Your driving style has a significant impact on the mileage of your car. If you are an aggressive driver, you have to spend considerable money on gas consumption every month. On the other hand, if you consistently maintain speed and drive efficiently, it can help keep a steady fuel expense.
Improving gas mileage not only saves money but also benefits the environment by releasing lesser emissions into the air. That being said, we have come up with ten effective ways to improve gas mileage to save some dollars you spend on fuel. So, let’s get started.
Check and Maintain Tire Pressure
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, underinflated tires increase fuel consumption and can increase the risk of a sudden blowout.
The most crucial component of tire safety, according to safety experts, is maintaining adequate tire pressure (check inside the vehicle’s door or in the owner’s handbook). It is mainly a problem during the hot summer months when the extra heat can cause blowouts and tread separations.
The fuel economy drops by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) below the acceptable tire pressure. Because this is a per-tire estimate, the aggregate loss might be significant if all four tires are underinflated.
Make Small Adjustments in the Hot Weather to Improve Fuel Economy
When it is hot outside, drivers normally use the air conditioning system to make themselves and other occupants feel comfortable. It understandably increases the fuel consumption, however, this can be managed effectively with a proactive approach. Drivers should try to drive with windows rolled down if the intensity of heat is not massive.
Some experts believe that it does not have any effect on improving the fuel economy, but most experts believe it does impact the fuel economy positively. On the other hand, managing trips intelligently and avoiding travel during the afternoon can also help keep the fuel expense in check.
These small adjustments can make a huge difference in terms of improving the fuel economy of your vehicle.
Avoid Driving in Peak Hours
Idling automobiles due to driving in heavy traffic can increase fuel consumption. Some newer, higher-end vehicles handle this issue by automatically turning off the engine when the vehicle stops and restarting it when the gas pedal is touched. However, this functionality is not available in older cars.
Such car owners should ideally avoid driving peak hours or take alternative routes with lesser traffic. Taking the help of Google Maps can be ideal in such a situation as Google Maps identify the routes with relatively lesser traffic volume.
Go Easy on the Pedal
Speeding, stopping, and quick acceleration can increase fuel consumption. Such an aggressive driving behavior can have a negative impact on fuel economy and can also lead to premature wear in vital mechanical parts.
According to the current national average of $3.09 per gallon (for regular gasoline), driving with a light foot can save you anywhere from 31 cents to $1.24 per gallon. Therefore, you need to get used to driving smartly so that your fuel expense does not lead to a constant financial burden.
Turn off the Engine When Not in Use
The US Department of Energy suggests that idling achieves zero miles per gallon and burns several billion gallons of fuel every year. According to the California Energy Commission, an idling vehicle can consume up to one gallon of petrol per hour. Hence, cars must be turned off if the projected wait time is longer than 10 seconds.
Turning off the automobile saves around 3 cents every minute. Whether you are picking someone up or at the gas station, make sure to turn the vehicle off to reduce gas mileage. By doing this, you will notice a significant improvement in fuel consumption.
Check the Alignment of Tires
Misaligned tires drag easily instead of rolling. Due to improper alignment, fuel efficiency can be reduced by up to 10% or around 31 cents per gallon. Furthermore, the tires may wear out faster. Tires that are out of balance (Indication: steering wheel vibration) can cause uneven tire wear, resulting in reduced gas mileage.
To optimize tire performance and fuel economy, tires should be balanced and rotated according to the car owner’s manual instructions. It is best to often check the alignment to avoid any waste and to improve gas mileage.
Obey the Speed Limits
Speeding can lead to fatal road accidents, but violating the speed limit on a road can also result in traffic penalties. Apart from these serious consequences, driving fast can also cause excessive fuel consumption, thus reducing the fuel economy of a vehicle. It is important for drivers to drive within speed limits as it can help maintain fuel efficiency.
Eliminate All the Junk
Not only does the added weight reduce your fuel economy, but it also throws off the car’s balance. You may not give it much thought, but it will become more critical if you do not slow down much for turns.
Having additional luggage in a vehicle puts a massive strain on the engine, and consequently, it churns more power, resulting in reduced fuel economy. Try to get your vehicle extensively cleaned before any long road trip and get all the junk out.
Change Oil
Old, sludgy, and worn-out motor oil will reduce the gas mileage. It can be avoided by changing your vehicle’s oil as per the manufacturer’s suggested intervals and using the carmaker’s recommended grade of oil, which can enhance mileage by up to 2%.
(Just make sure you are not squandering money by changing oil more frequently than necessary.) Switching to synthetic motor oil can also help you get more miles out of your car. Synthetic oils are usually more expensive, but they last longer.
Buy a Fuel-Efficient Car
Buying a vehicle is a huge and considerable investment, so everybody double-checks everything. But do you check the average gas mileage of a vehicle when purchasing it? This might sound the most obvious point, yet it is still worth mentioning.
Consider the fuel efficiency of a vehicle when buying a new one. A few extra miles per gallon can make a major difference depending on daily driving habits and weather. Small and light automobiles are frequently the most efficient.
However, there are also efficient hybrid and pure electric vehicles available in the market. While hybrids minimize the dependency on conventional fuel, electric vehicles completely eliminate the need for it.
Conclusion
Improving the way we drive is actually the most effective approach to reduce fuel consumption. In addition to this, regular vehicle maintenance can also help keep the engine and other mechanical parts in pristine condition, which can help improve the fuel economy of a vehicle significantly.
With a smart driving approach and by following all the above-mentioned practices, the gas mileage average of a vehicle can be substantially improved.
You might also like:
