Tips on how to improve gas mileage

Step 5 Maintenance and care

One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle is to make sure the tires are at the proper pressure, or maybe one or two psi higher. This will increase the tire's circumference, and also improve the way the tread wears.
Another simple one is to make sure your belts are in good condition. Slipping belts take more power to turn, and don't transmit as much energy.
Keep your fluids full and make sure you have plenty of coolant in the summer.
Use an oil that is a little less viscous (thinner) to decrease friction, or you could use synthetic (not recommended).
At every oil change (or possibly more frequently if your car is older) use an injector of carb cleaner or similar. All you have to do is pour it in your gas tank and it will dissolve gunk in your fuel system.

Comments

[Walis]

Basic advantage of fully pressurized tires is that you must not overpower the tire roll resistance, which can make about a half liter / 100km (european units). The advantage of tires circumference is not so important since the tire always squeezes to its nominal diameter. Therefore keep the tires checked by every refuelling and inflate it to recommended value, maybe slightly more, so the tire does not look squeezed (but careful about the maximum pressure!!! - you risk tire explosion when driving in extremely hot weather and bad roads!!!!) And DO NOT change oil viscosity or type!!! The engine is designed to run in certain temperature range and you can damage the engine gradually because the parts will wear more when not lubricated properly, either by lower viscosity or by old and filthy oil. The only way is to change it regularly.

[arionisa]

Synthetics have NO effect on fuel mileage, a 5-30 "dino" and a 5w30 synthetic will get you the exact same mileage. The viscosity rating is set by the SAE standard, which means a dino or synth of the same viscosity rating will have the exact same qualities. What a synthetic WILL do is allow you to go longer between oil changes. Synthetics don't break down as quickly as dino's do, so using synth's you can go longer between oil changes, Heat is a major factor, in engines that are constantly running "hot", a synthetic will last a LOT longer than dino, engines that run coll most of the time you won't see much difference. Engines that run extremely hot (like turbines) MUST use synthetics because dino oils can NOT withstand the extreme heat of operations. Changing the oil when it needs it WILL help improve your mileage because your not wasting engine power trying to pump sludged up oil, but in any car that gets regular oil changes there will be no noticeable difference between synth and dino as far as fuel mileage goes.

[HARMON_RACING]

If your looking for an additive for your oil. go to any local Wal-Mart, or auto parts store and get the Zmax oil additive. It cleans up any deposites on your engine, and it actually does make a differance. They are completely worth the trip to the store. The price is worth the trip, and they have fuel additives as well. Using the fuel additive will clean out the injectors, increasing efficiency.

[servant4truth]

A must for keeping MPG (or increasing) is a vehicle tune up. Depending on manufacturer/vehicle type/driving conditions/mileage (see your owner's manual) tells you when a vehicle needs one. Also, keeping tires properly inflated helps to keep up your MPG. If you do use syth oils, don't buy the cheapest! Royal Purple will increase your MPG, but I don't know if it's worth it yet.

[nafango22]

why dont you recommend synthetic?

[LinuxH4x0r]

Not worth the cost

[nafango22]

i beg to differ, synthetic nowdays is only a few pennies more than dino, and it can actually increase mileage as it maintains a thin viscosity when cold and old better than dino oil. it does have other drawbacks though.

[tradergordo]

I have tried synthetic, mobil 1 and walmart's supertech brand full synthetic. Neither of them increased my fuel economy - I think that must be a myth, or maybe it only works on certain cars? I drive a fuel efficient 4 cylinder. At any rate, I have also come to the conclusion that synthetic is simply not worth the extra money. Buy the cheap stuff and change it according to your owner's manual. I've never had an engine die on me, the cheap stuff is fine.

[Rishnai]

It makes a difference on some cars, particularly ones that are already large and approaching the upper limit of their efficiency. Mostly you see a tiny power increase. Of course, unless you keep meticulous records or have a finely calibrated butt dyno, it won't be noticeable... most of the time. The big difference is in cold protection, breakdown protection (especially towards the end of the oil's life) and high-rpm coverage. If an engine has always been run on dino, when you open it up you can see considerably more wear on bearing surfaces than an engine run on synth.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Thanks! Totally agree. I've never used it and don't plan on it.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Not at the prices I get dino

[nafango22]

...how much do you pay for dino?

[LinuxH4x0r]

usually 50 to 75 cents per quart

[Derin]

eh,isnt that a bit el-cheapo(w00t i am finally talking lika an american)

[LinuxH4x0r]

Not paying that any more :(

[Derin]

oh ok

_{the jack cant lift my truck,it dosnt even fit in the repair shop i need a mini sump pump}