New England Car Dealer Offers Tips on How to Increase your Fuel Economy
Published Tuesday, 21 June, 2011 by Greg Cottman. Categories: Sales, Parts, Service, New Inventory, News.
One of the best places to find a new or used car is at your local New England Car Dealers, Berlin City Auto.
With buying locations in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, we are sure to have the car you want. Whether you are looking for a new car in New England or a New England used car, Berlin City Auto has everything you could possibly want!
In this segment we are going to highlight some tips on how to increase your fuel economy and put some money back in your pocket.
The first, and most valuable tip we can offer is to drive more efficiently. How do we do this you may ask? Here are a few tips:
DRIVE SENSIBLY:
- Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It
can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Observe the Speed Limit
- While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Remove Excess Weight
- Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
Avoid Excessive Idling
- Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear.
Use Cruise Control and Overdrive Gears
- Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
KEEPING YOUR CAR IN SHAPE:
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
- Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. If you ever have a problem that you feel a certified technician should look at, one of the best car dealerships in New England, Berlin City Auto, is equipped to handle any problem you bring our way.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
- You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.
The majority of these items are very simple and take little if no time to correct. Berlin City Auto, your New England car dealer, is always here to help, so feel free to stoop by any of our locations and ask our experienced service team any question you may have.
With buying locations in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, we are sure to have the car you want. Whether you are looking for a new car in New England or a New England used car, Berlin City Auto has everything you could possibly want!
In this segment we are going to highlight some tips on how to increase your fuel economy and put some money back in your pocket.
The first, and most valuable tip we can offer is to drive more efficiently. How do we do this you may ask? Here are a few tips:
DRIVE SENSIBLY:
- Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It
can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Observe the Speed Limit
- While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Remove Excess Weight
- Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
Avoid Excessive Idling
- Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear.
Use Cruise Control and Overdrive Gears
- Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
KEEPING YOUR CAR IN SHAPE:
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
- Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. If you ever have a problem that you feel a certified technician should look at, one of the best car dealerships in New England, Berlin City Auto, is equipped to handle any problem you bring our way.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
- You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.
The majority of these items are very simple and take little if no time to correct. Berlin City Auto, your New England car dealer, is always here to help, so feel free to stoop by any of our locations and ask our experienced service team any question you may have.
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