by Mobile Mechanixx

Created on: March 10, 2007   Last Updated: April 03, 2007

Since this article is under the heading of fuel economy, I will only write tips to help increase gas mileage.

The first area would be maintenance. I expound upon this at the drop of a hat. Change your oil regurarly, as well as your pcv valve, air filter, spark plugs, and wires. Keep your tires properly inflated, aligned, and rotated. Wash and wax frequently to reduce air drag. Get all major dents removed for the same reason. Maintaining the transmission fluid and filter makes the transmission work less, thus less fuel. The same goes for rear differential fluid, also front differential, and transfer case fluid on four wheel drives. Keeping the fuel injectors/ carburetor clean is helpful as well. I endorse STP gas treatment at every other fill-up, but regular physical cleaning is still needed. Be sure to fix any problems that cause your check engine light to come on. Regular maintenance will also improve the life expectancy of your vehicle.

The second area would be driving habits. Do not race stop light to stop light. This will save your brakes as well. Do not wind out every gear. The lower your rpms, the less gas your vehicle is consuming. However, you should run up the rpms at least twice a week to reduce carbon buildup, which will reduce fuel economy, as well as cause excessive ring wear. In light traffic, if you see a stop light ahead, slow down immediately. Hopefully, the light will change before you reach a full stop, which means less work to return to speed. In the city, try to roll down the windows instead of using the A\C. On the highway, however, rolled down windows increase air drag to the point that the A\C is more efficient, usually above 55 MPH. Try to avoid stop and go traffic in favor of out of the way routes that involve less stopping.

The third area is modification. Be sure to check with your dealer to be sure you do not void your warranty. A cold air intake is a nice way to boost power, as well as fuel economy. The difference is not dramatic, but it does help a bit for a very low price. Most kits can be bought and installed yourself with just a small amount of mechanical knowledge. Larger intake tubes are also another way to get more air to your engine. Upgrading your exhaust is another way to improve airflow, see your exhaust dealer to fulfill your exact needs. You do not have to sacrifice quiet to improve your exhaust. Another quality upgrade, a bit more expensive though, is to your injector system. Consider increasing your spark plug gap as

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