As high gas prices continue, 7 things you can do to get the most from your tank
With gas prices high all across the country and the national average sitting around $4.23, you might be thinking about how can you get the most out of your tank of gas. Here are a handful of easy suggestions to help you get more out of your next tank of gas.
Keep your tires properly inflated
According to the US Department of Energy, a properly inflated tire can improve your gas mileage by 0.6% and in some cases up to 3%. For every 1 psi your tire is below average you are looking at around 0.2% lower gas mileage.
Properly tune that engine
Don’t ignore that check engine light! A vehicle that has not been tuned properly or has failed an emissions test can result in an average loss of gas mileage of around 4%. In addition to that, fixing any serious maintenance issues, like your faulty oxygen sensor, could improve your gas mileage by about 40%.
Use the recommended oil for your vehicle
Besides using an oil that contains friction-reducing additives, you can increase your gas mileage by 1% to 2% by using what your manufacturer recommends as the best-grade motor oil for your vehicle. Using the wrong oil can actually result in a decrease in gas mileage between 1% to 2%.
Reduce drag and excess weight
While you might not be planning any road trips with the current gas prices, for those who might be, you might want to take this into consideration before your next trip. For every extra 100 pounds, you add to your vehicle, you risk reducing your average mileage per gallon by around 1%. This affects smaller vehicles more than larger vehicles. Increasing your vehicle's aerodynamics can also have an impact on your vehicle's overall gas mileage. A large rooftop hauler can decrease your vehicle's gas mileage by around 2% to 8% in the city, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10 to 25% on the interstate with speeds ranging between 65 to 75 mph. If you must use a cargo hauler, a rear-mounted one will only reduce gas mileage by 1% to 2% in the city and 1% to 5% on the highway.
Turn your car off when idling
On average, you can lose around a quarter to half a gallon of gas per hour while your car idles depending on the size of the engine and if your air conditioner is on. If your AC is on, you are looking at losing $0.02 to $0.04 per minute while idling. If your AC is off, you are looking to lose $0.02 to $0.03 per minute while idling. Simply turn your car off if you are going to idle.
Watch your speed and drive less aggressively
On average, being an aggressive driver - that is speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking - can cost you around 15% to 30% of your gas mileage on the highway and around 10% to 40% of your gas mileage in stop and go traffic.
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Sources
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.jsp
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/air-pressure-fuel-economy
