Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I was wondering what are some things I could watch and keep an open eye on my car to help it get better gas mileage. [Outside of regular routine matinence like oil, air pressure and tire rotation]. I'm trying so hard to keep my mpg s up and the trips to the gas station low. I swear, it's turn into a competition with myself to see how high I can get my miles per gallon with each tank.

 Thank you!

 Natasha

Watch your speed! This can really really help your mpg.

I'm typically a bit of a lead foot, but when we moved down here to NC my friend and her bf drove our moving truck and we were in my car. Since the truck was, well a big old truck, it didn't go very fast. Probably maxed out at 65. So the whole trip down to NC I had to keep pace with them driving the truck, since I was leading. Keeping pace with them, I made it all the way from PA to NC on one tank of gas!

So now I keep my speed either at the speed limit, or just 5 miles over. (Getting a speeding ticket also helps kick you in the butt to lower your speed haha)

And of course the usuals like you said, tire pressure. A lot of people are riding around on improperly inflated tires and they don't realize that's killing their mpg.

And don't tote around extra junk in your trunk (that sounded funny) Like for awhile I had Jimmy's seabags in my trunk while he was in CA. Then I read for every certain amount of weight of stuff in your car cuts some miles off your mpg.

Those are my suggestions! = )

Sorry I saw this on the side of the screen and thought it was in the Wives/GF's forum....

 Think air filter.  Keep a clean one in your car.  Your car takes in a lot of air to mix with the gas and will use less gas if it can get all of the air it needs.  You might even consider driving below the speed limit, especially if you are alone on the road or you are on a road that you can easily be passed on.  Five or ten miles an hour will not get you there that much quicker and will increase your mileage.  Good Luck.  Jim D

In addition to the things mentioned above, don't gun it when a light turns green. Ease in to going. Coast as much as you can, don't just break when you need to, let up on the gas and then coast, then just ease on your breaks to stop. The last one I have is the ever amazing Cruise control! That helps a lot. Those are the only other things I can think of that hasn't been mentioned.