- Vehicle Maintenance - A poorly tuned engine burns more fuel. Regular tune-ups and oil changes are important to keep your vehicle's performance at an optimum and clean oil will make your vehicle run more efficiently. Be sure to change your fuel filter and oil filter, too. Air filters are easy to replace and inexpensive, too. Make sure yours is in good condition. According to the US Department of Energy, replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent, while replacing an oxygen sensor could result in an improvement as high as 40 percent.
- Performance Products - Consider upgrading components in your vehicle. The K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit will give you a high-flow intake system, and a Header upgrade will give you a more free-flowing exhaust. If your vehicle doesn't have fuel injection, think about a new carburetor by Weber, Holley or Edelbrock. Consider using a hub conversion kit to make the front end freespool, which saves fuel.
- Tire Pressure - Check your tire pressure often and keep your tires properly inflated. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve gas mileage. If they are under-inflated, it can shorten the life of your tires, as well as reduce your mileage (up to 4 percent for every 5 pounds of under-inflation). Be carefule no to over-inflate your tires, either. You will get premature and eneven wear and have to replace them much sooner.
- Fuel Grades - Do not use highe octane fuel if your vehicle does not require it. Using it is an unnecessary expense. It has even been suggested that higer octane fuels burn more rapidly.
- Lighten Your Load - A few pounds of junk here and there in your vehicle add up and hurt gas mileage because heavier vehicles require more energy to move. Also, consider roof racks or trail racks. If your not using them, consider removing them until you need them. They not only add more weight, but also add aerodynamic drag. An extra 100 pounds can reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent. So, if your toting around things that you don't absolutely need, get them out of there and store them someplace else.
- Check your gas cap - Make sure you keep your gas cap on tight because gasoline evaporates at an alarming rate, especially duing the hot summer months. If you're not careful, you could be losing gas without even driving.
- Avoid Long Idles - Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine. So, the next time you're sitting in a traffic jam, wating at a drive-thru window, or expecting any kind of lengthy wait more than a minute or so, turn off the engine to safe fuel.
- Easy On The Gas - Every one is in a hurry these days, but traveling at 65 mps instead of 55 mph can use up to 17 percent more fuel due to the increase in wind resistance. Think of it this way... Each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon. Also, avoid jack rabbit starts and sudden stops. Use cruise control when you can, but only when you're traveling on mostly flat terrain. Driving at a steady speed can help save fuel.
- Stay Aerodynamic - Items such as roof racks, antenna art, and open windows or sunroofs will increase your vehicle's drag and burn more fuel when traveling at higher speeds. A common misconception is that you can open your tailgate to reduce drag, but the bed of a truck is actually designed to create an air bubble while driving so that air glides over it as though it were part of your truck. Lowering the tailgate removes that air bubble. Tonneau covers are even better than the aerodynamic air bubble. You may not believe it, but a clean vehicle is more areodynamic than a dirty one, so keep it clean!
- Easy on the A/C - Running electrical components, such as the air conditioner, will burn more fuel. Limted, informal tests by the EPA have shown a fuel economy reduction of roughly 5 to 25 percent for operating te air conditioner on max compared to not using the air conditioner at all. But, when traveling at high speeds, the air conditioner is better than an open window. When traveling more slowly, such as in town, it would be best to roll down the windows.
Other things that increase fuel consumption:
- Towing
- Driving in a lower gear
- Using 4WD
- Driving on hilly or mountainous terrain, or on rough, unpaved roads
- Frequent short trips
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