How to Get Rid of Poor Gas Mileage

How to Get Rid of Poor Gas Mileage

How to Get Rid of Poor Gas Mileage

If you keep on stopping at every gas station for a refill, or if you find that you're almost always close to empty, your car may be suffering from poor gas mileage. Fuel can be quite expensive, and you should get the most miles out of every gallon you fill into your tank. Here are some ways to get rid of poor gas mileage.

Causes of Poor Gas MileageMileage is very important to drivers and car owners; it means a lot to how far they can travel, and how much they can do with their vehicle. Here are some causes of poor gas mileage:

• The car itself. Most cars today are built to be fuel-efficient and give you more miles to the gallon. More powerful vehicles like sports cars, trucks, and sport-utility vehicles often have poorer gas mileage than sedans and compact cars.
• Poor driving. Sometimes all you need to improve your gas mileage is to improve your driving technique. The more you push your car to the limit, or the more you stress your vehicle even in easy driving situations, the more gas your car will consume.
• Inadequate maintenance. Poor maintenance is also a cause of low mileage. Age, rust, wear, and tear can cause more stress to your car's moving parts (like the engine and the drivetrain), and cause poor performance.

Maintain Your VehicleOne way to increase gas mileage is to make sure that your vehicle is in excellent condition whenever you drive. Here are some ways that you can maintain your vehicle:

• Routine maintenance. Simple tasks like oil changes and inspecting your fuel lines can greatly reduce wear and tear, and improve your gas mileage. No matter how old your car is, you can always pull off a few extra miles to the gallon with proper maintenance.
• Repair. A broken-down car will not give you the miles for every gallon you put in your car. Have your car repaired by an expert automotive technician at the first signs of mechanical damage.

Driving TechniquesAnother way to improve your car's gas mileage is to use fuel-saving driving techniques:

• Feather the accelerator. The harder you push into the throttle, you feed more fuel into the engine and waste precious fuel. Instead of pushing hard into the accelerator, you'll be better off feathering it especially if you'll be driving long distances.
• Coast. If you're driving on a highway or a straight, level road without oncoming traffic, you can turn off the engine and use the momentum of your car to move forward. When you coast, you can save a lot of miles by using your car's own forward momentum without using a drop of fuel.
• Maintain speed. Acceleration and deceleration can waste a lot of fuel in the long run. When driving on the open highway or a freeway, try to maintain constant speed to preserve your fuel mileage.

Other Ways to Improve MileageHere are other ways to improve your car's fuel mileage:

• Fuel and fuel additives. Many gas stations offer high-octane fuels and other fuel additives that you may use to improve gas mileage. You can test different fuels compatible with your car to see what works best.
• Replacing the car. If your budget is being strained by a car with poor mileage and performance, you may need to replace the car altogether. Consider the many available options today for biofuels or hybrids.

Mileage should be a top priority for every environmentally-conscious driver who wants to save a few dollars for every gallon of fuel. With these tips to help you get rid of poor gas mileage, you can get more miles to the gallon, and more value for your gasoline expenses. For more information on improving your gas mileage, read how to increase a gas mileage.