New Car Owners: Gas-saving Tips

By Author: idriveport
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Automakers are striving to make every vehicle as fuel-efficient as possible. Unfortunately, an aggressive driving style will ultimately lower a vehicle’s fuel economy. Here are some easy ways to improve a new car’s gas mileage.

Correct tire pressure
Driving around on a set of under-inflated tires can surely cause a decrease in gas mileage. Low tire pressure forces the engine to work much harder than it should. Experts urge drivers to check their tire pressure at least once a month. Not only does tire pressure impact the vehicle’s gas mileage, but it also influences the longevity of the tires.

Stop speeding
Driving at an excessive speed usually equates to major drop in fuel efficiency. Multiple studies have revealed that gas mileage tends to decline when traveling faster than 55 mph. Instead of rushing to get to work, drivers should leave home a tad bit earlier. Driving at a slower speed can boost a vehicle’s gas mileage by more than 25 percent. This will also increase the driver’s safety.

Accelerate easier
Most drivers accelerate a lot faster than they should. While fast acceleration ...
... can be exciting, it will cause the gas tank to become empty a lot sooner than expected. When accelerating from a standstill, motorists should try to keep the tachometer below 3000 rpm. Contrary to popular belief, an automatic transmission can be just as efficient as a manual gearbox. The key to efficiency is to apply light pressure to the gas pedal.

Avoid idling
Modern vehicles do not benefit from being warmed-up in the mornings. In fact, allowing the vehicle to idle for long periods of time can put extra stress on the engine. The engine will get warm faster by simply driving the vehicle.

Coasting
Coasting is a great way to decrease a vehicle’s fuel consumption. Coasting involves allowing the vehicle to roll under its own momentum. Drivers should allow their vehicle to slowly coast down the road when approaching a red light. The same concept can be applied when descending down a steep hill. As long as the driver’s foot has been removed from the accelerator; the vehicle will not be using any gas at all.

Keep up with the maintenance
A well-maintained vehicle will always get better gas mileage than a poorly maintained vehicle. Changing the motor oil on a regular basis can make a big difference in the vehicle’s performance. Some of the other things that need to be done include replacing the air filter, changing the spark plugs, and inspecting the brakes. The car owner also needs to obtain a wheel alignment at least once a year.
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