Seems like the $4+ a gallon for gasoline is really hitting home. Our first round of gas saving tips were a hit, and we thank you all for your input. We have received several requests for more tips on saving gas. While these next few tips won't have as significant an impact on your mpg much, every little bit helps to keep a few more dollars in your pocket.
Remember if you have a question or are curious about something car related, you can email us at carandwriter @ gmail.com (without the spaces), and we will respond back to you as soon as we can. Thank you readers for your support, we appreciate it!
1) Avoid idling. If you're going to be parked for longer than a 1-2 minutes, it's best to shut off your engine and restart it when you do need to drive. A car that's not moving is getting 0 mpg. However, if your car is turbocharged, do not do a hot shut down as that will increase the potential for wear on the bearings of your turbo.
2) Consolidate all your trips/errands. If you can, take care of multiple things at one location. Frequent short trips also do not allow your fluids to get up to operating temperature. If your engine cools off too much or does not get warm enough, it will have to go through the warm up mode which richens up the fuel mixture and wastes gas.
3) Don't use premium fuel. This doesn't affect your mpg directly, but your wallet, especially since today premium fuel costs ~$4.50 in southern California. If your owner's manual does not state you need premium fuel, just keep using regular grade gasoline. The only time you will need higher grade gas is if your car knocks with the lower grade gas (which happens in some older cars due to carbon buildup on the piston crowns), you are towing a heavy load, or your car is a high performance vehicle with either forced induction or a high compression naturally aspirated motor (i.e. Honda S2000 BMW M3, etc.). Modern cars have advanced computers with knock sensors which retard timing, and can allow your car to run on the lower grade fuel. The only downside is reduced power output, but we doubt horsepower is your goal if you're trying to save on fuel costs.
4) Coast when possible. This doesn't mean throwing the car in neutral (which is illegal), we mean letting off the gas and gradually coasting down to a stop gently. By looking ahead down a road, if a light turns red, coasting to the light will save gas since most modern cars turn off the fuel injectors under no load situations with high vacuum. Also, you save fuel by not having to accelerate as much should the light turn green before you come to a complete stop.
5) Use the recommended oil weight for your car. Higher viscosity oil requires more work from your oil pump to lubricate your engine, and that is inefficient. Check your owner's manual to see what viscosity oil you are supposed to use. Only use higher viscosity oil if your engine is starting to show signs of wear, or you plan on doing a lot of high rpm driving.
These extra tips should help you get a bit more bang per buck out of every gallon of fuel you use. Happy motoring and keep on driving!
Link to our 1st set of gas tips: 5 Basic Gas Tips
Your source for automotive information and tips. Everyone is welcome, whether you are just learning to change your oil, to those who can rebuild an engine in their sleep! If you have an automotive question you want answered or would like something reviewed, just ask! Email us at carandwriter@gmail.com.
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