6 Tried-and-Tested Ways to Remedy Poor Fuel Economy
Here’s How to Improve Your Gas Mileage
Car owners want nothing more than to save money at the pump while making their vehicles perform as efficiently as possible at the same time. That’s why they’re often on the lookout for ways to improve their fuel economy, especially if they find their gas mileage going down.
If you happen to have a car that’s suffering from poor fuel economy, Kids Car Donations is here to share some tried-and-tested tips that will help you remedy this issue.
What Are the Causes of Poor Fuel Economy?
Before we proceed, you need to know first the most common causes of high fuel consumption. They are:
- Old and dirty air filter
- Incorrect tire pressure
- Faulty or misfiring spark plugs
- Bad fuel injector
- Failing oxygen sensors
- Wrong motor oil
- Excessive idling
- Defective exhaust system
If your car has these red flags, it’s best to take it to your trusted mechanic right away. Having these issues fixed in the soonest possible time won’t only save you from costly repairs, but it can also prevent your car from meeting a premature death.
Besides these issues, your driving habits can also affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. These habits may be contributing a lot to your car’s poor gas mileage.
How to Reduce Your Gas Expenses
The following tips will help reduce your expenses on your next trip to the gas pump:
- Drive moderately.
Cruising down the highway makes your engine work harder than usual to overcome wind resistance. This means burning up more fuel than usual — 15% more at 100 km/h and 25% more at 110 km/h, to be exact. This might tempt you to drive more slowly, but you could end up using more fuel this way, particularly when you go slower than 50 km/h. This would result in your engine dropping to a lower gear.
So, what’s the ideal speed to achieve optimal fuel economy? A steady 50-90 km/h should do it.
- Lighten your load.
The more load you put in your car, the more gas it will use. Every extra 50 kg added to your car will increase your fuel consumption by 2%. Take the time to declutter your car and remove all the items that you don’t need such as children’s toys, camping gear, beach stuff, and your roof racks.
- Check your tire pressure at least once a month.
Underinflated tires make your car burn more fuel as they have a higher rolling resistance on the road. With every kilometer you travel, your tires will generate more friction and rolling resistance, hence increasing fuel usage. So, make sure that you keep them pumped up once a month to their recommended psi.
- Don’t slam on the brakes aggressively.
Braking aggressively increases fuel consumption as this will require you to accelerate again later on. This is especially true if you’re too close to the car in front of you.
- Drive with the AC on.
As a rule of thumb, driving at slower speeds is much more efficient with the windows rolled down as opposed to turning the air conditioning system on. However, if you’re trying to save on gas, using the AC should be the way to go, especially if you’re traveling at a speed faster than 80 km/h.
- Avoid idling for too long.
Idling consumes half a gallon of fuel per hour and pumps CO2 into the atmosphere at the same time. So, rather than idling when waiting for someone, just turn off your engine. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting fuel.
A Meaningful Way to Dispose of an Unwanted Car
If the poor fuel economy of your gas guzzler is messing up your budget and you’re thinking of getting rid of it, consider handing over that vehicle to us at Kids Car Donations. We’ll use your donation to provide much-needed medical assistance to indigent sick children and teens in your local community.
Our team will sell your vehicle through an auction and use the proceeds to support the vital children’s healthcare programs and services of our charity partners. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations use the funding they get from us to deliver free solutions and treatments for a wide range of medical conditions that afflict young people. These nonprofits also provide their beneficiaries with access to free social services and educational resources.
By making a charitable contribution to us, you’ll also be helping yourself. Your gift will entitle you to claim the maximum tax deduction when you file your itemized income tax return in the next tax season
We will also remove your unwanted vehicle quickly, with no hassle, and absolutely at no cost to you. We will provide you with this service wherever you are in the country.
More than anything else, you’ll find great satisfaction in having done something that will truly impact the lives of the kids in your area who are grappling with serious afflictions.
You can donate almost any vehicle type whatever its age or condition.
For more information about our vehicle donation program, feel free to visit our FAQs page. You can give us a call anytime through our toll-free hotline at 866-634-8395 or leave us a message here for any other concerns or inquiries you might have.
Reach Out to Ailing Kids in Your Area Today!
Your no-longer-needed car can help rejuvenate the ailing girls and boys in your locality. Donating that vehicle to us can make you a hero to them. Call Kids Car Donations at 866-634-8395 or fill out our secure online donation form now!