How to Save Fuel
As fuel costs fluctuate and concerns about the environment increase, many drivers are wondering what they can do to conserve fuel.
To help you preserve the life of your vehicle, save at the fuel pump and become more Eco-friendly, we've assembled a list of Brown Motors Eco-friendly tips.
Save Fuel with a Stop at Brown Motors!
Proper vehicle maintenance doesn't just help extend the life of your vehicle - it can help relieve some of the financial pressure brought on by high gas prices. The following are a few key services Brown Motors factory-trained technicians can perform to help boost your mpg and fuel economy.
- Check your oxygen sensor. An oxygen sensor is part of your vehicle's emission control system. Replacing a faulty one can improve gas mileage by as much as 40%
- Replace a clogged air filter. All of the dirt, dust and grime have a negative impact on your engine's performance. This simple and often overlooked maintenance can increase fuel efficiency by about 10%.
- Get an engine tune-up. Making sure all your systems are operating at their best can save you 4% in fuel efficiency.
- Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Making sure your tire pressure isn't too low - or too high - can improve your gas mileage by around 3%.
- Get the recommended grade of motor oil. Our experts offer a full line of high-quality oil and filter products from Motorcraft®. Using the one that's right for your vehicle can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 2%
- Stick With Stock. New wheels and tires may look cool, but if they're not the same as the OEM specifications, they could create more resistance, thereby reducing fuel economy.
Save Fuel on the Road!
Saving fuel after a visit to Brown Motors service department is just the start. Here are a few things you can be conscious of when you're behind the wheel to help you squeeze a little more out of your gas dollars.
- Avoid aggressive driving. Not only can it be dangerous, but constant speed changes and quick, uneven stops and starts waste a lot of fuel. Taking it easier behind the wheel can improve your gas mileage by as much as 33%!
- Slow down. Another form of aggressive driving – speeding – can be a big fuel waster. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Reducing your speed from 65 to 55 mph can improve your fuel economy by 10% to 15% and reducing your speed from 70 to 55 mph can improve your fuel economy by a whopping 25%. So what’s your hurry?
- Remove excess weight. You can save about 2% in fuel efficiency for every 100 lbs. of extra clutter you can remove from your car or truck
- Use your cruise control. This helps you save fuel in two ways. First, it controls your maximum speed, which can help you stay below 60 mph. Second, it maintains a constant speed, which means you won’t be pumping extra fuel into your engine to accelerate.
- Reduce your drag. 50% of the energy required to operate most vehicles is spent overcoming wind resistance. Cartop carriers, rooftop bike racks and even those plastic window flags for your favorite sports team can all add resistance and cut down your fuel efficiency, especially at high speeds. Washing and waxing your vehicle can actually help your aerodynamics too.
- Save A/C for the highway. Your air conditioning makes your engine work harder, which can equate to as much as a 10% to 15% reduction in fuel efficiency when outdoor temperatures climb above 80° Fahrenheit. For city driving or in heavy traffic, turn your air conditioning off and roll down the windows if you can stand the heat. At speeds of 50 mph or more, however, the drag created by your open windows will actually cost you more in fuel economy than the A/C. So feel free to roll your windows up and use the air on the highway if you need to.
- Avoid idling. It's more fuel efficient to turn off your engine when you're waiting in the car.
- Combine trips. Your engine works most efficiently when warmed up!
Be Thoughtful at the Pump
- Tighten the cap. Your gas tank needs both fuel and fumes for your engine to work most efficiently, so if your vehicle has a gas cap, make sure to tighten it all the way after every fill-up. Many modern cars are actually designed to turn on the "check engine" light if they detect a bad seal at the gas cap.
- Fill up in the dark. Fueling generates fewer vapors when it’s cool and dark outside, so fill up in the early morning or late evening. While the difference in your monetary savings is very small, less vapor in the atmosphere is very eco-friendly!
- Use the correct octane. Your vehicle runs best with a certain octain-rated fuel; check your owners manual. Anything below this will adversely affect your fuel economy. And anything above it will just cost you more money with no real benefit.