How to Increase Fuel Mileage on a Car
Set the car tires to the proper inflation., Tune up the engine., Check the condition of your engine air filter., Replace the fuel filter according to the car manufacturer's recommended schedule., Lighten your load., Select the narrowest possible...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Set the car tires to the proper inflation.
Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%.
Your tires also lose about 1 PSI per month, and when the tires are cold (e.g., in the winter), their pressure will decrease due to the thermal contraction of the air.
It is recommended to check tires at least monthly, preferably weekly.
Having properly inflated tires will also help you avoid uneven wear on the tread.
Some fuel stations have automatic air compressors that stop at a predetermined level. (For safety, double-check pressure with your own gauge, especially if another is suggesting you add a surprisingly large amount of air.) Small permanently-installed valve-stem extensions can allow filling without removing the caps, but check that they are not prone to jamming with foreign matter and leaking.
Recommended inflation pressures are for cold tires; it is best to inflate first thing in the morning or you've driven less than two miles so your reading will be accurate.
If you have been driving around for a while or it is hot outside, add 3 PSI.
Inflate to the pressure recommended by your car's manual or the sticker on your driver-side doorpost.
Be aware that the reading stamped on the tire is the maximum tire pressure, not the recommended. -
Step 2: Tune up the engine.
A properly tuned engine maximizes power and can greatly enhance fuel efficiency.
Beware, though, that many tuners will disable efficiency measures when tuning for power.
Be sure you are keeping good spark plugs in the engine, changing the oil on time, making sure the air filter is clean, etc. , A dirty filter will reduce fuel economy, or make the engine stall when idling.
Just like mowing dusty grass, driving dusty dirt roads will clog the air filter: avoid dust clouds. , This will go a long way to enhancing fuel efficiency. , Get the lightest car that will serve your needs.
Weight is one of the biggest causes for loss of kinetic energy in non-hybrid cars.
If you're not shopping for cars, then take any extra weight off of the one you're already driving.
If seats that you don't use can be removed, take them out.
If you use your trunk as a storage space for heavy things, find another place for them.
An extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 1–2%. (Weight is most important in stop-and-go driving.
In almost exclusively highway driving, it matters little: once the car is up to speed, it need only push air out of the way.) Don't remove things from the car that you need frequently; instead, make sure these are in the car and readily accessible because wasted trips to retrieve or replace them will be much worse than a little lower mileage. , Narrow tires have less frontal area, thus reducing aerodynamic drag.
Remember, however, that narrow tires have less traction as well (which is why race cars have such wide tires).
Do not get a tire that is incompatible with your wheels (use the size tires that came stock on the vehicle), and do not get smaller wheels unless your manufacturer approves. , These can increase fuel economy by a few percent.
However, the difference is not startling or a substitute for proper inflation.
It would be wasteful to replace the former tires with these before they are worn out. , Often the "check engine light" coming on is an indication that there is a problem with one of these components.
A damaged oxygen sensor may cause your car to have too rich of a fuel mixture, decreasing your fuel mileage by 20% or more. -
Step 3: Check the condition of your engine air filter.
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Step 4: Replace the fuel filter according to the car manufacturer's recommended schedule.
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Step 5: Lighten your load.
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Step 6: Select the narrowest possible tires for your vehicle that will satisfy your driving style and demands.
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Step 7: Select low-rolling-resistance compound tires.
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Step 8: Make sure the oxygen sensors
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Step 9: engine emissions system
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Step 10: and evaporative emissions control systems are in good shape on fuel-injected cars.
Detailed Guide
Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%.
Your tires also lose about 1 PSI per month, and when the tires are cold (e.g., in the winter), their pressure will decrease due to the thermal contraction of the air.
It is recommended to check tires at least monthly, preferably weekly.
Having properly inflated tires will also help you avoid uneven wear on the tread.
Some fuel stations have automatic air compressors that stop at a predetermined level. (For safety, double-check pressure with your own gauge, especially if another is suggesting you add a surprisingly large amount of air.) Small permanently-installed valve-stem extensions can allow filling without removing the caps, but check that they are not prone to jamming with foreign matter and leaking.
Recommended inflation pressures are for cold tires; it is best to inflate first thing in the morning or you've driven less than two miles so your reading will be accurate.
If you have been driving around for a while or it is hot outside, add 3 PSI.
Inflate to the pressure recommended by your car's manual or the sticker on your driver-side doorpost.
Be aware that the reading stamped on the tire is the maximum tire pressure, not the recommended.
A properly tuned engine maximizes power and can greatly enhance fuel efficiency.
Beware, though, that many tuners will disable efficiency measures when tuning for power.
Be sure you are keeping good spark plugs in the engine, changing the oil on time, making sure the air filter is clean, etc. , A dirty filter will reduce fuel economy, or make the engine stall when idling.
Just like mowing dusty grass, driving dusty dirt roads will clog the air filter: avoid dust clouds. , This will go a long way to enhancing fuel efficiency. , Get the lightest car that will serve your needs.
Weight is one of the biggest causes for loss of kinetic energy in non-hybrid cars.
If you're not shopping for cars, then take any extra weight off of the one you're already driving.
If seats that you don't use can be removed, take them out.
If you use your trunk as a storage space for heavy things, find another place for them.
An extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 1–2%. (Weight is most important in stop-and-go driving.
In almost exclusively highway driving, it matters little: once the car is up to speed, it need only push air out of the way.) Don't remove things from the car that you need frequently; instead, make sure these are in the car and readily accessible because wasted trips to retrieve or replace them will be much worse than a little lower mileage. , Narrow tires have less frontal area, thus reducing aerodynamic drag.
Remember, however, that narrow tires have less traction as well (which is why race cars have such wide tires).
Do not get a tire that is incompatible with your wheels (use the size tires that came stock on the vehicle), and do not get smaller wheels unless your manufacturer approves. , These can increase fuel economy by a few percent.
However, the difference is not startling or a substitute for proper inflation.
It would be wasteful to replace the former tires with these before they are worn out. , Often the "check engine light" coming on is an indication that there is a problem with one of these components.
A damaged oxygen sensor may cause your car to have too rich of a fuel mixture, decreasing your fuel mileage by 20% or more.
About the Author
Grace Simmons
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in hobbies and beyond.
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