Simple Fuel-Saving Tips
Before you go tossing your bags in the back of the car and setting ground rules for the kids regarding which side belongs to whom, we at Avondale Nissan have a question: are you getting your best possible gas mileage from your vehicle during your family vacation? As purveyors of some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available today, we’ve come to understand that delivering fuel economy often depends as much on the driver as it does on the vehicle being driven. So, prior to your family vacation, check out these simple fuel-saving tips from Avondale Nissan!
1) Check your tire pressure. This is perhaps the easiest way to improve your fuel economy, since low tire pressure requires your vehicle to work harder than it needs to. Your proper tire pressure is usually found in a sticker on the inside of your driver’s side door.
2) Replace your air filter. An air filter should be replaced roughly every 15,000 miles, and its cleanliness helps your engine to “breathe” cleaner air. If your engine isn’t allowed to receive a consistent flow of unobstructed air, this directly affects your fuel economy in a negative way.
3) Clean your intake valves. While this requires either a cleaning additive or a mechanic’s attention, it helps to immediately improve your fuel economy. The carbon that builds up on your intake valves will absorb the fuel during injection, thus forcing your vehicle to burn away a higher amount of fuel than is intended.
4) Reduce the weight in your car. If your car is weighed down with a bevy of unnecessary cargo, it can adversely affect your fuel economy. For example, things such as exercise weights, sandbags left over from winter or toolboxes can add hundreds of pounds to prevent your vehicle from reaching its peak fuel economy.
5) Drive nice. If you are constantly slamming on your gas and brakes, the added effort will cause your vehicle to burn fuel. Conversely, driving with a consistent speed and a steady brake will allow your vehicle to make the most out of every drop of fuel.
Now that you’ve learned the best way to conserve your fuel, you’re ready for your trip! And, when you’re feeling like test-driving some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available today, pay us a visit at Avondale Nissan near Phoenix, AZ!
