8 Ways to Increase Gas Mileage - for Free!

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Want to save some money by getting better gas mileage? Sounds great right? What about being able to do it all for free?

There are many things you can do to increase your fuel economy, with little or not out-of-pocket expense. It's true that tune-ups and routine maintenance are great for your vehicle. They insure that your "machine" is properly oiled and functioning to its originally designed specifications. However, as you know, spark plugs and oil changes are NOT free. So what else can you do?

1. Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. That means saving up to 13-18 cents per gallon!

2. Observe the posted speed limits. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. That equals 19-61 cents per gallon, enough to reconsider speeding.

3. Remove excess weight. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. So before leaving the house again, think: do you really need those dusty encyclopedias sitting in the trunk? This could add 3-5 cents per gallon.

4. Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon, period. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines. Turn the engine off if you will be waiting for more than 60 seconds, whether you're waiting for a friend, at a drive-thru bank or fast food restaurant. Idling your car for an average of 20 minutes per day could equal up to 50 hours of idling each year.

5. Use cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

6. Use overdrive gears. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

7. Maintain proper tire pressure by checking them at least once a month. Tires that are low on air create more rolling resistance which in turn decreases fuel economy.

8. Tune-ups, oil changes, fluid flushes. Ok these are not free but you can improve fuel economy 5-30% by having your car properly tuned. Stop by Cars for Keeps and see what it will take to ensure an efficient automobile!

Until next time!