Gas prices have been rising steadily over the past few years and everyone would like to save money on it. One of the best ways to save gas is to increase your car’s gas mileage. If you are looking for some easy ways to get better gas mileage in automatic cars or trucks, try the following methods that will also enable the car to last longer.
1. Keep the car well maintained
You need not make any major modifications to increase mpg. Oftentimes, simply maintaining the car regularly can also help. With regular maintenance, your car’s performance can be greatly enhanced which in turn can improve its mileage.
2. Keep tires inflated
Properly inflated tires are very important to reduce fuel consumption in automatic and manual cars. If the tires are not inflated, it can cause difficulty in the wheel’s rolling which will then need more energy to move. This increases the car’s fuel consumption. So keep the tires well inflated so as to improve fuel economy in petrol and diesel engines.
3. Keep the car light
If you are carrying unnecessary load or weight, then your car will consume more fuel. So remove the load that you do not need. For example, if you have a carrier, then you are unnecessarily carrying extra load if it is not being used. So remove all carriers, bicycle racks or ski racks when they are not needed. This is one of the most important modifications to increase mpg.
4. Drive smoothly
This is an easy way to increase gas mileage of petrol car. Avoid unnecessary braking or acceleration as each time you brake, you consume more fuel to accelerate. Stay within speed limits and avoid aggressive driving. On highways, use cruise control and in rush hour, avoid tailgating.
5. Improve car’s aerodynamics
A simple way to improve fuel economy in petrol or diesel engines is to improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics. You can easily do so by cleaning and washing the car regularly and also waxing it once in a while.
6. Avoid using air conditioning
In order to get better gas mileage in a truck or a car, avoid the use of ventilation. A car’s air conditioning uses up a lot of its fuel. You can open the windows and drive slower, if the weather permits. Do not open the windows and sunroof when you are driving too fast; this puts a drag or pressure on the vehicle causing more fuel consumption. In summers, use the flow through ventilation instead of air conditioning. On highways, keep the windows rolled up to reduce drag.
7. Avoid idling
Idling for over 10 seconds uses up more gas than shutting it off and restarting. Only start the vehicle once you are ready to go. In winters, warm up the engine for no more than a minute. Remember that the engine warms up quickly once the car is operating and stays warm longer even after stopping.
8. Keep the engine tuned
If your car is failing emission tests or is not maintained properly, chances are that you are not getting the most of it. You can get a 4% improvement in gas mileage simply by fixing an out of tune engine. Likewise, a faulty oxygen sensor could increase your gas mileage consumption by over 40%! If your air filter is clogged, get it replaced to improve acceleration and vehicle performance.
9. Use recommended grade motor oil
One of the essential ‘improve gas mileage products’ is your motor oil. There is a reason why your cars manufacturer recommends a particular brand. An energy conserving motor oil can reduce friction and improve gas mileage by 1-2% amounting to savings of $0.07$ per gallon. Also use the lowest octane gasoline recommended for your vehicle by the manufacturer.
10. Consolidate trips
Try to combine errands so that you can save tons of money on fuel. A little planning is all it takes-make to-do lists so that you can reduce the distance you travel. Try to stagger your work hours so as to avoid peak rush hour traffic. If your employer permits, work from home. Walk or cycle where possible. Use carpool and public transport to save fuel and reduce carbon footprint.
11. Buy and drive a fuel efficient vehicle
Whether you buy, lease or rent your vehicle- fuel efficiency should be your priority if you want better gas mileage. Do not buy a bigger vehicle than you need. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that is more fuel efficient.
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12. Use overdrive gears
These are needed when you drive on highways and are important ‘improve gas mileage’ products. The overdrive is another higher gear basically included for cruising on highways and increasing overall speed.
Use these tried and tested 12 easy ways to get better gas mileage from your car or truck.