Gas prices are high and going higher. Those of us who were around in the 70's know the pain of high prices at the pumps. There is not a single driver among us who would not prefer to spend less of their hard-earned cash at the fuel pump. That is why people are becoming more and more aware of the many simple and cost effective ways that they can improve their fuel economy. However, what do you say to people who are already familiar with the basics? Fortunately, there are many little known ways that you can improve your gas mileage.
Just about everyone knows that if you want
to save gas, you need to drive slower.
After all, that is common sense.
Even though you can save a lot of gas by going slower on the highway,
many people are unwilling to do so, for instance. The trick is to find ways to increase gas
mileage without having to do things that you are not willing to do in the long
term. That is what these tips will help
you do.
First of all, stop neglecting the regular
maintenance that your car needs!
According to studies, a dirty air filter can cost you up to 20% of the
gas mileage you should be receiving. A
quick change of spark plugs can increase your fuel economy by over 10%! Also, many people are not aware that they can
increase their gas mileage simply by keeping their tires properly inflated!
Similarly, too many drivers are carting
around a vehicle full of unnecessary things that are robbing them of valuable
gas mileage. For every 250 pounds of
excess gear in your car, you can count on around one mile per gallon lost! Also, make sure that you take bike racks and
other items off of your vehicle when it is not the proper season. It may take a few minutes, but such items
produce extra wind resistance, which makes your vehicle work harder to
accelerate or maintain speed.
You can even save some money on gas while
you’re spending money- at the gas pump, that is. For example, when the auto shut off kicks in,
do not squeeze in a couple of extra cents to make the dollar amount even. This is one of the ways in which people waste
money, since most of that extra gas will not end up properly going in the
tank. Also, most drivers are unaware
that a loose gas cap can not only cause your “service engine” light to go on,
but can also result in lost gasoline, which escapes as vapor out of the tank!
Finally, make sure that you use your car’s
features to their maximum effect. You
can save a little money on gas by using your cruise control often, since your
engine will not be working to match the fluctuations in pressure that you are
putting on the gas pedal. Also, make
sure that you use the overdrive function when possible, since it allows your
engine to avoid overworking itself.
Driving and maintaining your vehicle in a
way that allows for increased fuel economy is mostly a matter of having the
proper knowledge, then putting that information to work. It is vital that you not only know the
methods for increasing gas mileage, but that you are consistent in their
implementation, unless you want to keep visiting the gas station regularly!
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