Fuel Saving Tips
A hot topic right now is the rising cost of gasoline in America. Regardless of the economic and political reasons this is occurring, it appears this new reality is here to stay. So what can you do as a consumer to combat these increasing costs? Besides going out and buying a hybrid car, there are certain systems on your current vehicle that you can monitor and service to optimize fuel mileage and save money. We have listed some great fuel saving tips below.
Fuel Saving Tips
1) Tires — The simplest way is to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. The manufacturer’s recommendation for psi (pounds per square inch) can be found on a sticker placed on the jamb of your driver door. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by .3% for every one psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Unbalanced inflation can cause your car to pull while driving and impart uneven wear on your tires. This similarly hinders your fuel economy.
2) Tune-Up — If your car is running rough or has failed an emissions test, an engine tune-up can improve fuel efficiency by an average of 4 percent. Spark plugs, wires, filters, etc. all affect performance and your fuel economy. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a defective oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
3) Engine Oil — You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
4) Fuel Injectors — The buildup of dirt, varnish, corrosion, and carbon deposits are a natural result of fuel combustion. These deposits restrict the flow of air and fuel to your engine, causing your car to ride rougher, hesitate, lose power, increase emissions, and decrease its fuel economy. Archer’s Action Auto provides a 5-part fuel service which is specially formulated to clean the entire fuel system, including: the fuel lines, fuel injectors, intake valves, combustion chambers, and throttle plate/valve. We recommend having this service every 25,000-30,000 miles for optimal performance.
Fuel System Inspection — Free of Charge (by request)
Part of any Archer’s Lube, Oil, & Filter Service includes checking the tire pressures and air filter. By request, we can have our technician visually examine the fuel system for carbon deposits and recommend a fuel injection service (if necessary).
Fuel System Maintenance & Repairs:
– Fuel injectors
– Fuel pumps
– Fuel filters
– Fuel tanks
– Fuel lines
