Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust in Buhl, ID, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.

Make sure all your tires are at the correct pressure. You wouldn’t think the amount of air in your tires has much of an effect on your gas mileage, but the added friction actually makes a noticeable difference. Maintaining proper pressure in all of your tires not only saves your tires from unnecessary wear, but it is also an essential aspect of maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Keeping your foot out of the throttle also helps increase your gas mileage. Use smooth movements of the accelerator, and use as little of it as possible. This also allows your transmission (if it's an automatic) to shift into the highest available gear, improving your fuel economy. When you need to slow down, don’t wait until the last second, hit the brakes, then take off from a start. If you see a red light, for example, coast to slow down while you wait for the light to change. Most fuel is wasted while the car is under acceleration, especially from a stop. The less stop and go driving you maintain, the better your gas mileage will be.

The most essential aspect of good gas mileage is a good running and well-maintained vehicle. Dragging brakes, poorly maintained oil service, failing wheel bearings, or anything that interrupts smooth operation will take a toll on your gas mileage. Failed sensors will cause your vehicle to enter a sort of default running mode, in which the engine typically runs a little on the rich side, which wastes more gas. If your check engine light is on, your gas mileage is probably being affected. A car that runs and operates correctly will get far better gas mileage than one that needs a tune-up.

Follow this advice, and you’ll notice a definite increase in fuel economy. If your vehicle needs a tune-up, a check engine light code read, or any other maintenance or repair, don’t hesitate to call or visit Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust today. Our technicians will make sure your car is running reliably, and efficiently.

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Thank you for visiting Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust in Buhl, ID. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

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