Everything You Need to Know to Improve the Fuel Economy of Your Vehicle

Common Myths About Gas Mileage

Every driver wants to optimize gas mileage in order to save some money in the gas station, especially those that need to use their car on a daily basis. With gas prices always fluctuating, it’s worth reviewing the best tips to improve your vehicle’s efficiency. Getting good mileage starts with choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle and doing regular maintenance. However, according to experts, most of the other tips we have heard about saving gas are just misconceptions. Here we debunk some of the most common myths about gas mileage.

Read more: How Far Can Your Car or Truck Drive on Empty?

Small Cars Are More Fuel-Efficient

One common misconception about getting good gas mileage is that a smaller car will achieve a better MPG rating than a large one. However, some of today’s most efficient vehicles are midsize and large cars, thanks to the incorporation of advanced technologies such as hybrid drivetrains, direct fuel injection, low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic designs.

Premium Fuel Is Always Better

High-octane fuel won’t give your vehicle better gas mileage, nor will make it run faster if the performance potential of the engine doesn’t require it. Most cars are designed to work just fine with regular gas, so unless your owner’s manual recommends using premium fuel, there’s no need to spend the extra money.

Starting A Car Uses More Fuel Than Idling

Another common fear is that starting a car will use more gas than letting it run idle, but the reality is that modern fuel injected engines start efficiently, especially when warmed up. On the contrary, depending on your vehicle’s engine size, idling can burn up to a half-gallon of fuel per hour. Experts say that idling for more than 10 seconds burns more gas than restarting the vehicle, so if you need to stop your car for some seconds it’s better to turn off the engine.

 

Filling Up in the Morning or at Night Improves Gas Mileage

There is a theory that says during hot days, you should only fill up the fuel tank in the early morning or at night when gas is cold. That is because cold gas is denser, therefore you will get more bang for the buck. The truth is, though, that no matter what time of the day you buy it, gas will normally always stay at the same temperature.

Replacing the Air Filters Will Increase MPG

If you own a relatively modern vehicle, changing a dirty air filter might improve the engine’s performance, but it won’t increase your gas mileage. Fuel-injected engines incorporate technology systems that automatically adjust the fuel-air ratio to the proper level. What you should be paying attention to are the tires, as low pressure directly affects the vehicle’s fuel economy.

Read more: Top 5 Reasons To Buy a Used Car or Truck

Fuel economy is more related to the way you drive than anything else. Driving smoothly, maintaining a steady speed and cutting out rapid acceleration will prevent fuel loss. What can also help, is choosing a fuel-efficient car, truck or SUV as your next vehicle. At The Car Lot etc. we offer a wide selection of new and used cars for sale. Visit us today or browse through our online inventory to check our available models.