands ahead of time. That way, you travel less miles. A number of short trips here and there waste more fuel than a single, longer trip that drives the same distance.
5. Drive in the highest gear possible.
If you’re driving at a steady speed on the highway, you can improve your gas mileage by using the highest gear possible since it consumes less fuel than lower gears.
These five tips are just some of the ways on how to improve gas mileage, but they can make a big difference on your car’s fuel economy.
