With the price of gas continually rising, many people are becoming more concerned about getting better gas mileage from their car. There are several things that you can do to improve it.
First, the best thing is to make sure that your car is in top running condition. Keep your engine tuned and keep the spark plugs clean. Keeping a well-maintained car helps the engine to run more efficiently. Make sure you change your air filter regularly. Use a lighter (synthetic) oil. Over-inflating your tires slightly will also help.
Run your errands all at one time. Many short trips from a cold start uses twice as much fuel as does one trip to cover the same miles. If you need to wait in the car for a while, turn the engine off. Don’t idle your car for long periods of time.
This next option is one that many people do not think about. That is lose weight! The heavier the load that the car has to carry, the more gasoline it needs to run the engine. If you or your family members are significantly overweight, this puts extra demand on your car. By losing weight and getting down to a normal body size you can see a significant increase in your mileage. Plus, you’ll be healthier and feel better. A double bonus!
And speaking of weight, don’t carry sports equipment (like golf clubs) around in your car all of the time. This adds to the weight of your car. Only put them in the car for when you will be using the items.
When you have come to a complete stop, do not gun your car to get going again. Having extreme acceleration puts an increased demand of fuel on your engine so you will use more of it. You will increase the fuel efficiency if you slowly accelerate your care.
Make sure that you keep within the speed limit. The faster you go, the more gasoline that your engine requires. (Out of all of these suggestions, this may be the hardest tip to follow!)