How to Get Better Gas Mileage in Utah County

Is gas mileage an important part of your monthly budget? To many Provo, Utah drivers, we think it is.

Any idea what vehicle gets the worst gas mileage?

And the winner is…

vehicle-worst-gas-mileage

 

….the Nasa Crawler.

  • Diesel Fuel Capacity – 5,000 gallons
  • Fuel Consumption – 1 gallon per 32 feet (approximately 165 gallons per mile)
  • 165 gallons per mile

Aren’t you glad you don’t have that fuel bill?

We are always trying to get better gas mileage on our vehicles. Listed are three tips to improve your gas mileage.

1. Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.

Fuel Economy Benefit: Up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: Up to $0.11/gallon

2. Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.14/gallon

3. Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1–2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04–$0.07/gallon

This was a guest post by CleggAuto.com. Visit any of their locations. Clegg Auto in Spanish Fork 801-798-1822, Clegg Auto in Provo 801-374-8708 and Clegg Auto in Santaquin 801-754-4635. www.cleggauto.com