Would you like to spend less on gasoline than you do now? Silly question, right? Sure you would and we can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t. That being the case, there are so many things that you can do to increase your gas mileage that few drivers do. Take a look at the list we obtained from Kolosso Chrysler of Appleton, WI, a full-service Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram dealer. Incorporate these tips into your automotive life and you could easily cut your monthly gasoline bill by 20% or more.
Keep your tires inflated – More than one-quarter of vehicles on the road are driving on deflated tires. This really wastes gas. Here’s the official stat: An under-inflation of 7.5 pounds, which is very common, causes a loss of 5% in fuel efficiency.
Slow down – This is another major fuel saver: For every 5 mph you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%. This is especially true for vehicles that have large, frontal surfaces such as vans and trucks.Slow down and instantly get better gas mileage.
Check your air filter – Studies have found that nearly one quarter of the cars on the road needs an air filter replacement. Dirty air filters prevent air from flowing easily into an engine and can reduce a cars gas mileage by up to 10%.
Is your Check Engine Light (CEL) on – When your CEL light goes on, it is often because you need an O2 sensor. Unfortunately, this really trashes your gas mileage, sometimes up to 20-30%.
Check your tire alignment – Poor alignment not only causes tires to wear out more quickly, but also forces your engine to work harder. Align your car’s tires and save up to 10% in gas mileage.
Tighten your gas cap – Believe it or not, a loose gas cap can cost you money due to evaporation of gasoline from your tank. According to one report, this could rob you of 30 gallons of gas a year!
Use the lowest octane gas – Don’t use a higher octane gas than what your car requires. Higher octane gas is only required for higher compression engines. For most cars it simply isn’t necessary. Check your owner’s manual for the grade of gas that you should be using and stick with that.
Drive smoothly – This is an easy one. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and you will improve your fuel economy. In particular, feathering the gas pedal when you leave stop signs and lights can save you up to 10% in mileage.
Don’t idle – Besides causing air pollution, idling wastes gas. If stopped for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine, and, unless it is very cold out, don’t bother to “warm up” your car before driving.
Make one trip – It’s simply amazing how few drivers do this. It is possible to save a great deal of money by simply combining errands into a small number of trips. Try it and reap the savings!