From tight budgets to environmental concerns, there’s good reason to focus on fuel efficiency. When it comes to optimizing your car’s fuel consumption, certain factors like traffic and city driving are unavoidable. But everything from proper maintenance for your vehicle to nurturing the right driving habits can make an impact. The key is keeping the combustion process in your engine efficient and avoiding conditions that cause your car to burn through excess fuel.
When in doubt, you can trust your local Chicagoland mechanics at AAMCO to help answer questions and guide you to improved fuel efficiency.
Follow the Speed Limits
If you tend to get carried away cruising down the road, try to watch your speed. Not only does this impact the safety of you and other drivers, but it also plays a role in fuel economy. Faster speeds can lead to higher cruising RPMs, which means more fuel is being sent into the cylinders to be burned. Cruising around the speed limit will put less strain on your engine, leading to better gas mileage.
Avoid Hard Acceleration
Similarly, hard acceleration puts more strain on the engine and transmission, including increasing the amount of fuel burned. The higher your RPM, the more fuel is being burned. You can easily reach 4,000 RPM during hard acceleration, which is not typical with normal acceleration. Imagine a cup on your dashboard that you don’t want to spill — let it take a few seconds to get up to speed.
Don’t Default to Air Conditioning
Certain features of your car use more power than others. The air conditioning is one feature that tends to draw more power from the engine, therefore burning through more fuel. In fact, using your car’s AC can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%. On a hot day, it may be necessary to turn on the AC — but if you’re on the fence, skipping it could increase your fuel efficiency.
Avoid Unnecessary Idling
Your car burns fuel as you idle, even though you aren’t moving. Unless you’re in traffic, you can save fuel by shutting off your engine at stoplights or when waiting in your car. On average, your vehicle can burn through a cup or more of fuel every 10 minutes when idling. An hour or two of idling can burn through as much as a full gallon of gas.
Consider Aerodynamics
The more air resistance while you drive, the more fuel is burned to keep your car moving. Roof and bicycle racks increase aerodynamic drag, causing your engine to burn through more fuel. On the highway, this can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Also, consider aerodynamic drag when choosing between the air conditioning or rolling down your windows. Especially on the highway, the increased resistance from open windows will likely make up the difference from turning off the air conditioning.
Use Good Quality Gas
The first step is to use the correct octane fuel for your vehicle by checking your owner’s manual. Next, choose wisely when heading to a gas station. Using Top Tier gas will help keep your engine operating more efficiently by preventing deposits, which will in turn improve your fuel economy. Look into which fuel brands have the best quality gas and use them whenever possible.
Check Your Tire Pressure
Aim to check your tire pressure monthly, even though most vehicles now have sensors that will alert you to any over- or under-filled tires while you drive. Weather causes your tire pressure to fluctuate, which can impact tread wear, performance and handling, and your gas mileage. Check your owner’s manual or the doorjamb for your car’s recommended PSI and keep all of your tires within that range.
Schedule Regular Oil Changes
Depending on your vehicle, oil change services are recommended once every 6-12 months or every 3,000-5,000 miles. However, the best interval for your car depends on the type of oil used, the type of driving you often do, and the environment where you live. Keeping this regular maintenance service on your calendar will help optimize overall performance and fuel economy.
Optimize Your Vehicle’s Efficiency By Visiting Your Local AAMCO
Help your bank account and the environment by keeping your vehicle fuel efficient. Avoid excess fuel consumption to prevent added strain on key systems, improve your car’s performance, extend the life of your vehicle, and lower environment-harming emissions. Visit your local AAMCO for inspections and services that help keep each essential system operating as smoothly as possible. Schedule your appointment today!
