Improve Gas Mileage

.

Improving Your Gas Mileage

Gas prices are rising, there’s no getting around that. The price of gas has risen from under a buck a litre a year ago to over $1.20 a litre in many parts of Canada. If we can save just 10% on fuel consumption, that is on average about $5.00 per fill up.

Not only will you save money you would have spent on gas, but you’ll also be helping the environment. A 10% decrease in fuel consumption prevents over 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year per vehicle, not to mention all the other harmful chemicals produced by burning gasoline.

Implement some of these tips and you will obtain better fuel efficiency, save money and reduce environmental impact at the same time.

1. Car Maintenance

A better term; Preventive Maintenance.

Keep your car and engine properly maintained – Routine Maintenance Saves Money, safer driving, less aggravation.

Have a tune-up at least once a year, usually in spring with a late fall check-up. A good time to change to your winter tires

• Oil & Filter Change
• Tire Rotation
• Engine Tune Up
  • Air filter
  • Fuel filter
  • Battery voltage
  • Charging voltage
  • Power balance or dynamic compression
  • Engine vacuum
  • Operation of the fuel feedback control loop
  • Exhaust emissions
  • Idle speed
  • Ignition; timing, spark plugs, ignition harness, distributer, points, rotor-button, condenser, distributor cap, vacuum-advance, oxygen sensor, PCV valve
  • Operation of the EGR valve.
• Hoses and belts
• Cooling System Flush
• Exhaust System, catalytic converter
• Transmission Service
• Wheel Alignment
• Brake Inspection
• Lights and Headlight alignment
• Cabin air filter

Your best bet is at a trusted garage by a knowledgeable mechanic. Few people can maintain their vehicles at home, most have not the knowledge, the equipment, or the tools. If your Check Engine Light is on, what you need is a diagnostic scan to determine what is causing the fault.

Repairing 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, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

The recommended service intervals that came with your vehicle are for ideal driving and weather conditions. If you drive in extremely hot or cold weather (most Canadians), have frequent short trips (most mothers), do a lot of stop-and-go driving (rush hours), idle excessively, drive in dusty road conditions, tow a trailer, these all mean the maintenance intervals should be more frequent.
.

2. Driving Tips

Long morning warm-ups are not necessary and are huge gas wasters. Late model cars don't require long warm-up. Using the proper weight oil should lubricate the engine within 10 to 15 seconds. In sub zero climates, a block heater should be used over night.

Drive the speed limit. The faster you drive the more gas per kilometer you use. Stoplights are usually timed to keep traffic moving. By traveling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the “green light” all the way. It takes more time to stop and then accelerate at traffic lights than to drive at the speed limit. The speeder who races to the next red light, slows down the whole commute, including himself. On the highway, driving at 80 kmh is 15% –20% more efficient than driving at 100 kmh.

If at all possible, avoid driving during rush-hour and peak traffic periods.

Accelerate moderately. Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster. Keep your eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake to slow down, that's wasted fuel.

Make sure your tires are inflated properly. Under inflation uses more fuel and is a safety hazard.

Air conditioning can lower your fuel economy by 10 percent or more. In city traffic, shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows can lighten your fuel use. When on the highway, close windows to decrease air resistance.

Use cruise control on highway trips. It will help you maintain a constant speed which reduces your fuel consumption.

Do not top off the gas tank. Once in your tank, gas expands and may seep out. Especially in summer.

Tighten up your gas cap. Gas may evaporate from the tank if it's not on securely.

Combine your errands into one trip and plan your stops for the most efficient route. You'll save yourself both time and money.

Carrying loads on a roof rack will decrease your fuel economy, place items in the trunk whenever possible.

Don't carry extra weight. The more weight your car has to haul, the more gas it uses. Clean out the trunk of all that un-necessary stuff.

Avoid driving wherever and whenever possible. Take the train, take the bus, carpool, ride your bike. Walking or biking not only saves you money, it's good for your health.

.