How to Improve Gas Mileage - Car Maintenance

Gas prices keep on rising. Can maintaining your car in good order really improve gas mileage? Before we can answer this question let's have a look at what maintaining your car really means.

Most of your car's components are good for quite some time. There isn't much you can change about your shocks or the timing belt or your exhaust system. The most important part about it is that it's inspected regularly. Your car is manufacturer has set intervals at which you should inspect certain components of your car. These will keep your car in good working order.

There are, however, certain components that you can inspect your self or improve. These components are: your tires, your air filter, your exhaust, and your engine. Doing simple checkups and modifications to these components will greatly improve your gas consumption.

Tire pressure: Having the right tire pressure can make a serious difference in how much energy it takes your car to move forward. The more energy it takes your car to move the more fuel than you have to use. Under inflated or over inflated tires can use up as much as 10% extra fuel. You should check your tire pressure weekly. For increased tire performance inflated with nitrogen. Make sure that you check the tire pressure regularly; once a week is often enough.

Air filter: the standard paper air filter that is normally used in cars is great at preventing particles from getting in the engine but it is poor at allowing air in. The more air gets into your engine the better the combustion will be. You can replace the regular paper filter with an oil filter (provided by K&N filters). These filters will cost you more then normal filters but also last much longer. They are guaranteed to last or 1,000,000 miles. They also allow more air to get to your engine and therefore get a more complete combustion.

Engine carbon buildup: since most engines do not achieve complete combustion of gasoline, there is carbon building up more time in the pistons. Over time this buildup causes your engine to lose power and efficiency. You have two options: first you can buy a fuel additive and second you can get what is called an "engine flush".

Another important aspect of the engine is the oil you put into it. Using low viscosity oil allows the engine parts to move faster and with less resistance and therefore will improve engine efficiency. Be sure to perform oil changes as recommended by your manufacturer.

You can do most of these things by yourself, except for the engine flush, and they will definitely improve your gas mileage. Of course there are many other things that you can do to improve gas mileage, but these will be discussed another time.


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