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Local pro Ken Stevison gives detailed tips on how to save gas.
I have had many people ask me what they can do to maximize fuel economy — the options are many.
The least-expensive, and in most cases the easiest, fix on a vehicle is to change the air filter. I had a customer with a Dodge Cummins diesel engine in my shop state that her fuel economy dropped from 18 mpg to 14 mpg over a short period of time. We performed a major service on her truck and found the air filter had a half-inch of dirt on it. I spoke with her two weeks later, and she said that her mileage had immediately increased by 2 mpg and was still climbing.
The cost for that filter was about $35. The fuel filter on that truck was also very restricted. A good rule of thumb is to replace your air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. The same is true of the fuel filter. The fuel you pump into your tank isn’t always clean — all it takes is one bad tank of fuel to sufficiently restrict a fuel filter.
Worn spark plugs also place a higher demand on the ignition system to supply enough voltage to fire the plugs. As a spark plug wears, the gap between the electrode and ground gets wider. This, in turn, causes inefficient combustion and poor performance, which ultimately leads to poor fuel economy. Conventional plugs are completely worn by 30,000 miles, where as platinum or iridium plugs last longer. Check to see what type of spark plug your vehicle came with, or have your mechanic remove a plug to inspect its wear.
Tire pressure is often the most overlooked item on a car, even though low tire pressure causes a large number of issues, including poor handling, poor performance and very poor fuel economy. Most new cars have a data sticker on either the driver’s door jamb or the driver door itself. This sticker will list proper tire pressure settings for your vehicle. Your car or truck was engineered with these exact pressure settings in mind. Do not run your tires at the maximum pressure rating on the side of the tire, as this can be dangerous and cause premature wear.
A car’s front end being out of alignment will also cause excessive drag and poor economy. Check tire pressure on a regular basis as well as tire wear. This can be done by running your hand along the tread — it should feel even and consistent.
Check your trunk and tool boxes — are you hauling around a bunch of stuff you don’t use very often or not at all? The extra weight could be dragging you down. Also, remove lumber racks from trucks or ski racks and storage containers from cars if they’re not being used. Cutting down on drag can make a big difference.
It is also a proven fact that if you accelerate smoothly from a stop and keep your speeds around 60 mph, you can get up to 60 miles more on a tank of fuel.
Keep your automatic transmission out of overdrive around town and in overdrive on the highway. By keeping the transmission out of overdrive at speeds below 50 mph, you keep the transmissions shift “busyness” — or “shift hunting” — down to a minimum. While driving in traffic, try to shift your automatic transmission into manual second gear. This will allow the transmission to operate in a more efficient gear ratio. This trick can be used in stop and go and at speeds up to 35 mph.
Don’t let your car or truck just sit and idle for extended periods of time, either. Twenty minutes of idling equals 30 miles of driving. In the morning, all you need is about 30 seconds to properly warm the engine’s cylinders, even in colder weather. If you own a turbo diesel truck, it takes less than 60 seconds to cool down a turbo charger enough for it shut down.
Change your car’s oil and filter every 5,000 miles with high-quality oil. Make sure that is the proper viscosity and rating for your engine. Also take a look at the front of your radiator — leaves and debris can collect there causing higher engine temperatures and poor performance.
Have your car’s drivetrain components inspected regularly, including transmission and differential fluid. Poor fluid in an automatic transmission can cause torque converter and clutch problems, which have a huge impact on fuel economy. And don’t ignore that check engine light on the dash.
So the secret’s really not that difficult. A lot of small changes and some maintenance can go a long way in saving you money.
Ken Stevison of Scotts Valley, manager of Scotts Valley Transmissions, is certified as a master technician by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
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