Filling up your gas tank can feel like a never-ending process. When you’re driving through the Northwest Arkansas area, whether to work, get groceries, take the kids to school, or wherever your car takes you, eventually you’ll need to stop at a gas station and fill up. Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks available to make those stops more infrequent, and keep your truck or car out on the road longer. Plus, the extra padding in your bank account doesn’t hurt either! Here’s a short list of tips and tricks you can use for your vehicle to keep more gasoline in it longer:
Check The Gas Cap
An estimated 17% of all vehicles out and about have broken or missing gas caps. This both lessens gas mileage and can be harmful to nature by permitting gasoline vapor to add to the exhaust cloud. It's additionally the most widely recognized – and easily fixable – reason for a lit up "check motor" light.
Get A Front-End Alignment
Rolling over every one of those potholes made throughout the winter months can undoubtedly throw your vehicle's wheel alignment off. This doesn’t just cause a vehicle's tires to wear down more rapidly, it also powers the motor to work overtime, which can decrease gas mileage by as much as 10%. In the event that you notice your vehicle pulling to one side or the steering wheel is askew, take your vehicle in for an alignment, immediately.
Focus On Tires
Sources propose that more than 25 percent of all vehicles on the road have either over or under inflated tires, which can both negatively influence a vehicle's gas mileage and lead to lopsided and untimely track wear. Tires that are under-expanded by 7.5 pounds will trigger a 2.8-percent plunge in a vehicle's mileage. Check the tire pressure frequently, utilizing a basic tire measure, as it can change by an average of one PSI (pound per square inch) with each 10-degree (Fahrenheit) change in air temperature. Have them appropriately expanded to the PSI suggested by the manufacturer (it's normally noted on a sticker that is on the driver's-side door jamb).
Pick The Right Motor Oil
When you take your car, truck, or SUV in for oil changes, ask your service advisor to use the engine oil suggested by your vehicle's manufacturer. For instance, in case you're right now running on 5W-30-grade oil, changing to 10W-30 could lessen your vehicle's fuel utilization by 1-2 percent.
Drive Smoothly
As much fun as a lively 0-60 mph start is, or stomping the brakes at the last second to slide around a curve a little too fast, this causes your engine to suck gas like a little child with a sippy cup. Reckless driving squanders the fuel your vehicle uses to find a workable pace. Spare the trick driving for the track and keep things smooth by keeping your eyes on the flow of traffic and utilizing the brakes safely and infrequently whenever possible.
Regardless of whether you’re needing basic maintenance – like oil changes – or something that is more broad on this list of gas mileage helpers, our crew of service advisors and trained technicians is here to help! Here at our Fayetteville service department, we can help a wide range of drivers with their car needs, regardless of what those necessities are. In case you're ready to set up your vehicle's service, we're here to help! Regardless of whether it's an alignment on your new Ford Ranger, an oil change on your Ford Explorer, or a transmission flush on your pre-owned minivan, our group is here and prepared to assist you with your vehicle’s service needs. You can call our service scheduler at 888-314-4824 to get that set up today!