Why is My Gas Mileage so Bad?

If your mileage is off, one of the easiest things you can do to remedy this situation is modify your behavior. Going full-throttle at every green light or driving 20 MPH faster than the highway speed limit can have a devastating impact on your fuel consumption. Slow down, take a breath and watch your efficiency improve.

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The national speed limit used to be 55 miles an hour for a reason, even if most people hated the legislation and everyone ignored it. This restriction, on paper at least, saved fuel by allowing vehicles to operate in their most efficient speed range. If you’re not in a rush it’s something you can still do today.

Obviously another way of upping the MPG is to reduce weight. But before you bust out a hack saw or plasma torch there’s an easier way.

Automakers fight to trim fractions of a gram from their cars and trucks, so why do you have 250 pounds of stuff in the back of your vehicle? Removing superfluous junk can improve economy, especially if you’re a pack rat, hoarder or have been living in your car. By all means keep an emergency kit with a flashlight, jumper cables and other essentials, but try to ditch the bags of sidewalk salt and dumbbells you’ve kept back there for the last two presidential-election cycles.

It should go without saying, when a vehicle’s engine is running it’s also consuming fuel. Just because you’re cold or your favorite Taylor Swift song is playing on the radio is no excuse for keeping those cylinders blazing away. If you can muster the courage, switch the ignition into accessory mode. This kills the engine but still allows you to listen to music or receive a limited amount of heat in frigid weather before the cooling system reaches ambient temperature. Shutting things down when not needed can save you big money. Why is My Gas Mileage so Bad?

Modern cars and trucks are marvels of engineering. They’re capable of racking up hundreds of thousands of miles over decades of faithful service, all while delivering impressive efficiency and the creature comforts of a living room.

But maintenance is critical to keeping your vehicle running its best and minimizing fuel consumption. It may not seem like that big a deal but stay on top of oil changes, replace the air filter when necessary and throw some fuel-system cleaner in the tank every now and then. These little tricks will go a long way to boosting your mileage, though as always it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Tires are perhaps the most overlooked parts on a car, though they’re certainly one the most important. Remember, they’re the only components that ever touch the road, or at least they should be. Running over- or as is more likely the case, under-inflated rubbers is not just bad for fuel economy and the tires themselves but it’s also a safety issue.

SEE ALSO: What Kind of Tires Should I Buy?

Not having enough air in them increases rolling resistance, friction and causes excess heat to build up, which can have a detrimental effect on their longevity. Keep a gauge handy and try to check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month.

It’s a myth that running premium fuel will improve your car or truck’s performance or mileage. Octane is merely a measure of gasoline’s resistance to igniting under pressure. If you vehicle calls for regular-grade fuel putting race gas in the tank isn’t going to do anything other than cost you more.

If the manufacturer recommends or requires premium, by all means fill it up with high-test stuff. These powerplants are designed to take advantage of the extra octane. Running insufficient fuel can impact performance, economy and could even cause pricey internal damage. In short, follow the manufacturer’s fuel recommendation but don’t exceed it unnecessarily.

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