You may not have noticed if you've been stuck inside for the last couple of months, but the price of gas has plummeted due to the pandemic. While we don't have a crystal ball to tell you when fuel prices will go back up, we can confidently say that it will eventually. In order to make sure that you get the most out of every gallon when prices do rise, here are a few simple tips to help improve your fuel economy.
Lighten up!
Stomping down on the gas pedal is one of the biggest wastes of fuel in motor vehicles, costing you up to 40% in gas mileage. That roar you hear when the teenager in the sports car next to you revs their engine up to NASCAR levels? That's the sound of money pouring out the tail pipe.
When leaving stop lights, use a gradual acceleration rather than peeling out. Without getting too technical, the rationale for this has to do with the engine's efficiency versus the power required to achieve a given speed within a certain time frame (okay, we got a little technical). Essentially, at a certain point, the extra torque and horsepower created by the engine to accelerate a little bit faster is offset by the extra fuel burned. Simply put, it isn't worth it.
In summation, if you have a less aggressive relationship with your gas pedal, your car will consume substantially less fuel.
You're going to carry that weight
Do you know what is in your car? Go ahead, look under your seats and in the trunk.
If you're like many of us, there's a bunch of extra stuff in your vehicle. Unfortunately, every pound of weight you carry in your vehicle is an extra pound your engine has to accelerate and keep in motion. That means more fuel burned.
Obviously, it is harder to accumulate stuff in smaller vehicles, but bigger trucks and SUVs can easily pack away the pounds. An extra hundred pounds of "stuff" is equal to another passenger (a passenger that never chips in for gas and never complements your driving). Take an afternoon to clean out your vehicle and dump the "passenger."
Inflation can be a good thing
Tires are pretty amazing if you think about it. They have the ability to hold up your vehicles weight by simply filling them with air. Actually, come to think of it, maybe that means that air is the amazing factor here... In any case, not enough air will negatively affect your tires' performance. When your tires' performance goes down, so does your fuel economy. Under-inflated tires can reduce your fuel economy by up to 3%. So in the words of that famous song, pump it up.
Don't put off repairs
There's not much to it. Routinely check your vehicle to make sure everything is working properly or else you face the risk of breakdowns and expensive repairs. Ask yourself these questions:
Is my oil still good? Is it the right viscosity? (Old oil, or the wrong viscosity oil, can reduce mileage.)- Are my tires properly aligned?
- Are my brakes installed properly? (If not, they can create friction even when your foot isn't on the pedal.)
- How old are my plugs? Have they lost their spark?
- Are any check engine lights glowing on my dashboard?
All of these issues can quietly steal your MPG and make your vehicle more expensive to operate. If you're getting nervous, there is nothing to worry about. At Mike Duman Auto Superstore, our service department can get your car back on the road in no time.
Using factory-certified parts, we make sure that every repair is done by the book to ensure your safety and comfort. We are open Monday through Saturday and serve the Suffolk, Newport News, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth regions.
If your vehicle refuses to improve its fuel economy, contact us for a service update.
