Do’s and Don’ts for Getting Better Gas Mileage

The better gas mileage your car gets, the less you’ll have to fill up on gas.  Of course this means you save money.  If your car isn’t getting the gas mileage it should, there are some things you can do or not do to help out.  Here are a few do’s and don’ts for getting better gas mileage in your car.

Don’t ride your brakes. 

If you want to get better gas mileage in your vehicle, it’s important that you only use your brakes when you need to.  Always slowing down or stopping and then speeding up will cause your car’s gas mileage to decrease.  You might try to plan your trips ahead of time to make sure you’re taking the route with the least amount of stops.  You can also try slowing down well ahead of time.  This way you can actually just coast to the stop instead of using your brakes.

Do stay at the optimum speed. 

You may want to check the facts about your car to find out what the car’s optimum speed is.  This is the speed that the car gets the best gas mileage at.  While each car is different, the speed usually doesn’t go higher than around 60 mph.  When you can, you should try to stay at this speed, so you can get the best gas mileage possible. 

Don’t add extra weight to your car. 

The heavier your car is the more your gas mileage will decrease.  While you can’t do anything about the actual weight of your vehicle, you can make sure that you don’t add any extra weight to the car.  This means that you need to avoid traveling with any heavy items like tools or equipment.  Even heavy luggage can be a problem.  It may not always be an option to leave these items at home, but only carry them with you when you absolutely need them.

Do perform regular maintenance. 

While you may not notice a significant increase in your gas mileage, performing regular maintenance on your can increase it slightly and at the very least help your car run at its best.  So make sure your filters are clean and your tires are filled with enough air pressure.  Low tire pressure can drag down your gas mileage and cause more wear on your tires after a while, so make sure you keep your tires at the optimum tire pressure at all times.

You don’t have to do a lot to see a difference in your car’s gas mileage.  Try to stay at a steady speed without stopping and going constantly.  When you can, take advantage of your car’s optimum speed.  Finally, make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and isn’t carrying extra weight.  By following these tips, you should start to see a noticeable increase in your gas mileage.