| It seems like everyone is dealing with rising gas prices. If you are interested improving your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, follow these five easy steps:
Get rid of excess clutter Aside from the fact that driving a clean car can reduce stress, too much clutter in your vehicle can contribute to your car being weighed down. When this happens, your car’s fuel efficiency is negatively affected. As little as 100 pounds can cause your vehicle to not perform at its optimum level. To combat this, remove items such as backpacks, books, cargo boxes, bike racks, and roof racks. Limit Idling If you have a newer car, you might notice that it has built-in technology that allows it to gradually reduce its speed on its own. Some cars have capabilities that shut off the engine when the car comes to a complete stop. It restarts once the brake is released. Sitting idle in traffic actually uses up more fuel and gives off 80% more pollution than when your car is moving. The next time you come to a stop, or if you’re waiting for someone, consider shutting off your engine in order to save some fuel. Drive the speed limit More pressure applied to the gas pedal results in more gas being used. In other words, when you drive over the speed limit, your car’s fuel economy suffers immensely. And you’ll definitely have to make another visit to the gas pump sooner than you probably want to. So, whenever possible, use cruise control and certainly drive the speed limit if you want to improve your gas mileage. Check your tire pressure Underinflated tires can result in an increase of at least 3% when it comes to fuel consumption. Not to mention the fact that you are putting far more strain on your vehicle’s engine with underinflated tires. This is because it is taking more effort to drive the same speed as you would with tires with proper tire pressure. By making sure that your tires have the proper pressure, you are ensuring that they perform at their best and are protecting them from premature wear. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual can tell you the correct PSI for your tires. Perform regular maintenance Dirty air filters, spark plugs, and connections can all affect your car’s fuel economy. When you perform routine maintenance on your car, you are preserving the health and prolonging the life of your vehicle. Your vehicle will be far more efficient and will produce far less emissions. Make sure you are always replacing air filters, getting oil changes when necessary, and getting tire rotations when you need to. Your wallet will thank you for it.
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