How To Get Better Gas Mileage In A Few Easy Steps

• Thomas Nelson
• June 23, 2020
• Sustainable Living, Travel
• 0 Comments

In 2016 in the United States, at least 115 million cars and trucks hit the road carrying approximately 150 million Americans to work. It’s no surprise that, for those who can’t work remotely and don’t have adequate mass transit available, you probably want to know how to get better gas mileage. It’s good to save money on gas and no one likes putting all those polluting gases in the atmosphere. So what can you do about it?

How to get better gas mileage

Getting better gas mileage isn’t all that hard if you know what to look for and what to do. In this article, we’ll go over a few quick and easy steps that will help you get better gas mileage right away.

Make sure your tires are properly filled

Ensuring that your tired are properly inflated is probably the simplest and most inexpensive things you can do to ensure you’re getting the most out of your car’s gas mileage. Running a car with low tires creates added resistance which results in your car using more fuel to go the speed you’d like it to. Tire gauges are cheap and filling your tire only costs a buck or two. You can run out and do it right now if you like!

Unload any excess weight

Imagine you’re going for a hike, which will be easier: hiking with a 5 pound pack or a 50 pound pack? Chances are, the 50 pound pack will have you out of breath in no time. It’s similar for our vehicles, but instead of breath, you’ll be out of fuel. The heavier your car is, the more fuel it has to use to go the speed you desire. This is definitely something that’s easy to lose track of, especially if you have a truck. Go through your vehicle and unload any unnecessary weight.

Use your vehicle’s recommended fuel type

Consult the owner’s manual of your vehicle and it will inform you of what the recommended fuel type is. If your car is a higher performance vehicle, the manual may recommend you purchase higher octane fuel. This likely won’t apply to most vehicle owners – regular unleaded fuel will do fine for most. Still, it’s best to double check and make sure.

Drive a little slower

It’s fun to be a speed demon, but it’s also fun to get better gas mileage. These two things unfortunately don’t go together. The faster your vehicle is moving, the more drag your car has to work against. Going faster means you’re using more fuel. Drive a little bit slower and you’ll be getting better gas mileage.

Check your gas cap

Before you go out driving next, check your gas cap. Is it on tight? How’s the rubber seal? Is it still flexible and like new? The seal in particular can grade all the time, resulting in oxygen passing into your gas tank. Added air in your gas tank will result in your car using most fuel. Many modern vehicles have a sensor that will tell you if this is happening, but if you have an older car, you’ll need to check manually.

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