Squeezing every mile out of a tank of gas can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you’re practicing stretching your dollar, here are a few tips to help you improve your miles per gallon (MPG).
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated or overinflated tires can decrease your fuel economy, but it can also shorten the lifespan of your tires. When tires are not filled to the recommended pounds per square inch (PSI) it causes them to wear unevenly or be susceptible to damage caused by road imperfections.
You can find the recommended PSI for your tires on the sticker inside the driver’s door jam. Also keep an eye on your TPMS dash indicator.
Empty the Trunk and Reduce Vehicle Weight
Aside from your spare tire, make a conscious effort to keep your vehicle free of items that could potentially weigh it down. Additional weight in your vehicle means your engine will have to work harder and ultimately use more fuel.
Reduce Unnecessary Drag
It’s a good rule of thumb to remove any items on top of your vehicle that cause wind resistance. Are you toting around a bike rack you haven’t used in months? Take off roof racks, storage accessories, etc., and see how much you can improve your MPG.
Watch Your Speed and Acceleration
How often do you look at your tachometer? What even is a tachometer? This meter on your dash shows your RPMs (revolutions per minute) as multiples of 1,000. Keep an eye on your RPM gauge to improve your vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency.
Accelerating too quickly can waste unnecessary gas. For optimal fuel efficiency, try keeping your RPMs between 1,500 and 2,000 when driving and/or accelerating.
Keep Air Filters Clean
A clean air filter will boost the overall efficiency of the engine by improving its ability to draw air. If an air filter is clogged with dust and debris the engine will have to work overtime to draw in air. After a while, this can increase fuel consumption and lower gas mileage.
