Increasing Gas Mileage

With the price of gas so high, your car’s gas mileage matters. And there are several things that factor into your car’s mileage including weight, type and size of the engine, how you drive, and aerodynamics. Here are some tips on how to increase your gas mileage no matter what car you own.

Don’t Be Aggressive

People who drive aggressively—meaning they speed, rapidly accelerate, and brake often and hard—will see a drastic difference in their gas mileage if they slow down and drive carefully. They could see as much as a 33% increase in gas mileage.

Remove the Junk from Your Trunk

The less your car weighs, the less gas it’ll use. Don’t drive around with bags of useless things in your trunk or on the floor. Any extra things you’re carrying around will reduce your gas mileage. If you pay attention to this, you also have the benefit of an uncluttered, clean vehicle.

If you want to take removing weight from your vehicle to the extreme, you can consider removing or replacing some things in your vehicle. Don’t go out of your way to replace parts, but anytime you need to have something replaced, see if you can find a lightweight version. This goes for everything including seats, carpet, glass, body panels, or even engine parts.

Wind Resistance

Much of your gas mileage is caused by the level of air resistance your car has. While removing luggage racks and other unneeded parts from the exterior of the car is going to help the most, simply cleaning and waxing your vehicle on a regular basis can actually help cut down the level of wind resistance. A clean, well-waxed vehicle won’t change your mileage very much but it could help a bit when combined with other gas-saving efforts. Plus, your car will look nice.

Regular Maintenance

A regularly maintained car will get better mileage. Things like air filter cleanliness, tire pressure levels, and alignment will really affect how often you need to fill up. Keep a calendar, and make sure to stick by it. You’ll pay less in the long run.

Performance Parts

If you’re really interested in increasing the number of miles you go before you fill up, consider upgrading certain key parts. Air filters and exhaust systems are two types of parts that can be altered to increase gas mileage. Before you replace any parts with aftermarket parts, check to make sure that you’re not in violation of your vehicle’s warranty. If your car is out of warranty, then go for it, just make sure you research thoroughly before you purchase.

If you have any questions about how to increase your vehicle’s gas mileage, talk with one of Hubler’s certified service technicians. They will be able to help you keep your car on the road longer between fill-ups.

Posted in Engine, Fuel Efficiency, Maintenance, Tires and tagged , , , .