Proper maintenance of a car not only improves its efficiency but also extends its life. Most of all, maintenance has an impact on the vehicle's fuel efficiency. Prices of gas are exorbitant, and no one wants to burn it unnecessarily.
There are a number of factors that help improve a car's gas mileage, and many people are unaware of it. Many also believe that they cannot do anything to improve its mileage. However, if you focus on maintaining several parts of your car, you can improve the mileage by up to 40%. Here are a few essential vehicle maintenance tips that will help you save fuel.
Change Air Filters
Air filters get clogged over time due to the accumulation of dirt and debris. Dirty air keeps passing through the filter and leaves a large amount of dirt in it. Keeping such a clogged filter for a long time is terrible for your vehicle's gas mileage.
Changing them on time helps improve the fuel economy. This is also beneficial in enhancing acceleration. Typically air filters are changed at 30,000 miles. If your car is older, filters should be changed even before that.
Upgrade Motor Oil
Remember, motor oil and tire pressure are the two most important things that majorly affect the fuel economy. First things first, you should be using the motor oil recommended for your specific car in the owner's manual. If you are not doing so, it will be affecting your car's efficiency.
Secondly, upgrade the motor oil timely. The old oil gets dirty and turns into sludge over time, which will clog different parts of your vehicle. It majorly affects the engine. Therefore, it is necessary to change the oil after about 4,000 miles.
Check Tire Pressure
One of the causes of poor fuel economy is driving with improperly inflated tires. It has been found that 10 psi of under inflation reduces the fuel economy by 10%. However, if you keep the pressure in check, the gas mileage can improve by 3.3%. Remember that improper tire alignment can be devastating for your tire as it constantly creates rolling resistance.
Checking the tire pressure is no big deal. You just need to look for a label in your trunk or in the glove box for checking the pressure. You can seek help from the owner's manual if you can't find the label of your car.
Engine
Your vehicle's engine is the most important machinery which runs the car. Being the most complex part, it catches problems quicker. However, by keeping a regular check, you can maintain it for a long time.
Ensure to check the different parts regularly, especially the air cooler and tubing system. Check for clogs and temperature. If your car's engine gets heated up quickly, you should immediately have it seen by a professional. A regular tune-up can make a huge difference, improving fuel efficiency and economy.
Keep Up with Scheduled Maintenance
There is a proper schedule for every vehicle's maintenance, which is usually provided with the car. Keeping up with the maintenance keeps your vehicle running and is suitable for its health. This not only improves its efficiency but also improves the mileage and extends the car's life.
Keeping that in view, you will get to know about any problem before it causes any damage to your car. Once you see the problem, get it fixed as soon as possible. This will improve the mileage to as much as 40%.
Maintain Air Conditioning
The air conditioning system of a vehicle runs on horsepower. A faulty air conditioning system consumes more power, thereby decreasing efficiency. To keep it in working condition, make sure to run it once every week for about 10 minutes, even if it's too cold outside. Also, keep a check on the evaporator coils and condenser to ensure it is free from any debris or obstruction.
The air conditioning compressor of a car is driven by a belt. Insufficient lubrication leads to early failure of the compressor. Make sure to check the belt and other hoses and pipelines to prevent any damage to the air conditioning system.
Spark Plugs
The function of spark plugs is undeniably essential. They play a role in delivering the current from ignition to the car's engine, which ultimately sparks combustion. Since they have such an important job, spark plugs need to be maintained well on time. 80,000 miles is a lot for any spark plug to survive. Typically, it's a good practice to get them changed at 70,000 miles. Delaying anymore will be damaging to your car.
By changing the spark plugs, your vehicle's engine efficiency gets improved. Also, get them checked off and on to ensure they are in good working condition.
Oxygen Sensor
The function of an oxygen sensor is to detect the exhaust flow and then adjust the level of fuel as needed. The sensor should be in proper working condition to send the correct information every time. Inaccurate information reduces fuel efficiency to a great extent. You should get it checked every now and then.
They function best till 100,000 miles maximum. After that, you should definitely get the oxygen sensor replaced. Since its function is very important and the oxygen sensor has to perform a lot of work, changing it at the right time is necessary.
In Conclusion
Our vehicles are just like us that need food to survive. Your vehicle's food is fuel, without which it cannot work. When some part of the vehicle is worn down, it won't be able to function properly; rather, it will consume lots of fuel unnecessarily while giving an average performance. The key to better fuel economy and extending the life of your vehicle is regular maintenance.
Remember that engine is not the only part that can save fuel. Maintaining the overall condition is important in improving any vehicle's fuel economy. You can significantly reduce the gas mileage consumption by routine auto repair. Work on improving your driving habits and regularly take your car to scheduled maintenance checks to fight the increasing gas prices.