Gas Prices Increase, So Should Your Fuel Economy

As you may have heard, the price of crude oil has risen above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2008. This means prices at the pump will increase significantly, and motorists will be seeking to get the best bang for their buck regarding fuel economy. There are a quite a few ways in which one can easily enhance their gas mileage that you may be unaware of. Here are 5 easy tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your petroleum purchases:

1.       Keep the speed limit in mind. They are posted for a number of reasons, one of them being to maintain proper fuel economy. Even though each vehicle’s best gas mileage varies, speeds above 60 miles per hour generally lessen the amount of miles you get can out of each gallon.

2.       Check your tire pressure. If your tires are not properly filled to their required level, you might see a considerable decrease in your vehicle’s fuel economy.  According to the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association 2010 National Tire Pressure Survey “Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by 3.3% and save $.09 a gallon at the pump.”

3.       Remove unnecessary weight. It is said that every additional 100lbs. reduces your fuel efficiency by up to 2%.

4.        Use overdrive and cruise control. Overdrive allows your engine speed to decrease, typically increasing gas mileage. Cruise control helps your car maintain a constant speed, and will usually save you some money on gas.

If you follow these easy precautions, you should be well on your way to saving a few bucks on gas. If you already stick to these guidelines, and are not seeing a reasonable improvement in fuel economy, it might be time to have your car serviced. Have a technician take a look, as there might be a problem that’s not as easily addressed as those steps listed above. Otherwise, there’s always the option to get rid of the old gas guzzler and get into a new, fuel efficient automobile.

The staff at World Volkswagen strives for their customers to get the most out of their vehicle and we hope these general rules of thumb will help provide you the knowledge to make practical driving decisions, and utilize your car to its full potential. Happy motoring!