12 Tips to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage

Use these 12 tips to improve your car’s gas mileage.

When you head to the gas station, do you groan a little bit to yourself? Wondering how much it’s going to cost you? Here are a few different ways you can improve your car’s gas mileage with these easy to remember tips!

1. Observe the speed limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is paying for an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.

2. Take a load off!

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lb in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. Removing excess weight could save you up to $.08 per gallon.

3. No Idling Allowed

Avoid excessive idling which gets 0 MPG. Also use cruise control and overdrive gears to control your speed and better maintain your engine.

4. Check and replace air filters regularly

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing clogged air filters improves your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Your car’s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

5. Keep tires properly inflated

This can improve fuel economy by up to one mile per gallon. Depending on the size of your fuel tank that could mean an extra 20 miles per fill up! Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.

6. Get regular oil changes

Many vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles. If you follow these recommendations, your vehicle is likely to perform more efficiently and reliably.

7. Check Your Spark Plugs

Get your spark plugs and wires checked regularly. According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, old, dirty and worn spark plugs are prone to misfire reducing fuel efficiency as much as 30%.

8. Don’t Top Off

Don’t bother topping off when filling your car’s gas tank. The additional gas has the potential to leak out if overfilled.

9.Combine Running Errands

Plan ahead and combine trips before getting in your car. Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.

10. Don’t Pay for Gas You Don’t Need

Don’t pay more for premium grade gasoline if you vehicle does not require it. The more expensive gas will cost you more money without boosting performance or fuel economy.

11. Tighten Your Gas Cap

According to allfastcars.com, 147 million gallons of gasoline evaporate each year because fuel caps are damaged, loose or missing. So when you are finished fueling, be sure to tighten the cap.

12. Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than just your gas money.