Everyone is feeling it in their pocketbooks right now with the rising prices of fuel, both gasoline and diesel. One of the best things you can do to help with your fuel economy is to maintain your vehicle. A well-maintained vehicle will get you more miles per gallon than one that has had regular maintenance delayed. Here are a few simple maintenance items that can help you increase your fuel mileage.
Air Filters
An engine that is able to breathe will perform much better than one that is having trouble getting the proper airflow mixture. Having a clean engine air filter will help your engine run better and then ultimately will help you increase your fuel mileage. A clogged air filter can actually reduce your fuel mileage by 20%
Mass Air Flow Sensor
The Mass Air Flow Sensor is part of the computerized fuel injection system. It measures the amount of air traveling through the engine and signals the amount of fuel needed for the fuel injectors. If this is failing then it can send too much fuel into the system, which will not only cause drivability issues, but will cause you to burn more fuel. The mass air flow sensor is located in the engines intake manifold, so many times cleaning the throttle body will help them work more efficiently.
Oxygen Sensor (O2)
Are you sending a pattern? Air flow is a very important element to regulating your proper fuel burning mixture and therefore is influential in your fuel economy.
The oxygen sensor, or commonly called the o2 sensor is very similar to the Mass Air Flow Sensor, but this time it is measuring the air/fuel mixture at the exhaust. Without an accurate reading here it can affect the fuel injection mixture, causing the fuel injector to dump more fuel into the system. This will cause the engine to run rich effecting not only the fuel mileage but the drivability of the vehicle. A bad o2 sensor can also decrease fuel mileage by about 20%.
Tires & Alignment
Many different aspects of your tires can affect your fuel mileage. First, you want to make sure that they are inflated to the proper PSI recommended on the inside of your door panel. Each tire that is underinflated by 10psi can reduce your fuel economy by 3%. Tires that are out of balance or are too worn can increase drag. Additionally, an improper alignment can also increase drag. An improper alignment can decrease your fuel mileage by about 10%
By maintaining your vehicle you can increase your gas mileage, keep your vehicle for longer–and avoid a car payment and will keep major repair costs down as well. All of which can help with the economy that we are living in at the moment.
