How to Increase Your Gas Mileage
A gas pump filling a car's gas tankA gas pump filling a car's gas tank

How you drive and how you maintain your car can affect your gas mileage significantly. By making some small changes to your driving habits and maintenance routine, you can squeeze more miles out of every gallon.

Below are some tips to increase your gas mileage. These instructions should be considered for general guidance only. For specific recommendations, consult your car's manual or a certified mechanic.

How to Drive for Better Fuel Economy

  1. Avoid speeding and rapid acceleration. Fuel efficiency drops significantly at higher speeds, and constantly hitting the gas uses more fuel than maintaining a steady pace.
  2. Accelerate gently and avoid slamming on the brakes. Anticipate stops and traffic lights so you can slow down gradually.
  3. Stop-and-go traffic is brutal on gas mileage. Try to plan your trips for off-peak hours.
  4. Keeping your car lightweight can slightly improve fuel efficiency. Extra weight in your car reduces gas mileage. Hauling cargo on the roof of your vehicle also increases wind resistance and lowers fuel economy.
  5. Stopping the engine when your car is stationary is a good way to conserve fuel. While restarting consumes a small amount of gas, it's negligible compared to idling. This practice also reduces emissions. However, it's worth noting that very frequent engine starts can place some additional stress on your vehicle's starter motor.
  6. Air conditioning can negatively impact fuel efficiency. However, simply lowering the windows isn't a perfect solution either. Open windows introduce aerodynamic drag, a force that increases as your vehicle gains speed. This drag necessitates additional engine power to maintain velocity, thereby offsetting some of the fuel savings achieved by foregoing air conditioning. To get better MPG, use air conditioning during initial cool-down, then switch to ventilated air circulation when possible. This allows you to maintain comfort while reducing reliance on the A/C system.

Maintenance Routine to Improve Fuel Efficiency

Check Your Tire pressure

Underinflated tires make the engine work way harder to keep your car moving. That extra effort translates to burning more gas. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that even a slight underinflation (around 10 psi below recommended) can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 3%. Regularly checking and adjusting tire pressure to the manufacturer's specifications is a simple yet effective way to maximize fuel economy.

Change Your Air Filter Regularly

Your car's air filter needs to be clean for the engine to run well and achieve good gas mileage. When the filter becomes clogged, it blocks the air from reaching the engine. This disrupts the air-fuel mixture necessary for efficient combustion, forcing the engine to work harder to compensate, which reduces fuel economy. Tests have shown improvements in gas mileage (2-6%) for older cars with carburetors when they replaced a clogged air filter. Newer cars with fuel injection are less affected, but a clean filter still helps them run more efficiently.

Here's how to tell when your engine air filter is clogged. Consult your owner's manual for the recommended replacement schedule and consider more frequent changes in dusty environments.

Keep the Spark Plugs in Good Condition

Spark plugs are important for good gas mileage. A well-maintained spark plug is key to efficient combustion—it ensures that fuel wastage is minimized, and every drop of gasoline is used effectively. This means your engine not only runs smoother but also squeezes out more miles per gallon. However, worn or degraded spark plugs can lead to incomplete combustion, and this is what bumps up your fuel consumption and drags down your mileage. Checking and replacing spark plugs is a simple maintenance task that can optimize your gas mileage.

At FRAM, we offer filtration solutions that help your car perform its best. Our premium engine air filters, like FRAM Titanium®, provide expanded durability and block 99% of dirt particles and road dust, maintaining long-term performance for your engine. For even better performance, install a premium spark plug like Autolite Iridium Ultra®. This combo can help you get the most miles out of every gallon of gas.

Questions? We're here to help. Reach out the FRAM specialists for product and maintenance support.


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