The Best Ways To
Improve Your Car's Fuel Economy
Tip!
Now there are newer types of products formulated to not only improve
fuel economy, but also to improve engine life and performance, and
reduce polluting emissions.
By Paul Wallace
The best fuel economy is
possible if you take simple steps to change bad driving habits.
We are all guilty of some habits that
waste gasoline. Over a period of time even small improvements in
mpg can add up to significant fuel savings. What simple changes
can you make in your driving habits that will improve your fuel
economy and save money?
Tip!
Changing poor driving habits can also make significant improvement in
fuel economy.
A good starting point for improving gas
economy is to know how many miles per gallon (mpg) each car you own is
currently getting. The lower the mpg the more important it is to improve
gas efficiency.
To determine how much of an improvement
you have made, get in the habit of monitoring your miles per gallon
(mpg). This can be calculated simply by dividing the miles driven
between fill-ups by the gallons of gas purchased. Topping off each
fill-up and averaging over several fill-ups gives a more accurate
calculation.
There are two basic ways to improve
gas mileage;
1) Make sure the vehicle is performing
properly, and
2) Change your driving habits.
The mechanical condition of your
vehicle can contribute to poor mpg.
Have you been putting off needed
maintenance especially on older cars? Seriously consider the benefits
that may be gained by correcting problems you have been putting off. A
properly working car will always produce the best fuel economy.
Tip!
Regular maintenance is a very effective way to improve and keep up
your car's fuel economy. The simple reason is that a poorly maintained
car works harder; and a car that has to work harder will definitely
use up more fuel.
Dirty fuel injectors, dragging brakes,
inefficient or excessive use of the air conditioner, overheating, dirty
air and fuel filters, etc. can cause minor or major loss of fuel
efficiency.
Changing poor driving habits can also
make significant improvement in fuel economy.
Some very simple examples of ways to
save gas are:
1) Remove all excess weight from the
vehicle. There is no need to carry items that you may use occasionally.
2) Reduce the number of trips by
combining purposes.
3) Schedule trips to avoid traffic
delays.
4) Schedule trips when it's cool to
avoid turning on the air conditioner.
5) Turn off the engine when there will
be a delay of more than 30 seconds.
6) Avoid jack rabbit starts and
speeding.
Tip!
There are many ways you can significantly improve the fuel economy of
your vehicle. Managing your vehicle by minimizing operating costs on
gas as well as minimizing emissions is our goal.
7) Be more observant of driving
patterns.
Consider changing brands of gas. Most
gas today is basically the same except for additives. Some of the
additives in one brand may be better or worse for a particular car.
Always check mpg when you switch to a different brand.
It is wise to shop for low prices;
however, do a quick calculation on the cost of driving several miles to
save a few cents per gallon. It may actually be cheaper to pay the extra
cost than to burn the fuel to drive the extra miles.
If you know of a station with less
expensive gas that is only a few blocks out of your way, go for it. If
it is several miles away, it may cost more to drive to it than what you
save.
Being more aware of how our driving
habits affect our mpg will reduce some of the waste we are generating.
Making simple changes will result in gas savings.
One of the best methods I have found
for improving my car's fuel efficiency is to add a fuel reformulator.
There have always been gas additives
that were seldom used.
Now there are newer types of products
formulated to not only improve fuel economy, but also to improve
engine life and performance, and reduce polluting emissions.
Unlike with the old products, it is now
smart to add fuel reformulators.
To read additional articles, news and
information related to finding more methods, tips and ideas for
achieving your car's best fuel efficiency, visit
thebestfueleconomy.com. Paul Wallace looks for simple ways to improve
fuel economy. Learn one of best ways to reduce your gasoline bill and at
the same time significantly reduce pollution caused by auto emissions by
visiting his
fuel economy website. |
