How to Increase Automobile Mileage
Improving gas mileage is becoming more of a concern now that the price of gas has become so high. While there are a number of products on the market claiming toimprove a car’s gas mileage, many of them are scams that can actually harm your car’s engine and gas tank. Fortunately, there are a few legitimate ways to improve your car’s fuel economy.
To start, do everything you can to reduce the weight of your vehicle. Having a lighter vehicle means that your engine will have to move less mass when it runs. This causes less strain on the engine, which in turn will cause it to run more efficiently. Of course, a more efficient engine uses less fuel; improving your gas mileage.
Lowering the weight of your vehicle can be tricky, however. To start, take out any extra items from your cargo area. Every 100 pounds that are removed from the car can improve fuel efficiency by about 1%, but the exact amount will depend on the total weight and engine design of your particular vehicle. After you get rid of everything obvious, you might want to consider swapping out your car’s body parts for carbon fiber versions. A carbon fiber hood, for example, weighs less than half of what a “normal” car hood weighs. In some cars, this can save three hundred pounds of weight or more. By replacing the various body parts of your car with carbon fiber versions, it will be possible to eliminate nearly a ton of weight and save a significant amount of fuel economy.
After reducing weight, the next step to improving fuel economy is to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. While most newer tires tend not to lose air, they can be affected by changes in temperature. As the outside temperature drops, the air pressure in tires decreases. A tire that is not fully inflated makes more contact with the road. This means that there is a greater friction force between the car and the road. This increased force increases the drag on the car, decreasing its gas mileage. By making sure that the tires are properly inflated, a car reduces its friction with the road and improves it gas mileage. Of course, it should be noted that overinflating your tires can cause them to explode. Because of this, it is important to keep your tires properly inflated.
Finally, make sure that you take care of your car. Running a car with dirty oil and low fluids are not going to run as efficiently as a vehicle that has been well taken care of. Taking care of your vehicle may cost more money up front, but it will save you a lot in the long run.
