Wondering how high gas prices are going to go? Looking for the magic answer for your vehicle to increase mileage 50% or better? Well that just won't happen. We can tell you some things you can do to your vehicle to help increase mileage.
Let's start with tires. Having properly inflated tires is key to maximizing your vehicle's fuel performance. Tire pressures should be checked at least once a week. If you check them cold then check them after driving and they have warmed up, pressures will be different. Heat and cold do not effect nitrogen so in turn your tires stay the same pressure at all times. Nitrogen filled tires hold pressure more consistently, ultimately increasing gas mileage and allowing tires to run without the constant refilling. Properly inflated tires will also last longer.
Manufacturers also have suggested maintenance schedules and for this area you should use the schedule for Severe Conditions due to the mountains and high altitude. Suggested maintenance schedules aid in the longevity of your vehicle. Oil changes done at every 3000 miles or 3 months help your engine run smoother. Plus a good oil change shop can look over your vehicle and see the condition it is in. The less stress on the engine, the less fuel you will burn. Coolant flushes helps the engine run at proper engine temperatures. If your vehicle runs cold, it uses more fuel. It thinks it needs to run more fuel because it is not warmed up yet. If it runs hot it uses more gas because of stress and friction. Air filter, fuel filter and spark plug changes are very important. It is hard to tell if a spark plug is worn with out taking them out. Spark plugs should be changed according to manufacture specifications. Filters all should be changed more often. Air filters and fuel filters could never hurt your vehicle by changing them early. In my experience I see fuel filters that could be replaced sooner. Plugged or clogged fuel filter puts a strain on the fuel pump, which will cause them to go out sooner. I would suggest every 15,000 miles.
Having your vehicle scanned for codes every once in a while even if you have no Service Engine Soon light on is very helpful. It might still show a code and we could check it prior to damage. Other things that are helpful if you are going to Idle in traffic more than 60 seconds turn your engine off. Leave a few minutes early so you are not in a hurry. When we are in a hurry we have a tendency to rush to each stoplight in order to make the light to save time. We drive so different when we are not in a hurry, by driving light footed and not rushing to each stoplight. Taking things off your vehicle like bike racks and ski racks when not in use. All these things are important to the fuel economy your vehicle. If you increase 3 to 10 percent that could be very helpful with the gas prices of today. If properly maintained, your vehicle will cost less to repair and would run more effectively therefore costing you less at the pump.
