10 ways to get better fuel mileage – and pay less at the pumps
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by driving slower</strong></p>
<p><span>Hard acceleration in stop-and-go driving costs you 20 per cent in fuel mileage. If you live your life in rush hour traffic and like to put the pedal to the metal, spend all your extra time at the next traffic light figuring out how you could have spent the money you’re wasting.</span></p>
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by keeping your tyres at the right pressure</strong></p>
<p><span>Surveys show that 60 per cent of the vehicles on the road have tyres that are under-inflated by at least 30 per cent. That’s at least 9 psi below the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. That can cost you almost 7 per cent in wasted petrol. Plus, low air pressure causes premature tyre wear, and that can cost almost $300 over the life of the tyres. For best results, check your tyre’s air pressure with a digital pressure gauge (from any auto parts store) and fill to the recommended pressure shown on the decal inside the driver’s door or on the driver’s door pillar.</span></p>
<p><strong>Save on fuel by changing spark plugs</strong></p>
<p>If your 160,000-km spark plugs have 130,000 km on them, they’re 80 per cent worn. Misfires and incomplete combustion occur more frequently during that last 32,000km, costing you hundreds of dollars in wasted fuel. You have to replace your spark plugs anyway, so do it early and pocket the savings. Even if you have to replace the plugs one extra time over the life of your car, you’ll still come out way ahead. And don’t automatically assume your plugs are good for 160,000km. Many four-cylinder engines require new spark plugs at either 50,000- or 100,000-km intervals.</p>
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by changing your air filter</strong></p>
<p><span>Your engine sucks in 53-million litres of air through the filter every year. On older vehicles (pre-1999), a dirty air filter increases fuel usage by almost 10 per cent. On newer vehicles, the computer is smart enough to detect the lower airflow, and it cuts back on fuel. So your engine will lack power and pick-up. Check the filter when you change your oil and replace it at least once a year, or more if you drive in dirty, dusty conditions.</span></p>
<p><strong>Save on fuel by keeping your car aligned</strong></p>
<p><span>If your tyres are bowed out of alignment by just 4.2cm, it’s the equivalent of dragging your tyre sideways for 164km for every 32,000 you drive. That’ll cost you hundreds a year in wasted fuel. It will also wear your tyres faster, costing you hundreds more. Here’s an easy way to check your alignment without taking your car in to the shop: Buy a tread depth gauge and measure the tread depth on both edges of each tyre (rear tyres too). If one side of the tyre is worn more than the other, your car needs to be aligned.</span></p>
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by replacing a broken or missing spoiler</strong></p>
<p><span>The plastic air dam (aka “spoiler”) that’s broken or missing wasn’t installed just for a sporty look. If your car had an air dam, driving without it or with a damaged one can reduce your fuel mileage. The air dam literally “dams off” airflow to the undercarriage of your car, forcing the air up and over the hood. That helps your car cut through the air with less drag. It also increases airflow to the A/C condenser and radiator, reducing the load on your car’s electrical system.</span></p>
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by reducing drag</strong></p>
<p><span>Yes, you’ve heard it before, but how about some real world numbers to drive the point home? Aerodynamic drag is a minor concern in city driving, but it really kills your petrol mileage at speeds over 90km/h. In fact, increasing your speed to 105km/h increases drag by 36 per cent! If you do a lot of highway driving, getting to your destination a few minutes early could cost you hundreds of dollars extra a year. Keep it closer to 90km/h and use your cruise control. It will pay off.</span></p>
<p><strong>Get better fuel mileage by replacing oxygen sensors before the dashboard warning light goes on</strong></p>
<p><span>Oxygen sensors monitor the efficiency of combustion by tracking the amount of oxygen remaining in the exhaust. But they degrade over time and that can cost you up to 15 per cent in fuel mileage. When they fail, the computer lights up your “service engine soon” light, forcing you to incur a diagnostic fee. (Here’s why you should never ignore your car’s check engine light.) On pre-1996 vehicles, replace your oxygen sensor every 96,000km to keep your mileage at its peak. On 1996 and newer vehicles, replace the sensors every 160,000km. Oxygen sensors vary in cost, from around $65 to over $300. Some vehicles have as many as four, but the sensors installed behind the catalytic converter rarely fail.</span></p>
<p><strong>Replace your cabin air filter</strong></p>
<p>A clogged cabin air filter can damage your car’s blower motor and cause your AC to run longer and harder in the summer. Cabin air filters are easy to access and replace and you’ll save money by doing it yourself. Buy a replacement cabin air filter at any auto parts store and ask the retailer to print out the installation instructions. Cabin air filters are usually located in the air ducts behind the glove box in late model vehicles. However, some car makers locate them in the cowling or console area. Just remove the access covers and slide out the old filter. Note the direction of the airflow arrows so you can install the new filter in the proper orientation. Then reinstall the covers and you’re done.</p>
<p><strong>Keep an eye on warning lights</strong></p>
<p><span>Pay attention to your dashboard warning lights. Car owners think a glowing check engine light isn’t important because it just means you’ve got an “emissions problem.” Guess what? Emissions problems are almost always caused by an incomplete burn and that means you’re not getting the most bang for your buck. In other words, a check light means you’re wasting fuel. Worse yet, all that extra fuel goes right into your expensive catalytic converter, causing it to fail early. A new catalytic converter can be expensive to replace and then you STILL have to fix the underlying problem that turned on the check engine light in the first place. Many times the check engine light comes on due to a bum sensor or vacuum leak. Replacing a sensor or fixing a vacuum leak can save far more than what you’ll waste in reduced fuel economy.</span></p>
<p><em><span>This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/money/12-ways-to-get-better-fuel-mileage-and-pay-less-at-the-pumps" target="_blank"><span>Reader’s Digest</span></a><span>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank"><span>here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></em></p>
<p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>
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