11 Things You Can Do to Improve Gas Mileage
Knowing how to improve gas mileage has several advantages, the most obvious being that you spend less at the gas pump. Improved gas mileage also means your vehicle has a lower impact on the environment and indicates that your vehicle is operating efficiently. Here’s how to get better gas mileage.
Get a Tune-Up
If your Check Engine Light is on, the cause may impact your fuel economy. A quick tune-up at your local Grease Monkey® service center will reveal the reason behind the warning light’s illumination. Problems with your fuel injector, oxygen sensors, clutch, and air conditioning can all result in poor gas mileage.
Replace Spark Plugs Early
Worn spark plugs result in engine misfires, rough idling, a loss of acceleration, and reduced mileage. Dropping by your local Grease Monkey for new spark plugs can significantly improve gas mileage.
Check Your Tire Pressure
The U.S. Office for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reports you can improve gas mileage by up to 3% by keeping your tire pressure at a proper level. Grease Monkey checks and sets your tire pressure with every full-service oil change.
Keep Your Tires Aligned
Improperly aligned tires make steering difficult and require more work from your engine, resulting in reduced mileage. Grease Monkey tire services include rotating and aligning tires to user manual recommendations, improving gas mileage and extending tire life.
Watch Your Speed
This one may be obvious, but the faster you drive, the more fuel you consume. Fuel economy for most cars drops quickly at 50 mph or more: the DoE reports every “5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.23 per gallon for gas.”
Keep at Least a Half-Tank of Gas
Do you get better gas mileage with a full tank of gas? The answer is yes, up to a point. A full tank means you have less air in the gas tank, so fuel does not evaporate as fast. Gasoline also helps keep your fuel pump cool and lubricated. At low fuel levels, the fuel pump has to work harder, which can result in the pump overheating and reducing fuel efficiency.
Of course, it’s not possible to always have a full tank of gas, but if you can keep your gas tank at least half full, your fuel pump will still operate efficiently, resulting in better mileage.
Try a Fuel Additive
Sediment and dirt accumulate in your gas tank over time and can clog your fuel injectors. Consider a fuel additive to clean these deposits, improving your gas mileage. You can schedule regular fuel and emission system cleanings at participating Grease Monkey locations.
Avoid the Stop-and-Go
Stop-and-go driving burns more gas than consistent movement, so your fuel economy on a highway is usually better than driving in town. You can’t avoid a certain amount of stop-and-go driving, but you can improve your fuel efficiency slightly by shutting off your engine if you’re stuck in a traffic jam. Trying to avoid being on the road during peak rush hours can also reduce your time spent in stop-and-go situations.
Watch Your RPMs
Your car’s tachometer displays the number of revolutions your engine goes through per minute. If you’re trying to improve gas mileage, try keeping RPMs below 3,000, as this burns less fuel than higher RPMs. If your car has an eco-mode, use it to prevent the engine from reaching high RPMs.
Try Cruise Control
Cruise control allows you to maintain a steady speed on highways. Maintaining a consistent speed reduces the fuel consumed by frequent acceleration and deceleration.
How to Calculate Mileage
Knowing how to calculate gas mileage helps you evaluate the results of your efforts to improve fuel economy. To calculate gas mileage, record the miles on your odometer when you fill up. When you need to fuel up again, subtract the recorded number from the odometer’s new number to find the number of miles traveled. Divide miles traveled by the gallons of gas you used to fuel up, and you’ll have your miles per gallon.
At Grease Monkey, we understand how important a well-maintained engine is for fuel economy. Drop by one of our Grease Monkey service centers for your next full-service oil change, tune-up, or wheel alignment, and we’ll help you get the most out of your trips to the gas pump!
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