Comments on How to Get Good Gas Mileage With Your Car

If you have a truck, leave the tailgate up. Putting the tailgate down is an old wives tale. Maybe it was true in the past, but it isn't now.

Putting the tailgate down allows the air to flow over the cab and put down force on the bed, which creates drag. Fighting drag creates a low fuel mileage. Keeping the tailgate up allows for a pressure pocket of air to keep the air moving over the cab and straight back the truck. I.e., its more aerodynamic.

I hear that switching lanes can use up a little extra gas. So staying in one lane and maintaining an even speed helps to reduce the amount of gas used.

With increasing gas prices, I've found that budgeting for fill ups works the best. It forces you to do the errands in one trip, stay away from spontaneous road trips, and helps pick better routes to do things in. I usually allow myself to fill up my car twice a week, and only up to $20 at the pump. With increasing gas prices it's usually cost $30 to fill up my car, but I find every time I go my gas tank is usually 1/4 full pre-fill up, so I have a nearly full tank when I leave. Try it out, you'll see a difference in your life and how much you now enjoy to find a more organized way of living.

Use a quart of a good, synthetic oil in every oil change to reduce engine friction. This will give you from 5% to 10% better mileage. It also increases engine life.

Living in the Midwest and northwest, with a Saturn Vue V6 AWD, I have found that with a K&N air filter (clean and setting it on 80 mph), I can get 28 mpg over the 65 to 75 mph at 21 and 22 mpg. At this speed it reaches the best power/ weight ratio for the rpm reached around 2000 to 2200 rpm. Tuned properly and in good clean condition. And yes, dirty cars produce more wind drag too. Which also affects mileage. Like back in the 70's, most cars were set up for best running around 70 to 75, so when we slowed them down with the 55 mph limit they used more gas than ever. Great for big city driving, but in the open plains not so good. More drivers doze off at the slower speed limits than at the higher ones. Longer drive times are involved with this too.

Keep tires inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire. Tire inflation numbers suggested by the automobile manufacturer are usually too low because the car maker considers ride quality when publishing the numbers.

Traveling with your tailgate down on your truck does not decrease drag. Actually it increases it. The truck's tailgate, when in it's proper upright position, creates a bubble of circulating air in the bed space. All air blowing around and over your car is pushed away from the bed by this pocket, so no drag is created on the tailgate. A lowered tailgate, however, has no air pocket, so as you drive down the road air drag is created along the length of the open bed. It's been proven over and over again, tailgates up = better gas mileage.

If you are pulling into a gas station and see their delivery truck, pass it by. A delivery to the station's storage tank will stir up any sludge on the bottom of the tank. Don't rely on the pump's filter.

For cars with manual transmissions, space your up-shifts as close as possible to reach a high gear quicker.

Traveling with your tailgate down on your truck does not decrease drag. Actually it increases it. The truck's tailgate, when in it's proper upright position, creates a bubble of circulating air in the bed space. All air blowing around and over your car is pushed away from the bed by this pocket, so no drag is created on the tailgate. A lowered tailgate, however, has no air pocket, so as you drive down the road air drag is created along the length of the open bed. It's been proven over and over again, tailgates up = better gas mileage.

Keep tires inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire. Tire inflation numbers suggested by the automobile manufacturer are usually too low because the car maker considers ride quality when publishing the numbers.

If you are pulling into a gas station and see their delivery truck, pass it by. A delivery to the station's storage tank will stir up any sludge on the bottom of the tank. Don't rely on the pump's filter.

For cars with manual transmissions, space your up-shifts as close as possible to reach a high gear quicker.

Use a quart of a good, synthetic oil in every oil change to reduce engine friction. This will give you from 5% to 10% better mileage. It also increases engine life.

Watch your engine's RPM. The higher the RPM, the more gas the engine is using. At lower speeds (30 MPH), the engine will actually run at a higher RPM than it does at slightly higher speeds (45 to 65, depending on the size of the vehicle, gear ratios, etc.). Beyond about 60 MPH, your engine will run at the same RPM that it would at around 30 MPH. Again, these numbers depend on variables that differ from vehicle to vehicle. Driving at 20-30 MPH not only causes your engine to run at a higher RPM than it would at 45-55 MPH, but it will also take you longer to get to your destination, which results in you using more gas because of the amount of time that your engine is running. Basically, always check the route that you take when you decide to travel. Mapping out your route merely by distance is not always best; if you travel on small highways, city streets, or back roads that have low speed limits, your engine's RPM will be higher and you'll be traveling for a longer amount of time, both of which will consume more gas.

If you have to do several things in one day, attempt to do them all in one trip, if possible. While the engine is still cool, it requires more gasoline and less air, and therefore uses more gasoline. When the engine becomes warm, it can run on less gas and more air, saving fuel.

If you have to do several things in one day, attempt to do them all in one trip, if possible. While the engine is still cool, it requires more gasoline and less air, and therefore uses more gasoline. When the engine becomes warm, it can run on less gas and more air, saving fuel.

Having a bad muffler or catalytic converter can cause a blockage in your exhaust system that can result in the engine having to work harder to vent the gases into the air. If your muffler or converter are shot, get it fixed! Your car will run quieter and more efficiently.

Having a bad muffler or catalytic converter can cause a blockage in your exhaust system that can result in the engine having to work harder to vent the gases into the air. If your muffler or converter are shot, get it fixed! Your car will run quieter and more efficiently.