Gas Mileage (Improving)

Published: 09/08/2011 by Chris Shuler

Some of the things you can do are:

o The obvious: Remove excess weight from your vehicle, keep tires properly inflated, drive more efficiently, use cruise control and overdrive gears, car pool and choose a more efficient vehicle if you can.

o Avoid excess idling. When sitting still, your vehicle is getting 0 miles per gallon. If you will be parked for more than 3 minutes, turn your engine off.

o Check gas cap. If the cap is loose, damaged, or missing, it can cause gas to vaporize and force you to fill up sooner than usual.

o Do NOT fill up if you see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station's underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs.

o Buy gas at reputable service stations. Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filters regularly. If you get a song and dance, find another gas station. Some stations don't have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline. Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly -- or worse, water down their product. Find a station you trust and stick to it.

Ask your mechanic to inspect, clean and/or replace the following items:

o Motor oil. Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil (2% improvement).

o Spark plugs. dirty or worn spark plugs can cause engine misfires, increased emissions and elevated fuel intake.

o Oxygen sensors. Replace a faulty sensor (up to 40% improvement). This sensor monitors the air-to-fuel ratio.

o Air filters. Replace your clogged air filter (6% improvement).