{"id":32361,"date":"2010-11-01T11:29:52","date_gmt":"2010-11-01T15:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=32361"},"modified":"2010-11-01T11:29:53","modified_gmt":"2010-11-01T15:29:53","slug":"a-dozen-ways-to-improve-your-mileage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2010\/11\/a-dozen-ways-to-improve-your-mileage\/","title":{"rendered":"A Dozen Ways To Improve Your Mileage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
You don't need a battery car or hybrid to ensure you're getting maximum fuel efficiency.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019ve been spending a lot of time, in recent weeks, test-driving a variety of new electric vehicles, and it doesn\u2019t take long to realize how even the most minor things can impact your range \u2013 the battery equivalent of fuel economy.<\/p>\n

Sure, you don\u2019t have to worry about turning on your heater in a conventionally-powered automobile, something that can cut range by as much as half in a battery car during a cold Michigan winter.\u00a0 But our sojourns nonetheless underscored how simple driving behaviors, like lightening our admittedly leaden foot, can significantly improve energy efficiency, whether you\u2019re driving on gas, diesel, battery or, for that matter, any other form of power.<\/p>\n

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Free Subscription! Click Here!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, as we head into the cold season, here are an assortment of ways to improve your mileage, or range.\u00a0 Yes, a few of these tips will require spending a couple bucks, but the payoff will be almost immediate \u2013 and often will deliver improved performance as well as increased fuel economy.<\/p>\n

Some of the easiest ways to improve mileage simply require you to think about how you\u2019re driving:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Don\u2019t slam the throttle when you take off from a stoplight.\u00a0 That brief momentum of victory over the kid in the next lane will translate into defeat when you have to pay more at the pump;<\/li>\n
  • If you\u2019ve got a natural lead foot, odds are that you\u2019re more likely to blip the throttle while driving. Don\u2019t be so impatient and, when possible, use cruise control to smooth out your use of the accelerator.\u00a0 It\u2019ll save more fuel than you realize;<\/li>\n
  • The exception is when you\u2019re on hilly terrain, when cruise is likely to constantly kick in and out and actually lower your fuel economy, note our friends at AutoMD.com;<\/li>\n
  • You\u2019ll pay the equivalent of 24 cents more per gallon through lower mileage for every 5 mph you drive above 60 miles per hour;<\/li>\n
  • And though it might seem counter-intuitive, don\u2019t keep your engine idling more than 30 seconds.\u00a0 Stuck in the drive-up line at a fast food restaurant or bank, idling not only wastes gas but pours out emissions.\u00a0 Unless it\u2019s really, really cold and your car hasn\u2019t had time to warm up, you\u2019re better off shutting down the engine, even for a brief wait.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    We all try to take care of our health, and maintaining your car is a good idea, as well.\u00a0 Not only will it run better and last longer, but you\u2019ll likely reduce emissions and improve mileage.\u00a0 And, best of all, not all these tips will cost anything:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • One of the fastest ways to waste gas is to let the air pressure in your tires fall below recommended levels.\u00a0 Simply checking the manual \u2013 or the decal normally posted on the inside pillar of the driver\u2019s door \u2013 and keeping your tires properly inflated can improve mileage by as much as 10%.\u00a0 Better yet, that\u2019ll improve handling and safety, too;<\/li>\n
    • Make sure your gas cap is tight.\u00a0 How often do you see someone pull out of a gas station with the filler door open?\u00a0 Or even drive with a missing cap?\u00a0 Not only do you risk contaminating your fuel tank and increasing evaporative emissions, but you could waste up to 2% of your fuel economy;<\/li>\n
    • Follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommendation for changing oil, which will not only help you maximize the life of the engine but improve fuel efficiency. If you live in particularly cold or hot climates, make sure you use the right oil viscosity, as well;<\/li>\n
    • Don\u2019t skip the tune-ups.\u00a0 Sure, you may be tight on cash, but simple steps like replacing worn plugs and filters can quickly pay off in the form of improved mileage \u2013 and lower bills at the pump.\u00a0 A misfiring engine can reduce fuel economy by 30%, and a seriously clogged filter will reduce performance and still add 10% or more to your gas bill \u2013 though today\u2019s cars can compensate for a normally-aging filter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      There are other steps you can take to maximize mileage.\u00a0 When you\u2019re ready to replace worn tires, check carefully to see if there are more efficient alternatives.\u00a0 Most makers now will recommend low-rolling-resistance tires that can boost mileage by as much as 10%.<\/p>\n

      As we noted earlier, using the electric heat in a battery car will have an immediate and potentially severe impact on range. \u00a0There\u2019s less of an impact with a regular vehicle, though your air conditioner will suck power \u2013 and mileage \u2013 especially if it\u2019s on full force.\u00a0 Consider using your car\u2019s economy mode, which simply blows in outside air.<\/p>\n

      But opening the windows isn\u2019t always a good idea.\u00a0 Especially when driving at highway speeds, that can seriously impact your car\u2019s aerodynamics and actually reduce fuel efficiency more than the air conditioner would.<\/p>\n

      Weight is another enemy of good mileage.\u00a0 The old rule of thumb is that every extra 100 pounds reduces fuel efficiency by roughly 1 mpg.<\/p>\n

      But while you\u2019re taking steps to improve your fuel economy, avoid some other mileage misconceptions:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Skip the aftermarket additives and those miracle mileage cures you see advertised late at night. They don\u2019t work;<\/li>\n
      • Skip the premium fuel.\u00a0 If your car is rated at 89 octane, that\u2019s all it needs.\u00a0 Opting for 91 is simply throwing away your money;<\/li>\n
      • Don\u2019t waste time warming up your car.\u00a0 No, don\u2019t drive like you\u2019re on a race track the moment you start up, especially on a cold winter morning, but there\u2019s no advantage to sitting in your driveway, either.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Some simple steps are all you need to ensure that you\u2019ll always get maximum mileage and performance \u2013 and minimize emissions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        You don’t need a battery car or hybrid to ensure you’re getting maximum fuel efficiency. Here are a dozen tips – most costing you nothing – to improve your mileage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13946,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[151],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32361"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32361\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32361"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=32361"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=32361"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=32361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}