Things You'll Need:
- -tire gauge
- -a mechanic you trust
- -the desire to save money
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Step 1
Maintain your car. When a car needs a tune-up or when it's having emissions issues, gas mileage can be reduced by nearly four percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Different car problems affect cars differently. The U.S. Department of Energy says more serious problems such as a faulty oxygen sensor can cause you to see a decrease in gas mileage by about 40 percent. Maintaining your vehicle and regularly taking your car to a mechanic may help you to discover problems sooner. This may prevent little problems from becoming much bigger ones in the future.
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Step 2
Check those tires consistently. Properly inflated tires are not just safer, they also give you better gas mileage. When your tires aren't properly inflated your car doesn't just glide along. Instead, it has to work harder to stay in motion. In addition to lower gas mileage, tires that aren't adequately inflated can cause other problems. For example, you could subject yourself to other dangers such as a blow out. Periodically checking your tires can eliminate this problem while improving your gas mileage.
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Step 3
Follow speed limits. Speed limits are there for a reason. Not following them puts you and others around you in danger. In addition, it may lower your gas mileage by approximately 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town, according to the US Department of Energy.
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Step 4
Eliminate excess baggage. Many people drive around with unnecessary things in their car. Look in anyone's trunk and it's likely there will be more than just a spare tire in there. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an additional 100 pounds reduces your gas mileage by up to two percent. Excess baggage affects cars differently. It takes a stronger toll on smaller cars.
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Step 5
Turn your car off when you're idling for long periods of time. When you're just sitting around and waiting in your car, keeping it on wastes gas. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, idling and its effect on gas mileage is a bigger problem for larger cars as opposed to smaller cars. Regardless of what kind of car you drive, idling wastes gas and as a result, you lose money.
