5 Ways to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage

We spend a lot of time in our car —that’s why it pays to make sure they’re running as efficiently as possible.

 If you want your car to get maximum miles per gallon, try some or all of these tips:

• While many people know that buying a heavy SUV will hurt their gas mileage, did you realize that the type of car you drive can also affect how much gas you use? Smaller vehicles generally get better MPG than larger ones. That means if you have the choice between getting an economy vehicle or a luxury vehicle for the same price, go with the economy model. You’ll save money at the pump and reduce your yearly carbon emissions.
• Driving with your windows down can increase MPG by 1-3 mpg, while driving with your AC on can reduce it by the same amount. While using your AC reduces drag on the engine, it also increases resistance in the vehicle’s aerodynamics. That’s why you don’t see race cars running around with their hoods up—the reduced air resistance helps them go faster! If you have to choose between having the AC on and having the windows down while driving, opt for no air but keep your windows up. And whenever possible, drive with both your AC and your windows closed—that’s when you’ll get the best of both worlds.
• It takes more fuel to start a car than to keep it going at idle. That’s why the EPA recommends that at stoplights, you should turn off your engine if you can. You can also reduce emissions and save gas by shifting into neutral while waiting at a red light or stuck in traffic on an inclined road.

• Use Cruise Control whenever possible. This is especially practical on highways with no speed limit, but it can improve fuel economy even on city roads where speeding isn’t an option. By keeping your vehicle to a set speed—perhaps 65 mph on the highway—you’ll prevent acceleration, which means more energy will be used to push forward than to go up and down as you drive over uneven surfaces. Don’t worry about being ticketed for this—most states allow cruise control within five miles of the posted speed limit.
• While it may seem counterintuitive, accelerating to quickly can lower your MPG. You use more gas when you accelerate quickly because the engine’s RPMs have to work harder to speed up. Instead of going from 0-60 in four seconds, take a minute or so as you gradually increase your vehicle’s speed. This tip is especially important if you have a heavy vehicle—the more weight, the more energy it takes to get things moving! If possible, avoid sudden starts and stops as well.

FAQs:

Q: How much does it cost to drive a mile?

A: A typical car with a 20-gallon fuel tank will go around 280 miles per fill-up. If your vehicle gets 30 mpg that means you’ll go through one tank of gas every 9.6 days. It costs about $2.45 to fully fill up an average car’s gas tank—that works out to about 11 cents per mile. But as we all know, the more you drive, the cheaper the per-mile price goes!

Q: What is MPGe and how is it different from MPG?

A: MPG stands for “miles per gallon” and calculates how far a vehicle goes one full tank of gas. MPGe stands for “miles per gallon equivalent” and measures how far an electric vehicle can go on the same amount of energy as in 1 gallon of gasoline. The lower your car’s MPGe is, the more gas it takes to travel a mile—and that means you’ll have to spend more money filling up at the pump!

Q: Which cars get the best MPG?

A: All things being equal, smaller cars tend to be lighter and therefore get better gas mileage than heavy ones. Among subcompact cars (e.g., Ford Fiesta), models like the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Mitsubishi Mirage, Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio all rate over 40 m city/highway combined.

Conclusion:

A lot of us tend to be low-tech in terms of the cars we buy. We gravitate towards big, powerful vehicles with lots of conveniences—but these can actually reduce fuel economy! Instead, try out a smaller vehicle that doesn’t guzzle gas for your next purchase. You’ll save money over time and help the environment by reducing emissions.