Serving Farmington Hills,Farmington,Novi ,Livonia,Northville Since 1958

 

 

Many factors contribute to the fuel efficiency you may be getting in your vehicle.    It's easier than you think to improve!    Follow these guidelines* and see an increase in engine performance and gas mileage.

 

Virtually all of your vehicle's mechanical systems can affect fuel efficiency if not properly maintained. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for checking the engine, cooling and ignition system,

brakes, drivetrain and emission-control system

 

A poorly maintained vehicle can boost fuel consumption by up to 15% and greenhouse gas emissions by even more!

 

ITEMS TO CHECK AND/OR CHANGE REGULARLY INCLUDE...

 

TIRE PRESSURE

Check tires regularly, under inflated tires can reduce your gas mileage up to 10%.

 

AIR FILTER

A dirty or clogged air filter will result in lower fuel economy and increased engine wear.

A dirty filter can reduce your gas mileage up to 20%.

 

SPARK PLUGS

Worn or fould spark pugs will cause your engine to perform poorly and reduce gas mileage as much as 12%.

SPARK PLUG WIRES

Replace wires for optimal performance.  Change your wires along with your spark plugs.

 

DISTRIBUTOR CAP

A worn or cracked distributor cap or rotor will reduce the performance of your engine and waste gas.  Inspect them during tune-up, replace if corroded or worn.

 

OXYGEN SENSOR

A slow or faulty oxygen sensor will cause a drop in fuel economy of 10-15%.

 

FUEL FILTER

Clogged or restricted fuel filters not only reduce engine performance but can allow dirt to contaminate the fuel system and cause engine wear.  Most manufacturers reccommend replacement every 3 years or 36,000 miles.

 

FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER

Clean fuel injectors perform better and make your engine more efficient.

 

AIR INTAKE CLEANER

Make sure your throttle body is clean with no build-up.  On engines equipped with a carburetor, make sure the choke linkage is clean and operating properly.

 

PCV VALVE

Malfunctioning PCV valve or dirty breather filters prohibit your engine from breathing properly and hinder engine protection.

 

OIL CHANGE

Clean motor oil not only protects your engine, it can lower your exhaust emissions and allow your engine to operate more efficiently.

 

MANY VEHICLES HAVE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON!
Don't let this cost you gas mileage or reduced performance!

 

 

TAKE A LOAD OFF

Unload anything you don't need from the trunk/backseat.  An extra 100 pounds will reduce fuel economy by 1-2%.  If you have a roof rack or roof carrier, install it on your vehicle only when absolutely necessary.  Not only does the carrier add extra weight, but it also increases the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle, which further contributes to a loss of fuel economy.

 

DON'T DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY

Mashing the accelerator, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy.  Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think "slow and steady".  On surface streets, driving the speed limit will give you mostly green lights, which improves your gas mileage as well as reduces wear on your brakes.  On the highway, the DOA says that every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7% decrease in fuel economy.

 

USE CRUISE CONTROL - SELECTIVELY

Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage by helping you maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads.  If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself.  Before you push that cruise control button, think about the terrain ahead.

 

AVOID EXCESSIVE IDLING

When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet it is not going anywhere.  This translates to 0 mph.  When you leave your car running while waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait outside your child's school, you are wasting fuel.  It is more efficient to turn the car off, so park the car and go inside!

 

PLAN AND COMBINE TRIPS

A warmed-up engine is more fuel efficient than a cold one.  Many short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much as one multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warmed up and efficient.

 

Note:  Letting your car idle to warm up doesn't help your fuel economy, it actually uses more fuel and creates more pollution.

 

PREMIUM- vs. REGULAR-GRADE GASOLINE

The recommended gasoline for most cars is regular unleaded.  Using a higher-octane gasoline than recommended by the owner's manual does NOT improve performance OR fuel efficiency; it only costs more money!  Check your owner's manual to determine the lowest grade of fuel that you can use.

 

BUY GAS ON WEDNESDAYS

Gas prices are statistically the cheapest on Wednesdays, but this only holds true over a large number of days.  It won't be true every week.  Gas prices often jump before holidays too.

 

BUY GAS DURING THE COOLEST TIME OF THE DAY

During these times gasoline is the densest.  Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration.  You are charged according to 'volume of measurement'.

 

*By following these simple guidelines and following regular maintenance schedules for your vehicle, you should see an increase in engine performance and actual gas mileage.  Results will vary depending on individual vehicles, maintenance, model and other unique variables.  This checklist presents suggested ways of enhancing gas mileage and engine performance.  This does not guarantee results.