Saving Energy on the Road

Gas prices may be the lowest they’ve been in some time in Scottsdale, Arizona — as they are around the country — but they can always go back up if supply dwindles or the political or economic climate changes. Learning how to keep your gas costs down on your own can insulate you against these kinds of changes.

Getting regular vehicle maintenance and auto repair in Scottsdale as soon as you need it can help you keep your car in top shape, which will improve your fuel efficiency. Here are a few other things you can do to maximize your fuel savings:

Maintain Tire Pressure

Your tires can slowly lose air over time, which will lower their pressure. This won’t happen evenly across all four tires. As a result, your tires may become slightly uneven. Though the difference may be very small, it can make a big impact on your fuel efficiency.

When all four tires don’t have the proper pressure, it puts drag on the car, which makes it work harder. The more your car has to work, the more fuel it will consume.

Check your tire pressure regularly and make sure it’s where your manual says it needs to be. You’ll save gas and put less wear on your car.

Change Your Driving Habits

What you do when you get behind the wheel will make a big difference to your fuel economy. Here are a few of the things you can do to save gas:

• Slow down. Even cutting back 10 miles per hour can help you save a couple of gallons a week in gas. Just go the speed limit. Slow and steady wins the race — and saves money.
• Accelerate slowly. Speeding up quickly will use up more gas.
• Turn on the air conditioning. Opening the windows to let in cool air will create more drag on the vehicle, causing it to work harder and use more gas.
• Change the air filter on time. Dirty air filters make the engine work harder, using more gas.
• Find ways to drive less. Combine errands so you can drive to one location and walk to several shops. Shop online when you can. Carpool to work. The less you drive, the less gas you use

.

Making even small changes to your driving habits can make a big impact on how much you pay at the pump.

Drive a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

You can learn about the fuel economy of a car before you purchase it. Every car comes with information about the average mileage it gets driving in the city and on the highway. While the actual mileage may vary depending on your driving habits and how good you are at sticking to your vehicle maintenance schedule, you can still get a good idea of the car’s overall fuel efficiency.

Choosing an eco-friendly vehicle can save you even more. Hybrid vehicles allow you to use less fuel by powering the engine partially with electricity. You can even reduce your gas bill to zero by driving an all-electric vehicle. In the future, vehicles will be available that use hydrogen gas and biofuels.

Scottsdale Muffler and Automotive can help you to improve your fuel efficiency by keeping your vehicle in top shape. Our expert Scottsdale mechanics offer routine vehicle maintenance, as well as emergency auto repair. We have earned a reputation as one of the top service stations in Scottsdale, Arizona thanks to our superior workmanship and friendly service. Schedule a visit today for maintenance like tire rotation, air filter change, or fuel injection service that can help you improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.