How to Improve Old Car Fuel Efficiency
Because of the instability of gas prices, everyone is looking for ways to save at the pump. Even if your car isn't a hybrid or electric car, it is still possible to increase your miles per gallon (MPG) while decreasing the price spent monthly on gas. There are several easy and simple steps that can be taken to improve fuel efficiency in an older model car. Some of these include regular maintenance, removing excess weight and changing driving habits.
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Instructions
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How to Improve Old Car Fuel Efficiency
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Keep your car maintained. This includes regularly scheduled oil and air filter changes, along with keeping tires properly inflated. Additionally, most cars come with a user manual that has recommended maintenance for certain mileage milestones. These can include tire rotation and balancing, belt changes and routine tune-ups by a mechanic. If you follow these basic guidelines, you'll have a properly running car.
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Remove excess weight. Go through your trunk and remove items you don't need in the car. Remove bike or luggage racks when they aren't being used. Extra items in and on a car make a difference in the MPG average because those items add up and weigh your vehicle down.
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Accelerate and brake gently. At stoplights and stop signs, accelerating gently ensures that gas isn't wasted on fast acceleration. Being a calm and steady driver improves gas mileage because the engine isn't forced to react dramatically at excessive use of the gas pedal. Edmunds.com found that braking over a longer distance also increases fuel efficiency (see link in Resources).
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Avoid excessive idling. Time spent in line at a fast food drive-thru, the bank and other places should be avoided. If the car will be at a standstill for more than 30 seconds, it is best to turn it off. The gas used to start the engine is less than what is spent to idle the engine.
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Combine errands and trips. Plan your daily schedule and stops. Map out these locations and visit the grocery, branch bank or post office closest to your place of employment. Start with the errand the farthest distance away and work your way back to your home or place of work.
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