Great Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage & Save Gas
The Halo Spark Plug can significantly increase your gas mileage and help you save money on your fuel bill, however, our automotive experts at LSG BRISK have some great tips to help you further increase your gas mileage and save even more money at the gas pump:
- Drive within the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph reduces your fuel economy by 7% and is like paying and additional $0.20 per gallon of gas.
- Stop aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking waste gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and by 5% in the city. You can improve your gas mileage by anticipating traffic conditions and driving smoothly. Around town, accelerate slowly after every stop sign and stop light. On the highway, go easy on the accelerator and try to maintain a constant speed.
- Warm up your car by driving it, not idling. Once your vehicle is running, the best way to warm it up is to drive it. With modern, computer-controlled engines you only need to warm it up for 30 seconds before driving away. Any more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions. Just make sure to drive it gently for the first few minutes until the car reaches its peak operating temperature.
- Avoid stop and go traffic by using alternative routes or traveling during less congested times.
- Don't try to increase your speed when you're climbing up a hill. This will cause your gas mileage to drop drastically. Just maintain a nice constant speed.
- Use overdrive and cruise control when appropriate. Overdrive saves gas and reduces engine wear by reducing the engine’s speed. Cruise control maintains a constant driving speed and also helps to save gas.
- Avoid idling whenever possible. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Idling for longer than 30 seconds uses more fuel than starting up your engine. If you have to wait longer than a minute, shut the engine off.
- Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
- If possible, take advantage of carpooling and ride-sharing programs. This can help cut your fuel costs in half and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.
- Fill up your car in the morning when it's cooler and the gasoline at the station is denser. Since gas pumps measure volumes of gas and not densities, you'll get more fuel for your money.
- Use the fuel octane level recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. Most vehicles on the road use regular gas. Typically, using a higher octane gas offers no benefits. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.
- Tighten your gas cap. According to the Car Care Council, each year 147 million gallons of gas evaporates into the air due to loose, missing or damaged gas caps. So make sure to tighten your gas cap after filling up your tank and replace any missing or damaged caps.
- Don’t use the air conditioner (A/C) unless you really need it. The compressor puts a big strain on the engine and lowers your fuel economy.
- Check your tire pressure regularly (at least once a month). You can improve your gas mileage by around 3% by keeping your tires properly inflated. In addition, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
- Keep your engine tuned. Keeping your engine tuned according to the owner’s manual can help increase your gas mileage by an average of 4% percent depending on the condition of the vehicle.
- One of the easiest ways to increase your gas mileage is to check and replace air filters regularly. When the air filter becomes clogged, the engine has to work harder and your gas mileage drops. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your gas mileage by as much as 10%.
- Use the type of motor oil recommended by your car's manufacturer. Using the wrong oil can reduce your gas mileage by up to 2%. Also, look for oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the label. This type of oil contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
- If you live in an area with freezing winter temperatures, using an engine block heater during the winter can improve fuel mileage by up to 10%. Use an automatic timer to turn on the block heater two hours before you plan to start your vehicle.
- Remove excess weight from the trunk or cab. An extra 100 pounds can reduce your fuel economy by about 2%.
- Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier crate creates wind resistance that can reduce your fuel economy by up to 5%.
- Make sure that your oxygen sensor (O2 sensor) is working properly. Many vehicles have a light that comes on when the O2 sensor needs servicing or replacement. A faulty O2 sensor can dramatically reduce your gas mileage. If your fuel economy suddenly drops, this may be the reason.