Who doesn’t like saving a little money? Especially when it’s something that is easily within your grasp. Trying to reduce our gas mileage is something we can all do. So the next time you are out and about, think about some of these tips to help you save some cash.
- Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. The faster you accelerate, the more fuel you will use, so go easy and ease into your acceleration. Then once you get up to speed, continue with a steady pace. Avoid unnecessary braking to also save the fuel you used to accelerate.
- Roll down the windows. When possible, enjoy mother nature’s fresh air. Rolling your windows down, rather than cranking the AC can save your fuel.
- Avoid idling your car. Your car engine really only needs around 30 seconds to warm up. Consider skipping the car idling during the cold winter. Though, having a warm car to climb into, might outweigh saving a few coins on those chilly days! If you are waiting for someone, put the car in neutral or turn it off.
- Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can cause a car to burn more gas than necessary. Make sure your tires are filled to the recommended PSI, to utilize your fuel efficiency. Most modern cars will alert you if the tire pressure is low, but to be safe, check your tire pressure at least once a month.
- Use proper motor oil. The type of motor oil in your engine can affect your gas mileage. Try using car oils that are high in friction reduction like a synthetic. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended type of motor oil for your vehicle.
- Clean your air filters. This is more applicable to older cars, since modern cars are not particularly affected by dirty air filters. To keep your engine running optimally, make sure your air filters are clean of dirt and debris. Depending on the type of air filter, you can easily clean it with soap and water, replace it yourself, or have an expert do it for you.
- Replace bad spark plugs. If your spark plugs are not performing properly, it can affect your gas efficiency. Other indicators of spark plugs gone bad are engine misfires, trouble starting the engine, or the engine struggles when you accelerate. So if you have a few of these happening, this is probably the cause.
Oakdale Collision is committed to serving all our customers with auto body needs. While oil changes, tire rotations, and other maintenance items are not what we specialize in, we can certainly assist you in any questions you may have, and give recommendations of other trusted local businesses for you to see.