Knowing how to get the most out of your tank of gas is a skill that just about every driver wants to know, and increased fuel efficiency doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Identifying the causes of poor gas mileage can be as easy as giving your car a good once-over and checking to see if there are any faulty components or aged mechanisms.
Old Tires
Your vehicle’s tires play a significant role in the quality of your drive and the safety of your car, and your gas mileage suffering is just one of the symptoms caused by worn-out tires. Whether it is due to being underinflated or shallow tread depth, your tires run the risk of putting unnecessary stress on your engine. This extra stress forces your engine to work harder, resulting in more gas being burned just to go the same distance.
Think About a New Set
Think about the last time you purchased a fresh set of tires. If you know it’s been a number of years, or you can clearly see signs of wear, consider switching out your old tires for new ones. New tires come with benefits beyond better fuel efficiency, so it is not an unwise investment.
Faulty Fuel Injectors
Fuel injectors, as the name suggests, inject fuel into your vehicle’s engine. They are part of a larger system that ensures the air to fuel ratio is maintained and that your car can continue to run safely. But the injectors can cause issues if they spring a leak; without the fuel getting sent to your engine, your fuel economy will decrease.
Know the Signs of a Bad Fuel Injector
Bad fuel injectors may be an uncommon problem, but something that you still may face, and it will be to your benefit to know the symptoms other than lousy fuel mileage:
- Your engine misfires.
- Your car will not start.
- Your vehicle shakes while idling.
Excessive Idling
So long as the engine is one, it burns fuel to operate the systems, even when your car is not in motion. Idling in your vehicle may be one of the most common causes of decreased fuel efficiency, and you may not even realize that idling is an issue.
Know When To Turn Your Car Off
When you know that you’re going to park for a while without moving, it’s best to shut off your car and stop burning your fuel. It’s a common belief that starting your car burns more fuel than idling, which is not generally the case. Idling, even for 30 seconds, can waste more fuel than turning your car off then turning it back on.
Spare Your Car the Stress
Regular maintenance is a part of vehicle ownership and performing the necessary inspections and repairs can have effects that can be felt throughout your car. Be on top of your service schedule so that your car doesn’t deteriorate to the point of affecting its own gas mileage.
