GAS
SAVING TIPS - What causes poor MPG?
Learn what causes poor MPG and save a lot of gas money. There are a
number of easy things you can do to save gas
money and increase your MPG. As you can see in
the graph below, the top causes of poor mpg are
faulty emissions, speeding, out of tune engines,
and dirty air filters. Regular vehicle
maintenance and good driving habits are the
key to good MPG.
HOW TO IMPROVE MPG (MILES PER GALLON)
Other Tips on how to Improve Gas Mileage
Drive more efficiently
Keep your car in shape
Plan & combining trips
Choose a more efficient vehicle
Things you can do to save gas money...
-
A new air filter can improve your fuel economy up to 10%.
-
Having the correct tire air pressure in your
can
increase mpg by three percent, not
to mention preventing premature tire
wear and failures or blowouts caused
by over or under-inflated tires.
Tires can look normal when they are
seriously under-inflated. Use a
quality air pressure gauge and check
your tires when they’re cold, before
traveling more than one mile.
-
- Excessive idling
wastes fuel. If you’re going to be
sitting still for more than a couple
of minutes shut the engine off.
- Using overdrive
whenever you can saves fuel by
decreasing the engine speed.
- Using the cruise
control whenever possible saves fuel
because it keeps the vehicle at a
constant speed rather than variable
speeds. But keep in mind the over 60
mph rule applies here too.
- Keeping the
vehicle tuned up and in top running
condition saves fuel. A poorly tuned
engine can lower fuel economy by 10
to 20 percent.
- Poor emissions
and / or a faulty oxygen sensor can
cause a 40 percent reduction in fuel
economy. Can you believe that? A 40
percent REDUCTION.
- Following the
recommended service and maintenance
schedules will save you fuel.
- Using the
recommended grade of motor oil will
increase fuel economy by one to two
percent.
- Speeding and
rapid acceleration reduces fuel
economy anywhere from five to 33
percent depending on your individual
driving habits.
- Added weight that
you don’t need reduces fuel economy
significantly. We’re all guilty of
this one!
- Only using the
dash air conditioner when it is
absolutely necessary will save a
significant amount of fuel.
- Use regular gas
unless your owner’s manual specifies
a high-octane gas. You’re just
throwing money away when you pay the
extra money for premium fuel.
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How do
you calculate gas mileage?
Do you know how
many miles you get to a gallon of gas?
Here’s how to find out. Fill the fuel
tank and write down the odometer
reading. The next time you stop for gas
fill the tank again. Now divide the
miles you traveled between fill ups by
the amount of gas you bought the second
time you filled up. This is how many
miles you are getting to a gallon of
gas. We may have no control over the
prices at the pump, but as you can see
we have total control over getting the
most out of the fuel we put in our tank.
EXAMPLE - 250 miles / 10 (gal) = 25 MPG
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