Cars And More

These days, it seems like the oil companies are just out to rob us. Gas prices have inflated to beyond ridiculous, along with everything else, while our economy grinds to a slow, painful stop. Most people are just busy trying to figure out how to stay afloat, and want to learn how they can improve gas mileage to save money.

There are several methods that help to improve gas mileage, some of them that are very effective, and others that really don’t make too much of a difference. It can be a bit of a pain trying to sift through them all, so I have gone to the trouble of finding the most common methods people are using right now to improve gas mileage, so I could pass them on to you.

First off, change your engine oil frequently, and get a tuneup. Nearly everyone knows that if your car is running properly, it will expend less energy than if it is bogging down because of mechanical problems. Basic things like installing a new air filter, changing cracked hoses, and regular oil and oil filter changes using the right weight oil with friction reducers can all improve gas mileage.

Another method that works very well, is getting rid of any unnecessary weight your car may be carrying, and getting rid of extras like luggage racks that can create resistance, and decrease your MPG. Keeping your tires at maximum inflation can also help to decrease resistance, although it is said that the MPG gain is fairly small. Still, every little bit can help!

You can improve gas mileage by learning to curb your wild side, and drive at sedate speeds. Keeping your car at a steady 55 mph on the highway can up your gas mileage by as much as 25%. That means no drag racing when the “man” isn’t looking! You can also gain a whopping 14% in MPG just by using your cruise control.

Also, resist the impulse to drive like a maniac, like constantly slamming on your brakes or quickly accelerating. All that does is burn up valuable fuel and waste your dollars. The same goes for excessive idling. If you have a long wait at a drive through, or at the bank, shut your car down. Cutting back on unnecessary idling has been shown to improve gas mileage by as much as 19%. That is a pretty darn big savings if you think about it, just for remembering to do something simple like shut your car down instead of idling.

There are many simple ways to improve gas mileage, and not enough time to cover them all at once! But remember, if you implement even one of these methods you will save money.