Increase fuel economy tips

Increase fuel economy tips That are simple and often overlooked. Sometimes people know about these things but put off doing something about it. First get rid of excess weight by removing unnecessary items from your vehicle. When car makers try to improve efficiency and performance they reduce weight wear ever possible and so should you.

Only carry essentials items in the trunk and consider removing those when possible. Less weight means better mileage. After a vacation or a trip make sure you remove all unnecessary items in your vehicle especially heavy ones. 100 extra pounds in the vehicle can reduce miles per gallon by up to 2%. I have a friend with a mini van that pulled out 2 rows of unused seating. He saved about 200lbs of dead weight.

Weight reduction can be realized by eliminating tools such as socket sets, jumper boxes, or other things you probably won't use anyway. Especially if the car is in good repair and you have a cell phone for back-up. If you really trust the Cell phone or have a Towing plan consider removing the spare tire and jack. Or just lug them on long trips?

Keep your engine operating at its peak efficiency. A well-maintained engine will help you maximize gas mileage. Incorrect fuel ratio, bad spark plugs, and incorrect spark timing can have a big effect on gas mileage.

Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended. If you have engine performance problems like rough idling poor acceleration and so on. Solve these problems as quickly as possible. Studies have shown that depending on the cars condition a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20%.

Fuel economy and engine oil

Always use good engine oil, preferably a synthetic or synthetic blend with a friction-reducing additive. These have been known to improve fuel efficiency by as much as 12%.

It has been established beyond any doubt that synthetic oil and its increased lubricating qualities will allow the engine to turnover with less resistance. Chevrolet is using this method on the new Silverado to decrease gas consumption and boost performance. Well lubricated engines don't have to work as hard so they produce more power while using less fuel. Don't get lazy and just dump the oil do the filter also.

The oil filter removes harmful dirt and grit from the engine, clean engines run smoother and easier. The cars air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter improves your fuel efficiency it will protect the engine as well. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in gas consumption due to air starvation and in proper air fuel mixture.

Increasing fuel economy

Under inflated tires cause more resistance to travel, and they force the engine to work harder. Most people know this but still don't do anything about it. Even cars with tire pressure monitors can still have inflation 5psi below maximum with out turning on the dash light.

Get the max air pressure in there by first letting the tires cool down before checking their pressure. Car manufacturers are required to place a label in the car stating the correct tire pressure. The label may be found on the edge of the door or doorjamb, in the glove box, or on the inside of the gas Compartment cover.

This is depending on the year make and model. If the label lists a PSI range use the higher number in order to maximize fuel efficiency. It's important to note that radial tires can be under inflated yet still looked normal, so check the tires with a gauge. Digital tire pressure gauges are the most accurate. An average tire loses about one psi of air per month and one psi for every 10° drop in temperature.

Changes in the ambient air temperature cause the tire pressure to fluctuate. This is why tire pressure should always be checked when the tires or cool, preferably in the morning before driving the car. Most mechanics recommend that you check your tires air pressure about once per month and before a long trip.

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