It’s the one thing that most of us dread about owning a car. We can overlook paying the annual insurance premiums. We can deal with the minor repair bill every now and again (let’s face it; stuff breaks). But the weekly trip to the gas station, where the price changes by the day (and sometimes by the hour) can be like an emotional rollercoaster. Let’s look at 5 tips to improve your gas mileage and put some money back into your bank account.
TAKE IT EASY ON THE PEDAL. Tom Cruise put in best in the movie Top Gun; “I have the need, the need for speed.” But just because your car can go 0-60 mph in 5 seconds flat doesn’t mean you should. The power that it takes to get moving; plus, the increased drag and friction from wind resistance, increases your fuel consumption. The same can be said for anytime you speed up to make the yellow light at the intersection. You can save even more money and improve your gas efficiency by not slamming on the breaks (whether it’s coming up to an intersection or because you were following too close to the driver in front you). At the end of the day, anytime you brake, you are wasting all the energy you already built up (and that means the money you spent on gas).
ADHERE TO YOUR VEHICLES RECOMMENDED FUEL TYPE. You hear from professionals all the time (and maybe even a few close friends) that the only type of fuel that they use is the high octane or premium gas. But at the end of the day, follow your vehicles recommended fuel type. If your owner's manual says to use regular. Then by all means use regular! Your vehicle has been tested to ensure the best gas mileage with the proper octane gas. Enough said on this topic.
WATCH THE WEIGHT. This is an easy one. Imagine for a moment that you are carrying a 10-pound backpack. Easy enough right. You can move around with no problem. Now imagine carrying a 50-pound backpack. It starts getting harder. You’re straining a bit and probably sweating from the added exertion of the extra weight. The same is true for your car. The more added weight you have in your car from unnecessary items, the more gas your car will use. Simply remove all the unnecessary items from your vehicle (I mean really, do you need to have your bowling ball with you everywhere you go?)
REDUCE DRAG. This is another easy one to improve your gas mileage. And it involves roof racks, storage accessory items, and bike racks as the main culprits. Simply, if you aren’t using them that day, remove them! Your vehicle was tested for the maximum gas efficiency without them installed. It’s all about aerodynamics on this gas saving tip.
INFLATE THOSE TIRES TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE. One of the easiest ways to improve your gas mileage is to have your tires inflated to the correct pressure. But sadly, this is one of the most overlooked items on most people’s cars. Having low tire pressure increases the rolling resistance of your tires on the ground surface causing your engine to work harder, thus increasing fuel consumption. Incorrect tire pressure can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure of all four tires and improve fuel efficiency by up to 3.3% when the correct tire pressure is maintained.
Big City Cars is located at 4910 Lima Road. Or give us a call today at (260) 212-1111. We look forward to helping you get into a quality preowned vehicle that fits your lifestyle & budget.
