How to Increase Gas Mileage
Gasoline is a top priority in the budget of any car owner. You’ll be surprised at how much you spend on gasoline in between refills, especially if you drive every day. With pump prices reaching record highs and environmental issues with carbon emissions and fossil fuel shortages, every driver should make a conscious effort to reduce fuel consumption and increase gas mileage. Here are some ways for you to increase your gas mileage, and improve your own driving experience.
Load a Full Tank
Loading up a full tank at the pump may seem expensive, but you actually save more money if you head to the gasoline station when you’re about to run out of fuel. Half-tanks and quarter-tanks are more expensive in the long run, because you load fuel more times than necessary. With a full tank, you can have a better gauge of how much gasoline you use. You can also maximize every liter of fuel you load up into your vehicle’s fuel tank.
Driving Techniques
The best way for you to save on gas is to adopt some mileage-saving driving techniques. The way you drive can save you big money in gas refills. The key to fuel-efficient driving is to maximize the forward momentum of the vehicle to conserve fuel. Here are some ways to help you save fuel while driving:
Coasting. When you drive on open roads and interstate highways, you can turn off the engine as soon as you pick up speed, and coast. You can then use the forward momentum of the car to keep the vehicle going for a few miles. Coasting on a long trip can save you hundreds of dollars in gasoline refills.
Shifting gears. Driving on high gear ratios make you go faster and accelerate at a quicker rate, but at the expense of burning more gasoline. It’s best to stay on neutral gear and low gear ratios, and preserve the high gear ratios on the transmission system when you need it.
Feathering. If you keep the pedal to the metal, or if you drive with a heavy foot, you may need to adopt a different driving technique. To save on gas, feather the accelerator; feed the engine just enough gasoline to keep forward momentum going at a convenient, legal speed.
Conversion
If you own a gas-guzzling vehicle, you may need to consider converting the engine or the fuel system to a more efficient fuel option. Converting your vehicle will cost a lot at the beginning, but you can save a lot of money in the long run. Here are some conversion options you can consider:
Diesel. Diesel is much more affordable than gas, and it’s more fuel-efficient because it uses air compression instead of combustion to burn the fuel.
Liquefied petroleum gas. LPG costs a fraction of the price of conventional gasoline, although you’ll need to pay a good amount of money to have your vehicle outfitted and retrofitted with a new tank and a converted pipeline.
Biodiesel. If you run a diesel engine, you may want to consider using biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel made from organic oils instead of fossil fuels, and packs the same punch as conventional diesel fuel. You only need a few modifications to your pipeline and engine to use biodiesel.
Regular Car Maintenance
Another way to increase gas mileage is to keep your car in tip-top shape. Old cars, or vehicles that are poorly maintained, often guzzle more gas than new cars or well-maintained vehicles. Friction, heat damage, and wear and tear can severely reduce the mechanical advantage and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. While routine maintenance can take a lot of effort, it cansave you a lot of money in refills and trips to the gas station.
Fuel-efficient driving does not have to be difficult, and it does not have to mess up with your own driving preferences. With these tips to increase gas mileage and improve overall performance and fuel economy, you not only help save the environment, but also save big money on trips to the fuel pump and refills for your car’s fuel tank.