Gas Mileage Tips
In order to optimize your vehicles gas mileage there are a number of maintenance items you need to keep up with.
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
At a 4% fuel mileage saving would be the same as $.12 per gallon of fuel. For more information go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
Replace Air Filters Regularly
You can improve your gas mileage by as much as 10% if you replace clogged air filters regularly. A clean air filter will also protect your engine from impurities that could damage it.
A 10% fuel mileage saving would be the same as up to $.29 per gallon of fuel. For more information go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
Change your Motor Oil as Recommended by the Manufacturer
Most manufacturers recommend changing your vehicles motor oil every 3000 miles. You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.
A 1-2% fuel mileage savings would be the same as $.03-$.06 per gallon of fuel. For more information go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Under inflated tires can lower gas mileage by .4 percent for every 1 pound per square inch drop in pressure on all four tires. A driver will burn 2% more fuel if just one tire is 10% low, a 20% loss would burn 4% more fuel. According to Goodyear and Michelin, running tires at 20% under inflation can reduce tire life by 50%. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.
On average a tire loses approximately 2 PSI per month. Compressed air contains oxygen and moisture that reacts with the rubber compounds in tires, causing them to break down and lose their strength and durability. This chemical reaction causes premature aging of the tire. Now we have available nitrogen which virtually eliminates the breakdown of the tire and extends the loss of air pressure 3 to 4 times that of compressed air. For more information on using nitrogen in your tires go to http://www.purigen98.com/.
A 3% fuel mileage savings would be the same as $.09 per gallon of fuel. For more information go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
