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How to Increase Fuel Mileage on a Car
As gas prices continue to climb, increasing the fuel mileage is the best way to
protect your pocket book. Here are a few ways to spend less money on gas by
increasing your car's efficiency in using it.
Steps
Plan your trips. Keep lists of needs that will require a trip and try to accomplish
multiple objectives with each. This will not increase your fuel mileage (the
number of miles your car moves for each gallon of gas), but it will help you drive
less (which, in turn, means you use less gas).
1. 2
Lighten your load. Get the lightest car that will serve your needs. Weight is one
of the biggest causes for loss of kinetic energy in non hybrid cars. If you're not
shopping for cars, then take any extra weight off of the one you're already
driving. If seats that you don't use can be removed, take them out. If you use
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your trunk as a storage space for heavy things, find another place for them. An
extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 1-2%. (Weight is most important
in stop-and-go driving. In almost exclusively highway driving, it matters little: once
the car is up to speed, it need only push air out of the way.) Don't remove things
from the car that you need frequently; instead, make sure these are in the car
and readily accessible because wasted trips to retrieve or replace them will be
much worse than a little lower mileage.
2. 3
When you fill up with gas, fill up halfway and try and keep your tank above
one quarter full. If your fuel runs low,you could put stress on the fuel pump. 10
gallons adds 60 pounds of weight
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3. 4
Slow down. The faster you move, the harder your engine has to work to push
through the wind. Speeding can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 33%. (Factors
other than air resistance decrease fuel economy below about 60 MPH, so fuel
economy is not a reason to go slower, but fuel economy decreases rapidly above
that speed).
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4. 5
Use cruise control. In most situations, using your cruise control reduces fuel
consumption by maintaining a constant speed.
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5. 6
Accelerate smoothly with moderate throttle. Engines are most efficient with
moderately high air flow (throttle) and at revolutions per minute (RPM)s up to
their power peak (for small to mid sized engines this is generally somewhere
between 4k to 5k RPM). In a manual transmission car, practice 'short shifting', or
shifting to higher gears as soon as you reach your desired speed by skipping
intermediate gears. For example, accelerate to 40 mph using 1st gear and 2nd
gear, then shift directly to 4th (skipping 3rd), or if your engine can maintain your
speed, to 5th. (Be aware that if you have to floor the accelerator pedal in 5th to
maintain your speed, you should be in 4th!).
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6. 7
Plan your route carefully. Take the route with the fewest stops and turns and
least traffic. Take highways in preference to city streets when possible.
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7. 8
Avoid braking wherever possible. Braking wastes energy from fuel that you
have already burned, and accelerating after braking consumes more fuel than
driving at a constant speed. On city streets watch ahead and coast when you see
a red light or traffic jam ahead.
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8. 9
Set your tires to the proper inflation. Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel
consumption by up to 3%. Your tires also lose about 1 PSI per month, and when
the tires are cold (e.g., in the winter), their pressure will decrease due to the
thermal contraction of the air. It is recommended to check tires at least monthly,
preferably weekly. Having properly inflated tires will also help you avoid uneven
wear on the tread. Some gas stations, have automatic air compressors that stop
at a pre-determined level. (For safety, double-check pressure with your own
gauge, especially if another is suggesting you add a surprisingly large amount of
air.) Small permanently-installed valve-stem extensions can allow filling without
removing the caps, but check that they are not themselves prone to jamming with
foreign matter and leaking. Recommended inflation pressures are for cold tires;
put about 3 PSI more in if the tires have been driven on awhile. Inflate to the
pressure recommended by the car manufacturer, not the maximum stamped on
the tire. (In one authors experience with cars and trucks never inflate to the
pressure indicated in the manufacturer manual unless you have stock tires. Too
much psi and explode the tire [expensive] and putting too little nets horrible fuel
economy. Always inflate to pressure stated on sidewall.)
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9. 10
Tune up your engine. A properly tuned engine maximizes power and can
greatly enhance fuel efficiency. Beware, though, that many tuners will disable
efficiency measures when tuning for power.
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10.
11
Check the condition of your engine air filter. A dirty filter will reduce fuel
economy, or make the engine stall when idling. Just like mowing dusty grass,
driving dusty dirt roads will clog the air filter: avoid dust clouds.
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11.
12
Replace your fuel filter according to your manufacturer's recommended
schedule. This will go a long way to enhancing fuel efficiency.
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12.
13
Avoid excessive idling. Idling a vehicle wastes a significant amount of fuel. The
best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it slowly until it reaches proper
operating temperature.
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13.
14
Try to avoid using the air conditioner in stop and go city driving as it
causes the engine to work hard and consume more fuel. However, studies
show that at highway speeds cars get somewhat better mileage with the AC on
and the windows rolled up. The drag caused by rolled down windows at high
speed reduces fuel efficiency more than the AC.
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14.
15
Find your car's "sweet speed". Some cars get better mileage at specific
speeds, usually 50 mph. Your car's "sweet speed" is the minimum speed at
which the car is running in its highest gear (watch for rpm drops as you
accelerate to determine when your transmission is shifting into higher gears). For
example, most Jeep Cherokees are best at 55 mph, and Toyota 4Runners are
best at about 50 mph. Find your vehicle's "sweet speed" and pick your roads
accordingly.
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15.
16
Use synthetic oil in your car to save on average 5% gas. (It seems unlikely to
one author at least that synthetic oil would cause a car to work much less hard; it
is not much less viscous.) Remember to change it according to your vehicle
manufacturers recommendations for any oil. Extending oil change intervals can
be harmful to the life of your engine and the fuel saving benefits are lost as oil
gets dirty. If you can't use synthetic, choose the lightest oil possible, 5W-30
rather than 15W-50.
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16.
17
When getting your oil changed, use a synthetic oil additive to either natural
or synthetic oil. This can increase your gas mileage by up to 15% if you follow
the manufacturer's instructions and recommended usage. (It seems unlikely to
one author at least that synthetic-oil "additive" would cause a car to work much
less hard; it would not make the oil overall much less viscous, and circulating the
oil is only a relatively small task for a car engine.)
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17.
18
If your car has an automatic transmission with overdrive, make sure you
enable overdrive except when towing very heavy trailers. Overdrive is by
default enabled on the "D" on most shifters. Several cars have buttons on the
shifter which allow you to turn off the overdrive gear. Don't turn it off except in
specific circumstances it may be needed such as for engine braking downhill or
failure to proceed uphill smoothly in overdrive. Overdrive saves you gas mileage
at higher speeds by using a lower ratio from engine speed to wheel speed - this
places the engine at a more efficient operating point (by reducing throttling
losses, etc).
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18.
19
Learn to watch and predict traffic signals. Stop-and-go driving is wasteful.
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19.
20
Don't circle in a parking lot, and keep well away from the store fronts. Look
for a spot in the empty half of the parking lot. Many people spend significant time
idling and creeping, waiting for a "close spot" to open up.
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20.
21
Maintain a log over time of how many miles you go (the main odometer)
and how much gas you put in (from the gas pump, including fractions). Put
it in a spreadsheet. It will keep you focused, and other methods are inaccurate;
you will never know for sure if you're saving fuel, wasting fuel or just seeing
errors from gas pumps that stop pumping at different points, or fractions of miles
being dropped off your 'trip' odometer when you reset it.
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21.
22
Maintain a safe following distance! Don't stick to the bumper of the car directly
in front of you. You will brake more and accelerate more to keep that
unnecessary and dangerous narrow gap. Relax. Hang back a bit. You're still
traveling at the same speed as the car ahead of you even if you're 100 yards
behind. This also gives you a lot more room to play with when you are timing
lights. When he slams on his brakes, you can coast down and see if the light
quick-changes green again (some do). You might even coast by his car as the
light turns green and he has to accelerate from a dead stop.
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22.
23
Avoid idling. For example, in cold weather warm the car engine no more than
30 seconds. This period of time is sufficient to ensure that the engine is properly
lubricated for driving. Generally, if you can avoid 10 seconds of idling you will
save gas by turning the engine off and restarting. However, starting an engine
too often can lead to excessive wear and tear on the starter motor and wiring.
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23.
24
Select the narrowest possible tires for your vehicle that will satisfy your
driving style and demands. Narrow tires have less frontal area, thus reducing
aerodynamic drag. Remember, however, that narrow tires have less traction as
well (which is why race cars have such wide tires). Do not get a tire that is
incompatible with your wheels, and do not get smaller wheels unless your
manufacturer approves.
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24.
25
Select low-rolling-resistance compound tires. These can increase fuel
economy by a few percent. (The difference is not startling or a substitute for
proper inflation. It would be wasteful to replace the former tires with these before
they are worn out.)
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25.
26
Select a gear ratio that is appropriate to your engine, transmission, and
driving conditions. If you travel on the highway often and do not carry heavy
loads, try a numerically lower final drive ratio (known as a "higher" gear.) Careful
not to go too "high" with the ratio, this can cause smaller engines to work too
hard to keep up, damaging the engine. Some manufacturers offer optional
gearing.
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26.
27
On fuel-injected cars, make sure the oxygen sensors, engine emissions
system, and evaporative emissions control systems are in good shape.
Often the "check engine light" coming on is an indication that there is a problem
with one of these components. A damaged oxygen sensor may cause your car to
have too rich of a fuel mixture, decreasing your fuel mileage by 20% or more.
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EditTips
 Your fuel mileage depends mostly on your driving habits. Drive conservatively
and you'll notice a difference.
 When looking for a new car, always check the fuel consumption rating.
 In cars with 'economy' versus 'power' modes, the 'mode' changes the response
curve for the accelerator. You generally have just as much power in the
'economy' mode if you stomp on the accelerator, but you have more control at
the low end of throttle input, when you're not.
 Vehicle ground effects, aerodynamics kits, and air foils, such as deck-lid spoilers,
increase the car's drag, thus lowering fuel economy. Often times such parts
serve only an aesthetic value and offer no real handling enhancements. Also,
place signs or cargo on the roof so that the smaller face of the piece faces
forward. This will lower the frontal area and, thus, lower drag.
 Some cars that have a crooked shift pattern for their floor shift automatic
transmission, have '4' and 'D' on the same row. Many people shift the car past 'D'
and into '4' because it 'feels right', then drive down the freeway complaining
about bad gas mileage.
 Try to schedule your trips and errands when traffic is light. Doing this will also
help your mental health as it will decrease the amount of stress that you will have
while driving.
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Be cautious of fuel injector cleaners available in parts stores as a fuel additive
which, anecdotally, may damage injectors on older vehicles.
If you are always stuck in rush hour traffic after work anyway, try to find
something to do near your work until the traffic dies down, rather than try to fight
through it.
Some weight in the trunk, such as a bag or two of rocks, can be good in the
winter to improve traction in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. If the traction is needed
the added safety to people and property is more important than the slight fuel
expense. Just take out the weight when it is no longer needed.
Manual transmissions tend to get better gas mileage, usually accounting for 15%
power loss through the drive train while automatic transmissions suck up about
20% in parasitic loss.
'Regen' recovers far less energy than acceleration requires. To 'coast' further
without regenerative braking excessively slowing your automatic transmission
equipped hybrid, putting just the right pressure on the accelerator can prevent
the 'regen' drag without adding engine power.
Avoid drive thrus. You waste gas idling. Turn off the car and go inside.
Try to park 'in the middle' of errands and walk between them. Saves at least a
park and pull-out in a parking lot, the slow-motion trip between, and maybe even
get you some exercise.
If your car has a roof rack, remove it if possible while not in use. If the entire unit
can't be removed, take the cross bars off to reduce frontal area and drag.
Keep carbon deposits from building in your engine by revving the engine to high
engine RPM's about once a week. Interstate on-ramps and overtaking vehicles
are good times to do this.
If you're trying to find a direct way to control the amount of gas you are using, i
have found that monitoring how hard your engine is working is key. A/C,
acceleration, and speed all, of course, affect work but these are not direct
indicators. Try monitoring the R.P.M.s (or revolutions per minute) your engine is
running at. Its like monitoring your pulse to find out how hard your heart is
working. You will find that there are RPM ranges which are ideal for your car and
others that are not. For me when ever my engine is running at above 3000
R.P.M.s i find that I am accelerating at an unnecessarily a low gear. So i ease off
the pedal and let the engine build up a higher speed at a lower RPM. The lower
average RPM you travel the lower your work and this DIRECTLY determines
your gas mileage. How do you monitor your RPM? Most cars have a left gauge
next to the speedometer called the tachometer. It measures your RPM at x1000
which means if your gauge indicates halfway between 2 & 3, you're running at
2,500 RPM. I have found that my comfort/efficient RPM zone is between 2000
and 3000 RPM, However I try to stay below 2000 as much as possible and not
much over 2700 only when necessary, such as moving up hill through a traffic
light from a stopped position. This means I don't get above 40 MPH but not
necessarily. I find that I can achieve 50-55 mph in the city and up to 65 MPH on
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the highway and still be running at 2500 RPM. Try to find your comfort/efficient
zone and perhaps you can get a few more M.P.G.'s by watching how hard your
engine is working!! :)
For the best fuel mileage in city driving conditions, consider getting a hybrid
vehicle.
If you own an SUV, keep it in 2-wheel drive mode for normal driving as it uses
less fuel than 4-wheel drive mode. Be sure to unlock 4-wheel drive hubs to
reduce drag. More moving parts in the drive train means more friction, more wear
and tear, and less efficiency.
When waiting in line at drive through windows or in gas lines, don't idle the
engine. Kill the engine and restart it when it is time to move up in the line.
EPA ratings that show 'better' fuel economy for the automatic transmission
models of cars are operated in a manner completely heedless of trying to save
fuel. In other words, if you are conscientiously attempting to save gas, the
automatic will never do as well as the manual. At least not before 'AI Complete',
when cars drive themselves.
You can reduce the load on your engine at a red light by putting it on neutral as
you're waiting. However, too many shifts between "N" and "D" can cause your
transmission to wear out, so avoid using "N" for shorter wait times.
EditWarnings
 Driving slowly on the highway may be dangerous. It is usually illegal to drive
more than 15 mph below the posted speed limit without having the emergency
flashers activated.
 Driving close to another car is *always* unsafe; "drafting", more so. Driving close
to another car also has legal ramifications. Other dangers include the car in front:
suddenly hit the brakes or stop, swerve to avoid something in the road, pass over
something in the road that your car does not have enough ground clearance to
go over, kick up road debris, have an accident. Always remain at a safe distance
from traffic.
 Be careful when using oil additives, some can void a warranty. Read the back of
the packaging before use...or consult your vehicles' manufacturer.
 Usually a 3 second following distance is most effective for maintaining a safe
following distance and to avoid road hazards even if they are hidden by the
vehicle in front of you.
 Beware of quack remedies and testimonials about amazing savings. Every
magnet and wonder widget that was debunked in the 70's is back again to tempt
a new generation.
 Beware of 'chipping' and other seemingly minor, yet significant vehicle
modifications. These will certainly void the warranty, and the wrong one can save
fuel and damage expensive engine components for your trouble.