5 Easy Tips to Increase Fuel Efficiency

There are a few things that none of us can control – such as the price of gas. There are so many reasons why gas prices are going up – the Venezuelan crisis, unrest in the Middle East, deliberate cut down in production by OPEC nations, etc.

You cannot do anything about that. What you can do, is to take positive steps to curb gas consumption and improve fuel efficiency. Here are 5 easy tips or hacks to help increase fuel economy.

Tip #1: Be gentle with the accelerator.

 News flash: You’re not a NASCAR driver. Don’t try to be one! Stop pushing the accelerator, go easy on the pedal. The harder you press on the pedal, the more fuel you end up burning. Sudden acceleration means more fuel burned. Be gentle and gradual with the gas pedal. Also, avoid sudden or unnecessary braking. Whenever possible, let the car come to a stop slowly. Just take it easy!

Tip #2: Make sure the tires are properly inflated.

It is very important that the tires are well inflated and to the right amount of pressure. Low tire pressure leads to higher friction between the tires and the ground surface, which means higher fuel consumption. This is referred to as “rolling resistance”. Any reduction in the rolling resistance means less work for your engine, and a big increase in fuel efficiency.

 Tip #3: Stick to the recommended fuel type only.

There are different grades of fuel, from regular to premium. There’s no way to guarantee that premium-grade gas will get the best performance out of your vehicle. It may, or may not! That depends on your car. You’ll need to check your car manual for instructions on what type of fuel is best suited for your vehicle. If you have a high performance car for example, you should definitely opt for a high grade, high octane fuel. So check the octane rating suggested by the car manufacturer first and stick to it. That is a good way to increase fuel efficiency.

Tip #4: Replace the air filter on time.

One of the easiest ways to improve the gas mileage is to replace the air filters on time. Doing so improves the efficiency of the car engine and its ability to raw air from the surrounding environment. What you don’t want is for the air filter to be clogged with dirt, debris or dust – that reduces the gas mileage and leads to higher fuel consumption.

Tip #5: Reduce the weight of the car.

Don’t try to squeeze extra weight into your car often. The higher the weight of the vehicle, the greater is the strain on the engine – and that means more gas gets burned. Any reduction in vehicle weight means lower workload for the engine. Check the car manual for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of your car. If your GVWR is about 4500 pounds, the weight limit should be in the range of 4500 to 5000 pounds only, and not beyond that.

Finally

Having your vehicle serviced regularly and on time is the best way to improve fuel efficiency. Find a shop near you on GarageFly.com today!