How You Can Save Gas By Maintaining Your Car

Why Gas Prices Are So High?

If you are a somewhat regular driver, you are also in our boat, already sick of high keeping gas prices. What is worst is that we are totally incapable of changing the gas prices. So we try to topple heaven and earth to at least limit our usage of gas. Some people suggest not using the car at all or using it sparsely on inevitable occasions. It is not acceptable to most drivers due to the simple fact that if the car is to remain parked, we are also likely to remain parked, deprived from even doing our jobs! Next option is to see how we can reduce the consumption of gas while still using the car. I believe it can be accomplished through a system of proper maintenance.  

Fuel Saving Products

I feel sorry for several guys who try to experiment with costly products claimed to be able to achieve a better rate of mileage on gas. To begin with, they are practically unknown, uncertified products, and I cannot understand why we should use an additional costly product to reduce an existing known cost, when many other guys obtain good results by sticking to reliable, simple and uncomplicated methods that are almost natural and that don’t cost you a dime on miracle formulas etc. barring the compulsory periodic replacements. These methods, only involve keeping to a schedule of proper maintenance of your vehicle.

Most drivers are aware of the importance of regular oil changes as prescribed for maintaining a vehicle in peak condition with optimum performance, but little do they realize the impact that timely oil changes have on the fuel economy ratio. By doing the oil changes as they fall due, you are saving on excess gas consumption.

However, though an oil change is an additional cost, it is a cost that has to be incurred anyway on completion of certain mileages as specified in the vehicle user manual; and it is not something that we advocate for enhancing the fuel mileage ratio as in the case of some costly products earlier referred to. Usage of the correct specified grade of oil will ensure you achieving a reduction of fuel consumption by around one to two percent.

Best Tires For Better Gas Milage

Maintaining the required air pressure within the tires/tubes also helps fuel economy. An inadequately inflated tire, besides its other bad effects, is a cause of high friction and drag on the vehicle that makes the engine to work harder by consuming more fuel. Checking air pressure is a simple matter you can get attended to free at most gas stations and car washes with air pumps installed. Even if a charge is levied at some places, it would not exceed fifty cents, which is well worth paying considering the dire consequences it eliminates.    

Tune-ups can accrue vast benefits to your vehicle including enhancement of your fuel-mileage ratio. A carburetor tune up for instance ensures the intake of the most optimized fuel-air balance into the combustion chamber for powering the engine. A comprehensive tune-up would entail checking and adjustment of many other areas of the vehicle such as steering, suspension, wheel balancing etc., all of which add towards giving you an all round much superior performance along with the best mileage per gallon of gas.

Gas Saving Air Filter

A clogged air filter can cause a world of difference to your gas consumption. Have it checked, cleaned or replaced as required in keeping with the periodic checks specified in the user manual. Cleaning/Replacement of a clogged air filter is the single item that can give the most significant improvement of around 10% in your fuel-mileage ratio and consequently a high saving on your fuel cost.  At an average price of $ 4.00 per gallon it converts to a saving of $0.40 on each gallon, which is a sufficient incentive for you to get this item checked at proper intervals.

Adhering to a proper maintenance schedule as outlined above that is a must anyway for any vehicle, would serve the double purpose of eliminating the need to ever experiment with costly additives to improve your fuel-mileage ratio.