Wednesday, January 30th 2008

12:57 PM

Tips for getting better gas mileage

Did you know a poorly maintained vehicle can lower gas mileage by nearly 20%? That’s why it is so important to rely on the specialists at our dealership. We know your vehicle better than anyone.
Remember to:

A: Use the recommended oil grade. It can improve your gas mileage by 1-2%. Make sure to ask for Mopar oil labeled “Energy Conserving”, to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
B: Check and replace air filters. Replacing a clogged air filter with a new Mopar air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.
C: Keep the engine tuned. Fixing a vehicle that is noticeably out of tune can improve gas mileage by an average of 4%. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40%.
D: Keep tires properly inflated. Under inflated tires can lower gas mileage by .4% for every 1 psi (pounds per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires.

Tune Up your driving habits:

A: Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking can lower your has mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town.
B: Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60mph. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5mph you drive over 60mph is like paying an additional 20cents per gallon for gas.
C: Reduce excess vehicle weight. Every extra 100 pounds of stuff in your vehicle can reduce gas mileage by up to 2%. If you drive a smaller vehicle, extra weight could affect your mileage even more.
D: Avoid excessive idle. When you idle you get 0 miles per gallon. And ignore the misperception: it doesn’t take more gas to restart the engine than you would save from turning off the engine.

Stick with the specialists for all your maintenance needs, and we’ll help keep your vehicle running as fuel efficiently as possible.