Saving Money On Fuel Costs: What You Can Do To Increase Your MPG
All over the United States the price of fuel continues to rise. For many people the cost of a tank of gas is approaching $100 and there is no relief in sight. As a car owner you know that you should try to get the best mpg from your vehicle, but there are probably several things that you are doing that are robbing your vehicle of fuel efficiency. Getting excellent MPG is not just about driving a fuel efficient car, it is also about the way that you drive and the attitude that you have when you are on the road. Here are some things that you can do to make sure that you are stretching your fuel as far as it will go.
Slow Down
Driving the speed limit seems like it is an arbitrary thing, and it can be maddening, especially when you are running late for something. You want to speed up and drive as fast as you can, hoping to make up the time, but more often than not, there is no way to overcome your tardiness. Speeding is one of the worst things that you can do for your MPG. Once the car goes over approximately 55 MPH, fuel efficiency begins to fall dramatically, as the car is using more gasoline to power the vehicle at that speed than you are saving by getting to your destination more quickly. Furthermore, when you speed you often fall into the trap of speeding up and slowing down on a regular basis. Either other cars are not moving as fast as you are, and you have to find a way around them, or you get caught in a series of traffic lights. A car that changes speeds constantly is one that is losing MPG because the amount of fuel that is used to accelerate the car is greater than the amount that is used to maintain a steady speed.
Change The Oil
Another issue that will cause the loss of MPG for your vehicle is going too long without having an oil change. Oil is the lubricant that keeps all of the pieces of the engine working together and ensures that the pieces move smoothly when they do their job. Over time the oil begins to burn up and become contaminated by the debris that is in the engine area, which is what causes the oil to change from the golden color that it is when you put it in the vehicle, to the black color that you see when you change the oil. Most of the time you will want to change the oil every three to five thousand miles so that your car is always running with the best lubrication available. If you do not drive the vehicle very often, you will still need to have the oil changed on a regular basis, usually around every three to four months. Not only will you extend the lifespan of your vehicle, but you will also make your car more efficient.
Check The Tires
Finally, you need to check your tires every time you get in your vehicle and every time you fill up with gas in order to ensure that the pressure is correct. Car and light truck tires are designed to work best at 35 psi, and that is the number that you should be looking for when you check the tires. Invest in a small air gauge so that you can get an accurate reading. If your tires are too low, they put more rubber on the road, and that increases the amount of friction working on the car to keep it from moving. The engine then has to work harder to get the car moving, and you wind up using a lot more fuel in the process. Checking your tires is not something that takes a long time, and even brand new drivers should learn how to check and take care of their own tires.
Gas mileage is more important now than ever before, and with the proper steps and vehicle maintenance, you will be able to maximize your fuel efficiency. Just remember that if you take care of your vehicle, it will take care of you for a long time.
I am Micah Turner and I wrote this article to tell others about what they can do to increase their MPG. For two years now I have been travelling 100 miles each way each day to get to work, and gas was costing me a fortune. With these tips and the tires http://www.hursttireservice.com provided me with, I was able to reduce my fuel expenses by almost 14%. I highly recommend the tires from Hurst if you really want to save money.
Category: Automotive
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