Does the cost of gas have you fuming at the pump? If carpooling and public transportation are not the answers for you, you’ll be happy to know there are ways to improve your fuel economy no matter what type of car you are driving.
Here are some good habits to practice for better gas mileage for your Volkswagen:
- Drive safely. Aggressive driving wastes gas fast. Hard braking or jackrabbit takeoffs can waste gas and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds.
- Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gas you waste and the more money you lose at the pump. Each mile per hour you drive over 60 is like paying an extra per liter.
- Keep it covered. Your gas cap, that is. A lot of cars have missing or damaged gas caps, causing millions of liters of gas to vaporize every year.
- Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter chokes off the air and causes too much gas to be burned for the amount of air. This wastes gas and causes your engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
- Shed the pounds. Using a loaded roof rack or trunk increases fuel consumption. Remove all unnecessary weight.
- Treat your engine right. Using a synthetic engine oil, is a great way to get better gas mileage. Lower friction means your engine can produce more power with less effort. It has also shown to increase horsepower and torque and extend the life of your oil changes.
- Maintain good tire pressure. Driving with tires that aren’t inflated properly can cost you a kilometer or two per liter.
- Replace spark plugs. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 Kilometers, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug can cause misfiring, which wastes fuel.
- Use the right grade of gasoline. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to find out whether your car will run fine on regular grade. Regular grade fuel costs are 10 percent less than a premium grade.
We at Steele Volkswagen conduct regular maintenance on your vehicle – simply book an appointment from Halifax, Dartmouth, and surrounding areas – we will get you into the dealership.