ALT-1 How to get better Mileage for your Bucks
With the financial crunch going on all over the world, people are having to hang onto their older less efficient cars for a longer time. If you are one of these people, don’t despair, there are things that you can do to help you maximize the amount of mileage you are getting. This will help you get the most from every buck that you spend on gasoline.
Control your speed
Speed is one thing that we can all control. Not only will it keep you from getting a speeding ticket but the closer you drive to the optimal 60 miles per hour, the better gas mileage you will get. It is not an easy task to keep your speed at 60 especially when many highways have speeds of 65 or 70 miles per hour. If you have cruise control and you are traveling on a road where you will not be braking every 50 feet, then by all means set it to 60 and just count the money you will be saving.
Avoid stop, start and idle
Try to maintain a steady speed. Don’t take off like a bat out of hell when you take off from a stop sign and don’t follow so close that you are constantly breaking and then having to speed up again. Avoid the heavy food syndrome and develop a light footed approach to driving. If you are going to be standing still for a while, turn off the car and save the gas.
Keep tire pressure correct
Read the manual for your vehicle, and keep the tires inflated to the pressure that it recommends. This is one of the most important things that you can do to help you to get the most for your buck. Don’t assume that every tire and every car are the same, do the research to be sure you have the pressure just right. Not only should this improve your mileage by as much as 3% but it will help your tires to last longer.
Tune your car up
If your car hasn’t been tuned in a while, it is probably time to schedule a regular maintenance. There are quite a few minor repairs that can really impact your gas mileage. Especially if your car has had a bad emissions test or actually failed, you need to address the problem which is not only polluting the air but sucking the money out of your wallet.
Correct weight of oil
When it is time for your scheduled oil change, be sure that you use the correct weight of oil that is suggested by the manufacturer of your vehicle. This is not one of the biggest offenders but it can cost you an extra 1 or 2 percent if you are not using the correct oil.
Extra weight
The lighter your vehicle is, the better mileage you will get. Other than your spare tire and emergency kit, there isn’t a whole lot that should be traveling around with you on a regular basis. Keep it simple and keep it light and you will get the best mileage possible.
Be aerodynamic
Remove any racks that are on top of your car, try to be as aerodynamic as possible. If you don’t need them open to breath, close your car windows, they increase the drag.
Use air conditioning sparingly
Yes, it costs you gas every time you turn on the air conditioning, you can probably even feel the difference in your motor when you are using it. If it is only mildly warm try using just the outside air with the window closed and the fan on.
These are all things that can help your get the best gas mileage for your buck. Everyone is trying to save money these days and finding the best gas price in your area is always a good idea
