Tips to Save on Gas
WHAT CAN I DO TO SAVE GAS?
Having your vehicle serviced regularly and driving wisely will improve your overall mileage in addition to making your car last longer. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling it up with high octane fuel is a waste of money. It will not boost your car‟s performance or fuel economy at all. Unless your vehicle knocks or pings when using regular unleaded, you‟re good to drop down a grade of octane.
2. Don‟t “top off” your tank when filling up. Additional gas is going to slop around and seep out. Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off. Also, if you fill up on the „slow‟ setting, rather than the „fast,‟ you should get just a bit more gas. If you can find unleaded gas with „no ethanol‟ for $ .10 or $ .15 more per gallon, it is definitely worth the extra money as you will probably get about 15% more miles to a gallon. Additionally, the non-ethanol gas is kinder to your engine. Filling up in the morning causes less evaporation and the gaoline is more „condensed‟ when the temps are cooler.
3. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause nearly 150 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year. So be sure to tighten up your gas cap each time you fuel up your car. Newer models should "click‟ three times when tightened.
4. Try and park in the shade. If your car is baking in the sun, a larger amount of evaporative emissions take place than if you park in the shade. Also, a good windshield shade blocks sunlight and keeps some of the heat out of the inside of your car. It also helps the air conditioner cool down more quickly, needing less labor on your engine and less fuel used!
5. Don‟t drive on under-inflated tires. They will wear down more quickly and they also lower your car‟s gas mileage. Tires that have low pressure cause more resistance, so the engine is going to work harder. Your gas mileage may plummet by as much as 15% and you can reduce the life of your tires by 15% or more. Buy a digital gauge and keep it in your glove box. Compare with the recommended pressure in your owner‟s manual and on the label in your car door. We normally set the pressure a little higher
(around 36 psi) to help tire wear and gas economy. Be sure to check pressure when your tires are cold, such as early in the morning. (The average setting should be between 32 lbs and 38 lbs).
6. If a car is out of tune, getting it “tuned up” can boost mileage by about 4%. Make sure that your spark plugs are not worn out. A misfiring spark plug can reduce your fuel efficiency by as much as 30%. A bad oxygen sensor can cut mileage by as much as 30%. On Hondas and Acuras, it‟s best to get the scheduled services done and it will keep your car operating its best!
7. Check the air filter regularly. When it becomes clogged with dirt, dust and bugs, your engine has to work harder and therefore, is less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10%. Get serious about maintenance. Your car‟s performance and longevity depends on it . Cars that are well maintained have 50% less repairs. Maintenance is always less expensive than repairs.
8. Slow down. Even a 5-mile-per-hour decrease in speed can affect your gas mileage. Easier said than done, eh?
9. Don‟t let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes half a gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes more fuel than restarting the engine. Do not be fooled by advertisements for gimmicks that promise to improve gas mileage. They seldom work.
10. Keep as much weight as possible out of the trunk. The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it will consume.
11. Go easy on the brakes and gas pedal. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts by accelerating gradually whenever possible. Also, anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.
12. Use your air conditioning only when necessary. However, since we live in Oklahoma, this is probably the last thing we will consider. But by following all of the other suggestions, you should be able to stay cool and still save some money on fuel.
MOST IMPORTANT - Bring your Honda or Acura to Four Star for your regular oil changes and scheduled maintenances and we will keep you informed on what needs to be done to keep your vehicle running its best and most efficient.
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