With gas prices continuing to rise, “filling the tank” takes on a new and more ominous meaning. Looking for ways to save? These tips can help you get better gas mileage, which means you’ll be able to fill up less often.
1. Proper Tire Pressure – It’s a simple thing to do, but unfortunately most car owners don’t check the air pressure in their tires to make sure they’re properly inflated. In fact, more than 25% of vehicles are being driven on under-inflated tires. An average under-inflation of 7.5 lbs. causes a lost of 2.8% in fuel efficiency. Additionally, under-inflated tires don’t wear properly so you’ll have to replace them more often. Tire pressure gauges are an inexpensive investment when you consider the savings at the pump and in tire purchases.
2. Check the Octane – Before you go to the pump to re-fill, check the owner’s manual to identify the correct octane level for your vehicle’s engine. Around 20% of drivers are purchasing premium fuel, but less than 5% of vehicles have engines that require the higher octane fuel.
3. Slow Down – With the fast pace of New Jersey driving, it’s not easy to slow down, but if you do, you’ll get better gas mileage. For every 5 mph you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%. And better gas mileage is maintained by driving more smoothly. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and stops. When you can, use the cruise control.
4. Avoid Idling – If you expect to be stopped in your car for an extended amount of time, you should turn off the engine. Also, you don’t need to “warm up” your car in the winter before driving. Besides causing added pollution, excessive idling wastes gas.
5. Replace Your Air Filter – Nearly one in four cars needs an air filter replacement. A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.
6. Wheel Alignment – You may not be aware, but poor alignment forces your car’s engine to work harder. Not only that, but it causes the tires to wear out more quickly.
7. Check the Gas Cap – Yes, a broken or missing gas cap wastes fuel as vapors are released into the air. Nearly 17% of vehicles on the road have either a broken or a missing gas cap.
8. Get Rid of the Junk in the Trunk – As extra weight is added to your vehicle, gas mileage decreases. If you don’t need to carry something in your vehicle for daily use, removing those items will make your vehicle more fuel efficient.
9. Tune-Up and Regular Maintenance – When was the last time you had your vehicle tuned-up? Regular maintenance and tune-ups will help improve gas consumption and they will also keep your vehicle safer and on the road longer. If you don’t know when a specific service interval is required for your vehicle, ask us.