What Causes Your Car To Have Bad Gas Mileage?

For more than a few years now, gas mileage for cars has been a top priority for consumers due to fluctuating gas prices. The miles per gallon, MPG, has gone up consistently along with our country's focus on the 'green' movement and the environment. If you suspect your car is getting poor MPG, there's a few ways to tell and a thankfully, a few remedies to help improve gas mileage.

Does the Air Conditioner Impact MPG?

You've probably heard that having your air conditioner on can lower your gas mileage and this is true, but only to an extent. For instance, while driving through town, you'll get the best gas mileage if the windows are open with the air conditioner off. However, when driving around on a highway, having the windows open can cause the vehicle to drag, which uses more gasoline. At these higher rates of speed, using the air conditioner is actually much better for your gas mileage. Another easy tip for stretching out your tank of gas is to maintain proper tire pressure. Like having the windows open at high speeds, under inflated tires increases resistance, making your vehicle work harder in the process. Tires are one of the most important components on a car, though they are often easily overlooked.

Two Critical Components to Consider for Better MPG

You might be surprised to learn that two simple components can be responsible for up to 20% of your vehicle's fuel economy. Air filters and oxygen sensors are tiny parts with big responsibilities. Air filters can get filthy easily, but they can be cleaned easily during oil changes or you can simply purchase a new one. They are inexpensive. Oxygen sensors help keep the mixture of air and fuel at an acceptable level. If the mixture is off, your gas mileage will take a dive. Likewise, spark plugs are responsible for the proper firing of the engine. If they have an issue, not only can your MPG decrease, your engine can flood among other things.

These are just a few of the issues that can cause a vehicle to get less than desirable gas mileage. As your understanding of the environment grows, you realize how important it can be to conserve your gasoline usage in addition to money saving factors as well. Regular maintenance will go a long way to protecting your vehicle and your pocketbook as will knowing what impacts gas mileage and how to get the most out of every gallon. Contact a business, such as Western Starter Ltd, for more information.