Improving Fuel Economy
Speed Limit
The price of gas has a lot of people looking for ways to increase their auto fuel economy. One way to increase fuel economy is to drive at the speed limit. Driving at speeds above 60 mph will decrease your fuel economy, and you’ll have to spend more money on gas. Driving too slow does not save fuel either, so it’s best to stay at the appropriate speed limit.
Using cruise control can help you maintain a consistent speed. It’s suggested not to use cruise control when you’re driving in a mountainous area. Your vehicle will use extra gas downshifting to lower gears, so it can maintain the speed you’ve set. A convenient way to know how much gas you’re using is to install a fuel consumption gauge. This is one of the devices that improves fuel economy because it measures the efficiency of the engine at any given speed. It will immediately give a reading on the amount of fuel you’re using.
Air Filters And Fuel System
You’ll get more auto fuel economy if you keep your air filter unclogged. A clogged or dirty air filter restricts flow of air into the engine. This can slow acceleration by more then 10%. Clean air filters will also protect your engine form damage because the engine won’t have to work as hard. Changing the air filter too often can lessen the amount of time engines benefit from filters, and they won’t function at the highest efficiency. You should change your air filter every 15,000 miles or once a year. If you live in an extremely dirty area, then change it more often.
The entire fuel system needs to be kept clean to get the best fuel economy for your vehicle. Fuel injectors especially need to be kept clean, so the engine performs at its best. Dirty injectors will affect fuel economy and emissions. The right amount of fuel that is needed by the engine won’t be able to be pumped. You should notice a difference in fuel economy and performance after fuel injectors are cleaned and unclogged. GUMOUT is a concentrated fuel system cleaner. It cleans the tank, fuel injectors/carburetors, intake valves, and ports.
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Excess Weight And Tire Pressure
You can increase fuel economy by keeping excess weight off your vehicle. Your engine will have to work harder if your car is too heavy and you’ll use more gas. Take everything you don’t need out of the trunk and the inside of the vehicle. This includes extra tires, tools, golf clubs, and skis. Mileage can be reduced up to 2% from an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle. Remove the roof rack unless you absolutely need it. Without any excess items in you car, you will have more miles per gallon of gas. Emergency supplies should always be kept in your vehicle. Smaller vehicles are affected more from excess weight than larger vehicles.
Another way to get the best fuel economy for your vehicle is to follow what the manufacturer recommends for tire pressure. Driving with under inflated tires can reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage and fuel efficiency by up to 2% according to the AAA. Under inflated tires waste over 5 million gallons per year just in the U.S. This statistic is found at www.TirePressureMonitor.com. PressurePro tire pressure monitoring system is another one of the devices that improves fuel economy. It alerts low pressure and gives the location of the problem tire. You can order the PressurePro from the website mentioned above
Engine Running And Braking
New engine management systems don’t require you to warm them up for more then 30 seconds even if the weather is extremely cold. Most engines are now made to run efficiently with the lowest emissions when warmed up. They reach operating temperature sooner. Sudden or severe acceleration should be avoided while an engine is cold. One particular vehicle that shouldn’t be warmed up before you start driving is the hybrid. Letting this vehicle idle will cause the high voltage battery pack to lose some power. Warming up your car means you’ll be using fuel, but not going anywhere. This isn’t a good thing to do if you want to increase fuel economy.
Don’t push the accelerator or brake too hard or you will use more gas. Accelerate slowly if you want to improve gas mileage. Try to do everything you can to avoid using your brakes for the best auto fuel economy. Gradually brake when you’re going toward a red light and coast whenever you can. Always take a long view of the road and brake easily. Tests have shown that braking easily and not mashing the gas when you start up will help your fuel economy. Try to remember the more you push the brake, the more money you’ll have to spend for gas.
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