The Air Filter

This is the also one of the easiest jobs a person can do to their car. A car with a clean air filter is a happy car. Depending on the make your car you may need a screwdriver in order to open the air filter box.  A dirty air filter is restrictive and forces the car to use more fuel. A car needs a clean air filter in order to breathe clean air. 

K&N High Flow Air Filter

Depending on your budget you may need an paper air filter that can go for  15-50 dollars depending of the make your car or you can buy a K&N High Flow Air Filter and never have to worry about replacing another air filter. I chose to buy a K&N Filter because they stay for the life of your car and it sure beats having to buy more air filters. They claim to increase gas mileage and horsepower gains because it is less restrictive and allows more air flow into the engine. In my car I've noticed a 1 mpg increase, my accelerates faster and the exhaust sounds more "throaty". It is important for the car to receive the adequate of air in order to operate in normal conditions, check your air filters. If you hold the air filter next to the sun and you cannot see past it, then its time for a new air filter. Having a clean air filter will help the car perform better and protect it from harmful contaminants.

Tires

In my previous posts, I listed the factors that would increase or decrease your gas mileage. In this post you will learn how tires can affect your gas mileage. One of the first things that can be checked in 30 seconds, are your tires. Your tires are the only thing that come in contact with the ground. Having under-inflated tires will lower your gas mileage, it will cause your car to use power, waste more gas, have decreased stability at high speeds and not safe. Having properly inflated is safer and will save you gas. Let me give you an example, when a bike has under-inflated tires, it is harder to pedal and when the tires are inflated. its more easier to pedal. The same concept applies to your car. By inspecting your tires and having them properly inflated you are saving money.

My aerodynamic rims.  ; )

Personally, I over-inflate my tires by 10-PSI. It creates less rolling resistance but it also makes the car feel stiffer. I do not endorse over-inflating your tires because it can cause to tires to explode and void any warranties you may have for your tires. Do this at your risk, I am not responsible for anything that may result from having over-inflated tires. An increase of 5 psi, should not be considered as "bad".
The aerodynamics of the tires can be further increased  by having the wheel fully covered as shown in the picture. The last important thing is having tires with proper tire thread, they grip the road. A car that has no tire thread is dangerous because the tire may explode and they don't grip the road well. The expensive part is replacing all your tires. Whats your cars current PSI reading?

What will increase your mpg?

The following factors will improve your gas mileage.

                   

Increase MPG

1.  A properly maintained car.

2. Calm and consistent driving behaviors and habits.

3. A device that gives you feedback on your driving such as a ScanGaugeII.

4. Clean fuel injectors and fuel system.

5. A clean air filter.

6. Spark Plugs and spark plug wires.

7. Properly inflated tires and the tire thread.

8. Get the junk out of the trunk, the less weight in the car the better.

9. A clean throttle body.

10. A new fuel filter.

12. Clean ground wire terminals.

13. Driving the speed limit and maintaining constant speed.

14. Anticipating  the red or green lights ahead of time.

15. Coasting. This is your new best friend.

16. Proper engine oil weight.

17. Low rolling resistance tires.

18. A block heater (optional).

19. Driving without shoes. Professional NASCAR racers wear thin soles on their feet to feel the cars response more accurately, so their shifting times are more precise.

20. Not using the AC.

21. Keeping your windows closed.

22. Taking off your antenna(optional). It creates a slight aerodynamic resistance.

23. Regular PCV valve changes.

24. A Wholesale card, (cheaper gas prices).

25. Not driving is the best method to give you infinite mpg.
26. Clean EGR Valve.
27. Cold Air Intake* and Turbochargers*.
28. The closer your car is to the ground the more aerodynamic it is.
29. Slowing down immediately when a red light is seen, by the time you reach the stop the light will most likely change to green.* You will see many cars rush to a red light and suddenly brake.



* There is skeptism if an Cold Air Intake or a turbocharges would improve their mpg. Each car is different and reacts differently to upgrades. The automakers already tried to build the car to its maximum efficiently. If these upgrades are beneficial then why don't the cars they produce have cold air intakes and turbochargers? Some diesel cars actually benefit from having a turbocharger,

What will decrease your mpg?

I will make a list of the factors that will lower your gas mileage and make you spend more money.

1. A  car that is not well maintained.

2. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as jackrabbit start and hard braking.

3. Under inflated tires and also low tire thread. Your car will use more fuel to move forward.
4. A dirty fuel system and fuel injectors.

5. A dirty air filter.        

6. Old spark plugs... they can cause hard starts, hesitations, misfires and poor fuel economy.

7. Having junk in the trunk. :) Having unnecessary weight, your car uses more fuel to carry that extra weight.

8. A dirty throttle body, it can reduce throttle response, loss of power.

9. A poor ground wire system, they reduce electrical resistance which slightly reduces how well the engine runs.

10. Driving over the speed limit. Each 5mph over the speed limit can cost your more gas versus actually maintaining the speed limit.

11. Braking, each time you break you use fuel to stop the car.

12. Once you come at a standstill every car gets ZERO MPG (unless if you have a hybrid)! Waiting at red lights gets you ZERO mpg and is a complete waste of gas. The same gas your using to keep your engine running, you can use it to keep it moving.

13. Idling is one of the worst enemies of your mpg. More than 25 seconds of idling is just a waste of gas. Its more economical to just turn off the engine.

14. Drive-tru's. If you are going to buy fast food through a drive-thru, be prepared to waste more money on

your gas that is being wasted

 15. Antennas. It creates aerodynamic resistance.

 16. Using the AC.

17. Open windows at high speeds.

18. Driving in reverse.
19. Faulty PCV Valve.
20. Faulty E.G.R. Valve.
21. Jackrabbit starts
22.Lack  of maintenance
23. Braking.
24. Being at a standstill, every car gets 0 mpg when they are not moving.