Gas prices here in Huntington Beach may have hit their lowest levels in almost 5 years this April but they are steadily rising again and as more businesses open up as Coronavirus restrictions are lifted, they will probably continue to rise. Luckily there are several things you can do to improve the mileage you get out of your car.

Driving on under inflated tires is harder on your car, it takes more energy to make it move, that energy comes from the engine, which runs on gas! According to the U.S Dept. of Energy every psi your tires are under inflated by reduces your mileage by 0.2%.

Your car has a tire pressure warning light that comes on when your pressure drops to 20% below the recommended level. If we take a recommended tire pressure of 30 psi the warning light would come on at 24 psi. The current price in Huntington Beach is around $3 per gallon, when that light comes on you are losing 1.2% of your mileage, rounded up that’s $0.04 per gallon of gas wasted.

Over time your engine oil decays and starts to turn to sludge, as this happens the engine has to work harder, which increases the amount of gas needed to make the engine work. Changing your oil on a regular basis can prevent this. Make sure you use the right oil, The U.S Dept. of Energy found that using the incorrect grade of motor oil can reduce your mileage by 1-2%, that’s $0.03 – $0.06 per gallon.

Repairs to issues with your engine can have a drastic effect on your mileage. The o2 sensor is responsible for detecting and adjusting the air / fuel mix. The U.S Dept. of Energy found that a faulty o2 sensor can reduce mileage up to 40%, that’s $1.20 per gallon!

Make sure that your gas cap is working properly, if its damaged or loose then air is able to get into your gas tank and air and gas don’t mix, your gas will simply evaporate!

It’s not just the condition of your car that effects the mileage you get, the way you use your car plays a big part too! Follow these tips to cut down your trips to the gas station.

If your car is idling your using gas and getting no miles! If the weather is really cold it’s tempting to leave the car to warm up in the morning before you use it, but it only takes a minute or two for the car to heat up so leaving it running for five or ten minutes before you leave is just wasting gas.

The U.S Dept. of Energy found that rapid acceleration and braking reduces your mileage between 15% and 30% when your driving on the highway, when driving in traffic it can range from 10% to 40%. Based on current prices your aggressive driving could be costing you anywhere between $0.30 and $1.20 per gallon.

Every car has a different optimal fuel efficiency speed but the U.S Dept. of Energy found that most cars usually start to decrease in efficiency over 50mph, they estimate every additional 5mph costs an extra $0.15 per gallon of gas, but with the prices we pay in Huntington Beach that figure is closer to $0.21 per gallon.

If you keep a lot of stuff in your car you are increasing its weight, the heavier the car is, the more energy it takes to move it. The U.S Dept. of Energy estimates a 1% loss of efficiency for every 100 pounds of weight, that’s $0.03 per gallon.

If you are concerned about your mileage and need assistance in finding the route of the cause, then come into our Huntington Beach location and have your car inspected. Call us today at (714) 848-9222 to schedule an appointment or click the button below to book online.