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The following are Fuel Saving Tips and their respective impact on gas mileage provided by the Car Care Council, a non-profit consumer education organization.
Under inflated tires increase rolling resistance - 0.6 mpg
Dirty air filter causes excessively rich fuel/air mixture - 2.0 mpg
Worn spark plugs cause in-efficient combustion, wasted fuel - 2.0 mpg
Worn O2 (oxygen) sensor, unable to compensate for malfunctions - 3.0 mpg
Dirty or substandard engine oil increases engine friction - 0.4 mpg
Loose gas cap allows fuel to evaporate - 2.0 mpg
Potential loss in fuel economy if all of the above are neglected - 10 mpg.
Yes, that is 10 miles lost for each gallon.
All of the items above are common maintenance items that are often overlooked. These can really increase your fuel expense on longer trips as well as in your regular daily driving. Some other things to consider according to the Car Care Council are your driving habits.
Don’t be an aggressive driver -
Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage as much as 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets which results in 7 to 49 cents per gallon.
Avoid excessive idling - Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
Observe the speed limit - Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 results in an additional 10 cents per gallon. Cruise control is recommended to maintain a constant speed on the highway.
Combine errands - This saves gas and time. Several short trips taken from a cold start can cause twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip covering the same distance.
Avoid carrying unnecessary heavy items - An extra 100 pounds can cut fuel efficiency by a percent or two.
Some services that are helpful in making sure your vehicle is operating at peak efficiency are:
Motorvac Carbon Clean Service - Millions of vehicles today run at significantly reduced efficiency due to the high concentration of carbon deposits accumulated in the fuel injection system , intake valves, combustion chambers, oxygen sensor and catalytic converter. This service which is recommended every 30,000 miles benefits your vehicle in the following ways:
Repairs drivability problems (hesitations, hard starts, rough idling or lack of power)
Restores “new car” performance
Reduces harmful emissions and smoke Opacity (black smoke)
Extends the fuel system components life
Restores Fuel economy
Alignment inspection - Having your alignment checked in addition to making sure your tires are properly inflated will reduce friction drag which increases rolling resistance and contributes to poor fuel economy. We recommend having your alignment checked annually. |
