10 Clever Ways To Improve Your MPG
You can't calculate your new vehicle's affordability without considering three separate but equally critical different factors: sale price, maintenance costs, and fuel economy. The sale price is only a one-time hit, and maintenance costs should (hopefully) be spaced out throughout the year, but your fuel economy will have a consistent impact on your weekly (or monthly) expenses. If you drive frequently, having a vehicle with good fuel economy can be an enormous benefit. While some cars are designed to get better fuel economy than others, there are certain things you can do to help improve any vehicle's gas mileage. Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks from the team at Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC.
1. Accelerate Slowly
Flooring your gas pedal burns a lot of gas very quickly. You will be much better off if you accelerate slowly, allowing your vehicle to take its time moving through the different gears/
2. Turn Off Your Engine If You're Going to Sit For More Than 30 Seconds
When your car is parked but the engine is running, you're burning gas at 0 miles per gallon. Starting your engine requires a little extra gas as well, but if you're going to be sitting in the same place for more than thirty seconds, you will burn less gas restarting your engine than you would idling.
3. Keep Your Windows Up
If your windows are down, your car will have greater air resistance. Rolling your windows up makes your vehicle more streamlined, which will improve your MPG.
4. Avoid Braking
Sometimes, braking is unavoidable (for obvious reasons), but many drivers hit their brake pedals more frequently than they probably need to. If you let off the gas earlier, you can simply use inertia slow your vehicle down. By decelerating slowly, you will eliminate the need to accelerate quickly.
5. Bypass Stoplights
Having to stop at a red light means you have to brake and then accelerate again, which burns extra gas. If you know of an alternate route that has fewer stoplights and/or stop signs, take it!
6. Change Your Engine Air Filter Regularly
If the air filter is dirty or clogged, your engine has to work harder to get the air circulation that it needs. By changing your engine air filter at consistent intervals, you will be able to make your engine more efficient.
7. Turn Off The AC
Did you know that running the air conditioning causes your vehicle to burn gas more quickly? If the outside temperature allows for it, running the fan without the AC can help boost your fuel economy.
8. Drive 45 MPH Or Less
When you travel at higher speeds, your car has to fight against greater wind resistance (and burn more fuel in the process). If you can, stick to roads that don't require you to travel at speeds higher than 45 mph. If you have to drive on the highway, remember that every little bit helps - going 60 mph will be more fuel efficient than going 70!
9. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
When is the last time you checked your tire pressure? Keeping your tires properly inflated not only increases their lifespans, but it can also help you keep your MPG up. Driving on under-inflated tires, on the other hand, can hurt your fuel economy.
10. Lighten Your Load
Carrying a heavy load causes your engine to work harder, which decreases your fuel economy. There's not much you can do about this on big road trips, but you can use this tip to your advantage by taking the extra junk out of the backseat while you're driving around town.
In need of a new car at the Lake of the Ozarks? Come by and test drive one today!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
Follow Us On Facebook
1. Accelerate Slowly
Flooring your gas pedal burns a lot of gas very quickly. You will be much better off if you accelerate slowly, allowing your vehicle to take its time moving through the different gears/
2. Turn Off Your Engine If You're Going to Sit For More Than 30 Seconds
When your car is parked but the engine is running, you're burning gas at 0 miles per gallon. Starting your engine requires a little extra gas as well, but if you're going to be sitting in the same place for more than thirty seconds, you will burn less gas restarting your engine than you would idling.
3. Keep Your Windows Up
If your windows are down, your car will have greater air resistance. Rolling your windows up makes your vehicle more streamlined, which will improve your MPG.
4. Avoid Braking
Sometimes, braking is unavoidable (for obvious reasons), but many drivers hit their brake pedals more frequently than they probably need to. If you let off the gas earlier, you can simply use inertia slow your vehicle down. By decelerating slowly, you will eliminate the need to accelerate quickly.
Having to stop at a red light means you have to brake and then accelerate again, which burns extra gas. If you know of an alternate route that has fewer stoplights and/or stop signs, take it!
If the air filter is dirty or clogged, your engine has to work harder to get the air circulation that it needs. By changing your engine air filter at consistent intervals, you will be able to make your engine more efficient.
7. Turn Off The AC
Did you know that running the air conditioning causes your vehicle to burn gas more quickly? If the outside temperature allows for it, running the fan without the AC can help boost your fuel economy.
8. Drive 45 MPH Or Less
When you travel at higher speeds, your car has to fight against greater wind resistance (and burn more fuel in the process). If you can, stick to roads that don't require you to travel at speeds higher than 45 mph. If you have to drive on the highway, remember that every little bit helps - going 60 mph will be more fuel efficient than going 70!
9. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
When is the last time you checked your tire pressure? Keeping your tires properly inflated not only increases their lifespans, but it can also help you keep your MPG up. Driving on under-inflated tires, on the other hand, can hurt your fuel economy.
10. Lighten Your Load
Carrying a heavy load causes your engine to work harder, which decreases your fuel economy. There's not much you can do about this on big road trips, but you can use this tip to your advantage by taking the extra junk out of the backseat while you're driving around town.
In need of a new car at the Lake of the Ozarks? Come by and test drive one today!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMCThat's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
Follow Us On Facebook
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