Getting the most miles from your tank

The cost of a tank of gas is on everyone’s minds these days, and seemingly the object of every conversation. Getting the most use from each tank is a matter of good stewardship.

The first step is making sure that your vehicle is properly maintained and repaired. I wish that I could tell you that a certain repair would significantly improve the mileage that you get. Unfortunately, the best that anyone can do is restore fuel economy to what it was when the vehicle was new. We would strongly discourage trying new types of spark plugs or other ‘miracle’ devices to significantly improve fuel mileage. Most of these devices do very little good, and often significantly compromise overall driveability and reliability. According to Consumer Reports, the fuel-saving devices they tested provided zero or negligible improvements in vehicle fuel economy.

How many miles per tank-full did you used to get? If you now get 50 or 70 or more miles less per tank-full of gasoline, then you may need a repair or maintenance. The first two items to check are for a dirty air filter and low tire pressures. These items are easily corrected. Worn spark plugs can result in reduced fuel economy. Higher mileage vehicles that have never had the upper intake manifold, valves and fuel injectors cleaned often will see a noticeable improvement in mileage following that service. Newer vehicles can maintain their fuel efficiency with that service. Using synthetic motor oil will also result in a small improvement in fuel economy.

Driving with the Check Engine Light on will often result in lower fuel economy. This may be due to the part or system that is broken. It can also be the result of the reduced programming options that the computer uses when the Check Engine Light is on. So even if the vehicle feels like it is driving normally, the fuel management is probably being more wasteful.

Now to get to the point that I really wanted to make, the biggest improvement that most people can make in their fuel economy is to simply slow down! A coworker here drives 20 minutes to work each day. He slowed down from 60 mph to 50 mph on his eight minute segment on county highways, and slowed from 80 mph to 65 mph on his 12 minute I-85 drive segment. His fuel economy improved by 15% with this simple change. His 2006 V6 Mustang with manual transmission improved in fuel economy from 27 mpg to 31 mpg.

In my Ford Escape Hybrid, I see a significant reduction in fuel economy when driving fast on the highway. I will average 33 mpg when driving 65 mph, and will only get 29 mpg at 80 mph.

One way to encourage or reinforce slowing down is to keep track of your fuel economy. Many vehicles have a fuel economy feature in the information displayed on the dash. If your, or your spouse’s, vehicle has this feature, keep it displayed. Many people have a competitive sense to them. The competition to get to work just a few minutes faster can cost a lot in fuel. Change that competitive nature to trying to maintain the highest fuel economy number and you will save fuel and money.

Brian Klaubert has written for the Neighborhood News for five years, and owns Christian Brothers Automotive – Hamilton Mill on Braselton Hwy in Dacula. They have won “Best Mechanic” in the 2007 “Best of Gwinnett” award in Gwinnett Magazine.