Car Care Tips – Improving Gas Mileage
You don’t have to park your car to save on fuel costs. Attention to detail and modest changes to your driving habits can reap significant
savings.
When the cost of a gallon of gasoline topped $4.00, many drivers began to seek alternatives. For some, trading the low mileage vehicle for a new
high mileage vehicle seemed like a logical choice. Assuming you drive 15k miles/year. Trade your perfectly good 15 mpg vehicle and buy one that gets
30 mpg. In a year you will save 500 gallons of fuel, or $2000 @ $4.00/gallon. If the cost new car is $20,000, it will take 10 years of driving to
break even. Not a choice for everyone.
Consider this option. Keep your existing, paid for, cheap to insure vehicle and make some simple no and low cost changes:
Correct tire pressures
will definitely help mileage when compared to tires that are under inflated. (This is true without regard to political
allegiance). Consult the small print on the tire sidewall. It will list the maximum pressure allowed for that tire. On many newer tires that
pressure might be as high as 44 psi or more. Check your owners manual or ask your service professional for specific recommendations. Proper
balancing and alignment will allow the car to roll with less resistance as well as prolong tire life.
Normal maintenance
can help maximize fuel economy. An engine with a clean air filter will breath easier. As engine oil ages it can thicken with
contaminants; internal engine parts will not slide as freely, requiring more fuel to keep moving. Every time a spark plug misfires, some efficiency
is lost. Anything that increases resistance to rolling, from a binding brake component to a worn wheel bearing will have a detrimental effect on
fuel mileage. An engine that doesn’t reach normal operating temperature due to a thermostat that is stuck will definitely burn more fuel.
Following the recommended service schedule for your model will not only save gas, but will extend the life of your car and identify developing
problems before they become more expensive or even dangerous.
Warning lights are not for decoration; they come on for a reason. That pesky “check engine” or “service engine soon” light indicates a
malfunction that left alone may not sideline the car, but will certainly impact fuel use. Other warning lights may come on to indicate an impending
failure. This applies to gauges too. If the temperature gauge says the engine is overheating don’t keep driving-pull over and consult your owners
manual or call a shop for advice. All that money you saved on gasoline will not come close to paying for a damaged engine.
Modifying certain driving habits can also have a significant impact on fuel mileage. Before you even start the engine, know where you’re going.
If you can combine errands on each outing, you will save fuel and time. Map out your route to avoid left turns (thanks UPS for that tip) and try to
go when traffic is light.
Once you start the engine - get moving. Unless your engine has a turbo-charger, there is no advantage in allowing the engine to “warm up”. As soon
as the instrument panel warning lights have extinguished, the engine is ready to go. The engine is most efficient after it has reached normal
operating temperature, and it will get there faster under load. (if you have a turbo model or the outside temperature is below freezing, allow a
minute or two of idling after a cold start).
When accelerating, be gentle. Drive as if the ¾ cup of coffee in your cup holder doesn’t have a lid and you don’t want to slosh it. The same goes
for cornering and braking. Use the momentum of the car (generated by the fuel you’ve already burned) to get the car down the road. If you have to
brake hard, you are squandering some of that already paid for energy.
-> please note-the coffee bit is a metaphor-if you slosh hot coffee in your lap go sue someone else! Ditto the hard braking-any fuel saving strategy
you utilize must be undertaken with common sense. If the dump truck in front of you stops short, you probably should make the effort to miss it!
Use the Cruise. Utilize your cruise control whenever conditions are safe. On most cars it will adjust the throttle with more
smoothness and precision than the average right foot; it isn’t prone to pulsing with the music or creeping faster to keep up with the car in the
next lane.
Drive a bit slower. The energy needed to keep a car moving increases exponentially with the increase in speed.
You will notice there was no discussion of the various “miracle” gizmos or additives appearing on the market. The simple reason is that they
don’t work. They are marketed to that gullible segment of the populace that wants to believe in something for nothing.
Attention to detail and a systematic approach will result in measurable improvements.
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