Auto expert Drew Goddard provides tips for getting more miles per gallon.
- Buy a good tire-pressure gauge and check the air pressure in your tires at least once a month (see photo). Under-inflated tires cause the engine to work harder and use more gas to push the car down the road.
- Check the pressure in all four tires when the tires are cool and again when the tires are warmed after driving. To check the pressure, remove the plastic cap from the valve stem and press the tire gauge over the metal threads at the end of the stem. You should hear a brief hiss of air. When the sound stops, check the gauge to determine the pressure. Repeat for the three remaining tires.
- If the pressure varies from the recommended pressure in the owner's manual, add or release air until the pressure matches the recommended pressure. Release air by pressing the back of the gauge against the valve stem until you hear the hiss of escaping air.
- Keep your car in tune for maximum mileage. Signs that a car might be ready for a tune-up include rough running and misfiring.
- A tune-up should include adjusting the timing. This is typically done with a computer at a mechanic's shop. For do-it-yourselfers, make sure to use clean spark plugs and check that they are gapped and firing correctly.
- Older vehicles may also need the points replaced in the distributor cap.
- Make sure the car's exhaust system is in good shape, with no holes in the muffler or exhaust pipe. A faulty exhaust system not only reduces mileage, but it can also be noisy and lead to dangerous exhaust fumes inside the car.
- Replace the air filter when it becomes visibly dirty. Shine a flashlight through the filter to check it. If the light shines through, then the filter is still in good condition.
- Make sure to properly shut the hood after checking things out underneath it.
- How you drive plays a major part in what kind of gas mileage you'll get. Heavy acceleration and sudden stops will decrease your gas mileage. Try to maintain a constant speed on the highway, and accelerate gradually from a stop to achieve maximum miles-per-gallon.
- After-market accessories such as bug deflectors, roof racks, running boards and oversize tires increase the aerodynamic drag on a car, causing it to work harder to maintain a given speed. Other accessories may also add significant weight and pull down the mileage even further.
Guests Drew Goddard
Auto Expert, Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN
Phone: 952-995-1300
Toll-free: 800-345-4655
E-mail:
info@hennepintech.edu
Website:
www.hennepintech.edu/
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