5 Ways to Improve Your Car’s MPG

Getting the best mileage out of a car is an important and ever-present quest for many drivers, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want to save money at the gas pumps? If you’re searching for ways to increase your car’s fuel economy, there are a few things you can do. Let’s talk about some of the simple changes you can make to get the most out of your vehicle’s gas mileage. 

Change Your Driving Habits

If you work on eliminating bad-driving techniques, you can get more out of each tank of gas. Some driving habits can decrease your car’s mpg. The next time you get into your vehicle, study the way you drive to see if you have any of these habits:

• Accelerating as fast as you can from a standstill. It may feel like you’re in a Fast and Furious movie if you get up to the speed limit as fast as possible after a red light, but doing this drains your gasoline needlessly. 
• Hauling too much stuff. The more your car has to carry, the more it has to work. Do you have your car outfitted with two carriers and roof racks? Is your SUV full of heavy stuff? Consider lightening the load.
• Slow down. The faster you drive, the more your car uses fuel. Stay within the speed limit to keep your fuel usage to a minimum.
• Brake less. Don’t slam on the brakes. Coast to a stop when possible.
• Turn it off. It takes less fuel to start your vehicle than to keep it idling for more than a red light. 

These are just a few of the most common driving habits you can avoid to bring your mpg rating up. The less stress you put on your vehicle, the better gas mileage it will get. 

Maintain Your Vehicle

Though you shouldn’t skip any of your vehicle’s recommended maintenance tasks, some are worse to skip than others when it comes to gas mileage. Remember that each part under your car’s hood and chassis work together to make your car move. If one of those parts or processes isn’t working correctly, the rest of your car may be affected as well. 

These maintenance tasks include all of your standard services. Regardless of whether you’re trying to improve your car’s fuel economy, you should:

• Get your oil changed.
• Get your air filters checked.
• Get a wheel alignment.
• Check your belts and hoses.

Your manufacturer’s recommendation for your make and model will determine how often you should be servicing your vehicle. You’ll find this information in your owner’s manual.

The main takeaway from this is that a healthy car saves fuel. The more you take care of your car, the more it takes care of you and your wallet. Not only will you be extending your vehicle’s lifespan by staying on top of these regular-maintenance tasks, but you’ll also help it run as efficiently as it can today.

Maintain Your Tires

You might put this under the “maintain your vehicle” category, but your tires deserve special treatment if you’re looking to maximize your fuel efficiency.

Always ensure that your tires have the proper pressure level. Improperly inflated tires, underinflated ones specifically, force your car to work harder to push itself forward. The United States Department of Energy reports that keeping your tires inflated to the proper level can improve your gas mileage anywhere from 0.6% to 3.0%. It may seem small, but those numbers do add up over time.

You should also get a tire rotation when you get your vehicle’s oil changed. This helps even out the wear and tear your tires experience and helps them run smoother. The healthier your tires are, the less work your engine has to do and the less fuel it uses.

Plan Your Trips

If you do a lot of city travel, planning your trips to avoid mileage-worsening situations may not be an option. But if at all possible, try to plan your trips to minimize the amount of traffic you find yourself in. If you can take the highway to avoid the constant braking and acceleration from traffic lights and stop signs, it will help to improve your gas mileage.

There’s a reason your model’s mileage is split into city and highway ratings. If you’re driving or looking for a gasoline-exclusive model, the highway ratings will more than likely be higher than the city ratings. Try to stick to the highways if you can. You’ll also use less gas if you use your cruise control once you get on the highway.

Interestingly, this dichotomy gets flipped if you’re driving a hybrid or electric vehicle. This is because electrified vehicles are equipped with regenerative-braking systems that recharge their batteries using the force generated by you applying the brakes. So, if you’re a hybrid driver, go ahead and stick to the stop-and-go traffic. 

Choose an Efficient Car

It may be that it’s time for you to switch vehicle classes. A pickup truck is unfortunately not going to outperform a subcompact sedan hybrid when it comes to fuel economy. Some sedans achieve higher fuel efficiencies than others. Think about what you need from your car and shop accordingly if you’re ready to upgrade.

Your vehicle’s age might also be playing a role if you find you’re not getting the gas mileage that you used to. At a certain point, the best choice is to switch out your current vehicle for a newer model that has experienced less wear and tear from years of work. Newer models also often have the benefit of offering more fuel economy than older vehicles did when they were brand new.

If you think that it’s time for you to find a different vehicle so that you can maximize your fuel efficiency, your friends at Performance Honda in Fairfield, OH can help. Give us a call at (513) 829-7300 or pay us a visit so that we can discuss what you’re looking for in your next car and find the most fuel-efficient version that suits your style.