What are the Best Ways to Improve Your Fuel Economy?

Nov 18, 2020

Person's hands on a steering wheel

Tips for Improving Gas Mileage

Do you find yourself at the pump frequently? Want to save somernextra money every month on gas? Luckily, there are ways to reduce the amount ofrnfuel your car consumes, and it’s easier than you may think. From maintaining yourrnvehicle properly to changing some driving habits, here are a few tips yournshould follow if you want to improve your fuel economy.

[ READ MORE: WhenrnYou Should Get a Tire Rotation ]

Take It Easy on the Brakes

Do you tend to ride the brakes? If you keep your left foot on the brake pedal, get in the habit of keeping it off. In addition, avoid hard braking unless you are in an emergency. Frequent hard braking isn’t good for your brakes and it will take more effort from your vehicle to get back to the speed limit. Also, hard braking can be quite dangerous as it is sudden, and others may not be able to react in time.

Gas being pumped into a vehicle

Watch Your Speed

This one seems obvious, but avoid speeding no matter if you are in the city or the highway. Not only are speed limits enforced to protect you and other drivers, but your fuel economy will be impacted based on how fast the vehicle is traveling. The faster the speed, the more fuel that will be required.

Turn Off the Engine When Idle

Picking someone up and they’re falling behind? If you are going to be idle for a while, turn off the engine. This will save you lots of fuel, especially if that two-minute wait turns into ten. Of course, there are times where you want to keep the vehicle running, such as keeping the AC unit on during the hot summer months or waiting in a fast-moving drive-thru. Use your best judgment on when to power the vehicle off.

Check Your Tire Pressure

A common reason why cars tend to lose some efficiency is duernto improper inflation of the tires. Be sure to check your tire pressure andrnfill up as needed. This can also help your tires last longer.

Clear Out Unnecessary Weight

How long have you had some belongings sitting inside yourrncar? Keeping too many things inside your vehicle will force the engine to workrnharder to compensate for the extra weight. Take some time to clear out anyrnunneeded items.

Interested to learn more tips and tricks? Browse the OkCarz blog!