Tips To Increase Your Gas Mileage

The consumer ratings service Angie’s List recently surveyed auto service professionals across the country to find out some of the best ways to increase your mileage by 5 percent or more.

The tips will come in handy as analysts are projecting gas prices to continue to climb in May. They expect them to peak at the end of the month before declining in June. Analysts say the U.S. refining capacity is increasing and oil speculation is decreasing. Crude oil prices are already down $5 per barrel from their peak last week.

The national average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel is $3.98, up more than a dime from a week ago.

But these tips will keep you from fueling up as frequently, say auto service professionals.

1. Check your owner’s manual to see if there is a specific oil type that you should use. Not using that can lower your gasoline mileage by 1-2 percent.

2. Monitor your tire’s air pressure. Properly inflated tires increase your gas mileage up to 3 percent. The recommended pressure can be found on the driver’s side door jamb.

3. Don’t get below one-eighth of a tank of gas. The fuel pump picks up sediment in the gas at the bottom of the tank and carries that into the pump, which can damage it and cause inefficient fuel usage.

4. Refrain from speeding or rapidly accelerating and decelerating. It can decrease your gas mileage.

The service consultant at Rudolph Chevrolet, Ed Gillette, also says not adding a lot of weight in the trunk will help your fuel economy. Gillette hopes El Pasoans will keep that in mind for the summer travel season.

“If you drive with items on top of the roof, it’s going to take away 5-15% fuel economy,” Gillette said.

Gillette said running several errands at the same time can minimize fuel usage, and turning the engine off instead of idling for long periods of time will also keep your gas in the tank longer.