Your vehicle's fuel usage is a result of several factors. Overall weight, rolling resistance, the engine size and efficiency, and driveline efficiency all affect the final mileage per gallon capability. A small four cylinder sedan will get better fuel mileage than a large, V-8 equipped SUV. But no matter what vehicle you drive, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are getting the best fuel mileage your vehicle is capable of achieving.
Tip #1: Take Care of Your Tires
As a professional auto mechanic for the last 30+ years, I have worked on literally thousands of cars. And in the vast majority of cases, the tires on these cars are underinflated.
Tires are not what supports the weight of your car, the air in them does that job. Underinflated tires cause a number of problems, not the least of which is add to the rolling resistance of your car. That translates to higher fuel use and more money out of your pocket.
Tire pressures need to be checked with the tires cold. Driving even 1 mile will heat the tires up enough to raise the pressure, so wait at least 1 hour after driving or your pressure reading will be incorrect. Use a quality tire pressure gauge available at any auto parts store, and don't rely on the gauge built in to the air pump at the local convenience store. Measure the cold pressures in your driveway and make a note of how low they are, and how much air should be in them. Now drive to the closest air hose, and remeasure the pressures in the tires. Add the amount of air you would have when they were still cold.
Confusing you? Let's say the tires were all checked cold and measured 25 psi. The sticker on your door frame says they should be 30 psi. That's a 5 psi difference you need to add. Now, at the air hose the tires have heated up, and measure 30 psi. That doesn't mean they are all right...you still need to add the 5 psi they were short originally.
Adjust the tire pressures to the specification listed for your car. You can find this information in the owner's manual or listed on the placard on your car. This sticker can be typically found on the driver's side door pillar, or in the glove box. If you have trouble finding it, pay a quick visit to your local garage. They would be happy to show you.
Tires loose air over time. It's a normal condition. So check your tires at least once a week, or every time you fill the tank.
The use of nitrogen is becoming increasingly popular in tires for a variety of reasons. It is often claimed that using pure nitrogen in your tires will increase gas mileage, but that is not always the case. There are other benefits, however, that I'll cover in a future article.
Tip #2: Don't Carry Excess Weight
I've worked on cars so packed with stuff there wasn't room for the passengers. When was the last time you emptied your trunk or storage area? Are you carrying anything on that luggage rack you don't need to?
The engine uses the most fuel when warming up to operating temperature, and getting the vehicle moving from a standing start. More weight than necessary means the engine has to work harder to get all that weight moving, and that takes more gas.
Tip #3: Modify Your Driving Style
As mentioned, the engine consumes the most fuel getting the weight of the car moving. Shotgun starts from a stop only add to that factor, so don't try to drag race from a dead stop.
Another common practice for many drivers is keeping one foot on the brake pedal. Even light pressure will engage the brakes enough to increase rolling resistance and lower fuel mileage. Keep your foot near, but not on, the pedal.
Lastly, it used to be thought that using the air conditioning system on your car resulted in higher fuel consumption. That may have been true years ago, but not so today. In fact, because of the focus on aerodynamics, driving with the windows DOWN actually adds to rolling resistance and increases fuel usage. So go ahead and turn on the AC!
Tip #4: Keep the Fuel System Clean
The amount of fuel added is controlled by your car's engine management computer, and it can compensate for variances in a number of factors. One is the variance in fuel supply from the tank all the way through the injection system.
However, there is a fuel injector for each individual cylinder on a modern engine, and they don't all get dirty at the same rate. The computer can only manage the needs for sets of injectors at a time, and a dirty fuel filter can allow enough contamination to get through to affect the flow of these injectors. The resulting variance will impact overall fuel economy.
Change your fuel filter every year or every 30,000 miles at a minimum. You can also have your fuel injectors cleaned at the same time by a reputable service facility. Just make sure to ask if their Fuel Injection Service does indeed pass through the injectors themselves, as many such services only clean the combustion chamber and valve train. While this is a good thing, it is not a complete service.
Tip #5: Don't Forget the Air Filter
Like the fuel filter, the computer on your car can compensate for air flow restrictions caused by a dirty air filter. It's the dirt that gets through that causes the problem.
On many modern cars, there is a sensor in line with the incoming air that tells the engine management computer how much air there is. The computer uses this information to decide how much fuel the engine will need to run efficiently. Dirt and other contaminants can affect the accuracy of this sensor, and result in increased fuel mileage.
Inspect your air filter every time you change the oil in your car. You do change the oil, don't you? A quick test is to remove the filter and drop it on a clean surface. Any sign of dirt that falls out of the filter onto the surface indicates a filter that needs changing.
Tip #6: Have Your Brake System Inspected
You should have your brakes inspected at every oil change for safety. But problems in the brake and wheel systems can also increase fuel use by adding to the rolling resistance of your car. Brakes that are improperly adjusted or dragging, wheel bearings that are worn or adjusted too tight, are just a few of the related issues that lower fuel mileage.
Choose a competent technician to perform this service, and if they do recommend work, make sure they can visually show you why the work is necessary.
Tip #7: How the Computer Knows
The primary sensor the computer uses to know that it is supplying the correct amount of fuel is called the oxygen sensor. There may be 2 or more, depending on the engine design.
These sensors can age, and begin to respond more slowly than they should. So much so, it may even turn on your car's Check Engine light. But even before they reach that stage, they can begin to affect fuel mileage. Manufacturers of these sensors recommend routine replacement at least every 60,000 miles but I've personally owned cars with much higher mileage with no loss of performance from these sensors.
A competent technician can usually tell you if your oxygen sensors are aged enough to impact your fuel economy. He'll rely on testing procedures that requires specialized equipment so he can see what the computer is seeing. They aren't cheap to replace, especially if there is more than 2, so you will have to weigh that decision on its relative worth.
Follow these 7 tips and you'll keep more of your gas budget dollars in your pocket.
Peter F. Meier is an ASE certified Master Technician with over 35 years in the field. He also writes for several industry publications and is the author of "Automotive Driveabiity: A Guide to Engine Performance Diagnosis". You can find Pete at http://www.autoservicetech.com
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