Tips to Get Better Gas Mileage

In this day and age, especially for people commuting long distances to work or school, saving gas is important. That's why all of us need to drive a little smarter, and maybe even drop a little extra gas money into the car to fix it up a little. Keep in mind when reading these tips, that for the national average of $2-3 per gallon, 1% means 2-3 cents per gallon. So if two of these tips are practiced, and each one of those saves you 1-2% gas mileage, it could translate into paying around 6 cents less per gallon at the pump.

First, take a look at the carburetor/fuel injectors. For fuel injectors, a microscopic blockage of dirt or other foreign substance will shatter gas mileage. It will turn what should look like a triangular spray pattern into a dull drip. For a carburetor, blockages in the jets or float needles can not only flood your engine constantly, causing horrible gas mileage, it could also do serious engine damage. A simply fuel injector/carburetor cleaner can be purchased at a gas station for around $2-3 and can clean out small blockages. For larger ones, a cleaning of the injectors or jets may be required. Keep in mind that almost anything with access to the fuel line can block these.

Second, check those spark plugs. If the car is irregularly sputtering or "missing," it could be a fouled plug. Make sure to replace the plugs according to the manufacturer's specifications, and gap them correctly. 1 fouled spark plug can drop a car's gas mileage as much as 12%. That is over 20 cents a gallon at the pump!

Third, check the air filter. If it is dirty, clean it or replace it. If the car is not obtaining enough air, the air/fuel ratio is off, and will get worse mileage.

Next, check the air/fuel ratio. My advice is that if you are not 100% sure about what you are doing, let a professional mechanic do the work. Too much gas or too much air can cause a lot of permanent engine damage, such as burning pistons or heads. Until this ratio is correct, the gas mileage will be reduced fairly severely.