With skyrocketing gas prices, you may be wondering how to save money by improving your car’s fuel economy. How you drive, what’s in your car, when you fill your tank, and your car’s maintenance all impact your gas mileage.
How You Drive
To get the best fuel economy, imagine you’re driving with a sleeping baby in the car. This means accelerating slowly and braking gently. Being rough on the pedals with rapid acceleration or hard braking tends to use more gas. When appropriate, using cruise control can help you maintain a constant speed and improve your gas efficiency.
In addition to going easy on the pedals, avoid speeding for better fuel economy. While every car is different, most cars lose efficiency with speeds over 50 miles per hour.
For better gas mileage, you’ll also want to avoid idling. Many drivers have a mistaken belief that turning on and off the engine uses more gas than idling. This might be true for vintage cars, but it’s not true for most cars on the road today. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, “idling for just 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting the engine.”
What’s In Your Car
More weight means more gas. This is especially true for smaller cars, which are more sensitive to extra weight. While it’s easy to want to put off unloading heavy cargo, if you’re looking for better gas efficiency, take any unnecessary items out of your vehicle. This might even mean removing unneeded seats if that’s an option in your car, van, or SUV.
When You Fill Up
For an easy fix to increase your gas mileage, fill your gas tank early in the morning or late at night. If you avoid the heat of midday, the gas will be denser. This means more fuel for your money!
Your Car’s Maintenance
Preventative maintenance makes a big difference in your car’s fuel economy. Underinflated tires waste gas, so it’s important to check your tire pressure. In addition to the tire pressure, you’ll also want to have the wheel alignment checked. If the alignment is off, the engine has to work harder. This takes more gas as the engine works to overcompensate. Finally, if you’re noticing a sharp drop in gas mileage, misfiring spark plugs could be the culprit. Faulty spark plugs lower fuel economy, so replacing spark plugs will help you get more miles per gallon.
Changing your driving habits, keeping extra weight out of your car, fueling up when it’s coolest outside, and keeping up with your car’s maintenance will all make a big difference in your car’s gas efficiency.