Fuel Economy – Save $ on Gas and spend on your Vacation
instead!
The summer travel season is upon us and right on cue the
average price of gas in the Midwest is beginning to creep back up towards the $3+ per gallon mark.
1. Old Engine Oil = Lower Fuel Economy
Does the age or
quality of your engine oil have an impact on your fuel economy?
The answer is Yes! The
quality of your engine oil does indeed affect your fuel economy.
Vehicles should have a regular service oil change every
3,000 miles approximately and every 1,000 miles in extreme conditions.
2. Stop Carrying Dead Weight
Get rid of all excess stuff you carry in your car. Start cleaning that car out to get rid of all
the junk that isn’t being used. Hauling
all of that old stuff makes your engine burn fuel faster. On a typical vehicle, every extra 100 pounds,
increases fuel consumption by 2%.
Want to get another boost of MPG’s?
3. Break Your Bad Driving Habits
Let’s face it, we all have some bad driving habits. Now I know habits can be hard to break, but if
you want to get the maximum fuel economy, you’re going to have to change your
gas guzzling ways.
Did you know aggressive driving such as rapid acceleration
and speeding can decrease your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5%
around town? The more steady and
consistent your driving becomes, the more fuel efficient your vehicle will be.
4. Cruise Control Won’t Help You
My Dad used to say that by setting your vehicle’s cruise
control between 60 and 65 MPG you’ll be driving along the freeway most
efficiently. Not so fast! What about the shifts in terrain? To get better control and save fuel you will
have much more control over how your vehicle handles the road if your foot is
on the pedal.
5. Avoid Traffic With an app called Waze
Did you know there’s a FREE smartphone app that will help
you boost your fuel economy? Waze is a navigation
app that sends real time traffic and construction updates right to your phone. Waze is a trustworthy navigation system and
has never led me astray.
6. Properly Inflated Tires
This may be the most-common knowledge of all of our tips.
It’s recommended that you check air pressure every other time
you stop to fill up your gas tank. Keep in mind that many vehicles have
different tire pressures on the front and rear.
The first place to look for the correct air pressure for
your specific tires is your vehicle owner’s manual. Correct air pressure should
also be listed on the tire placard attached to the vehicle door edge, doorpost,
glove box door or fuel door.
Need more advice on what maintenance your vehicle needs for
optimal fuel efficiency? Your local Teton Motors Service Centers service all makes and models. Give us a call at
(877) 209-8106 or visit us online today!
We always offer Service Specials and would be pleased to provide you
with an estimate.
