Tips on Improving Fuel Efficiency

How to Improve Gas Mileage

The miles and the gas use add up when you’re commuting from Naples. That’s when our ways to improve gas mileage come in handy, but you can use them just about any time you get behind the wheel.

1. Accelerate Softly: Press the gas pedal gently. The harder you press, the more fuel you use. Even though your vehicle might have incredible 0-60 numbers, you should take five seconds to bring your vehicle up to 10 mph from a standstill

2. Plan Ahead for Traffic: Ft. Meyers traffic can sometimes be dicey. Sitting and stop-and-go traffic is inefficient and can also put mechanical stress on your car’s drivetrain. To avoid rush hour, use a traffic app on your phone that tells you the optimal time to leave for your destination on the least traffic-clogged streets.

3. Avoid High Speeds: Cars use more fuel when traveling at higher speeds. One big way to improve gas mileage on the highways is to keep your speed between 55 and 65 mph, as long as that’s within the speed limit.

4. Coast to a Stop: Rather than applying your brakes constantly, look at the road ahead. If there’s no one ahead of you and you need to come to a stop, take your foot off the gas pedal and let your car coast to a stop. On hills, reduce your speed as you start uphill, and again, use your car’s forward momentum to coast downhill.

5. Use AC at Highway Speeds: Car AC does require gas, so use it sparingly when you’re traveling around town. This can be difficult to do in the south Florida climate. However, on the highways, using your car’s AC is actually more efficient than rolling down your windows. This is because opening the windows increases the drag coefficient.

6. Stay on Your Car’s Maintenance Schedule: A well-maintained car that has clean filters and full fluids will pay for itself in improved fuel economy.