Saturday, November 1, 2008

Simple Ways To Improve Gas Mileage In Your Car!

By Don Marshall

Nowadays, it seems like oil the company executives are out to empty our wallets and fill theirs. Gas prices have gone out of site, along with food, clothing and necessities, while our economy is seemingly crumbling. Many folks are trying to keep their heads above water, and need to learn some simple ways to improve gas mileage.

There are several ways to help improve gas mileage, many of them are effective, and others don't make much of a difference. It can be difficult trying to wade through them all, so I have researched and compiled the most common techniques people are using to improve gas mileage in their cars, so I could pass them on to you.

First, change your oil, and get tuneups on a regular basis. Most people realize that if your car is tuned up and running like a top, then the energy used will be less than if your car has mechanical problems. Some basic things like changing the air filter, deteriorated hoses, and oil changes using the properly weight oil with friction reducers will all make a difference and improve gas mileage.

Another trick that works well, is getting rid of extra weight your car is carrying. Do away with luggage racks, since they create resistance, and decrease your gas mileage. Keeping your tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can also help to decrease resistance, the MPG gain is fairly small, but every little bit will help!

You can improve gas mileage by learning to curb your wild side, and drive at sedate speeds. Keeping your car at a steady 55 mph on the highway can up your gas mileage by as much as 25%. That means no drag racing when the "man" isn't looking! You can also gain a whopping 14% in MPG just by using your cruise control.

Also, resist the impulse to drive like a maniac, like constantly slamming on your brakes or quickly accelerating. All that does is burn up valuable fuel and waste your dollars. The same goes for excessive idling. If you have a long wait at a drive through, or at the bank, shut your car down. Cutting back on unnecessary idling has been shown to improve gas mileage by as much as 19%. That is a pretty darn big savings if you think about it, just for remembering to do something simple like shut your car down instead of idling.

There are many simple ways to improve gas mileage, and not enough time to cover them all at once! But remember, if you implement even one of these methods you will save money. - 15266

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