Want more miles per gallon from your car, truck or fleet? I think it’s safe to say, we all do.

You may think that your vehicle’s fuel economy is set, based on its combined MPG rating. But did you know that how you drive, as well as how you maintain your vehicle, can make a big difference in your vehicle’s fuel consumption?

Use the following maintenance tips to help maximize your fuel efficiency and save money:

Check your gas caps. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Filling your vehicle. Always fill your vehicle with the fill nozzle set on the lowest setting. This will help prevent overfilling, or back splash. And never top off your fuel tank. Topping off your fuel tank can saturate the emissions system with fuel and could cause a fuel spill when the fuel warms up. When the fuel nozzle clicks off, the tank is full, do not add any more fuel or round up the dollar amount on the fuel pump.

Never allow your tank to run dry. Letting the tank empty can allow contaminates to enter the engine through fuel injectors which can cause the engine to run less efficiently. Ultimately, this will lead to higher fuel consumption, a dirty engine, and much shorter engine life.

Take care of your tires. Maintaining correct air pressure in tires equates to fuel savings. For every 10 psi of under-inflation, a 10% reduction in fuel economy can result, according to NACFE. Improper wheel alignment can rob fuel efficiency by creating rolling resistance and can also cause premature tire wear.

Your tire type. Using mud and snow, or wider than standard tires for added traction will reduce your miles per gallon. These tires are designed to add friction for traction, and the added friction requires more power (fuel) to compensate. Note: New tires have more resistance than worn tires. After installing new tires, you will probably experience a short-term reduction in your vehicles fuel efficiency.

Change your oil. Too little or too much engine oil can create more friction and rob power. Clean oil lubricates better than dirty oil, so pay attention to oil change intervals. Also, explore the use of lower viscosity oils to improve fuel economy.

Let the engine breathe. A restricted air intake system (air filter, air cooler, and tubing) or exhaust system will decrease engine power output. Check components at regular PMs and fix any leaks. These leaks can be particularly hard to find, as leaking air is not as noticeable as fuel or oil, but their repair will improve engine operation and fuel efficiency.

Maintain air conditioning. The air conditioning compressor requires horsepower to operate, lessening the amount available to create and maintain forward momentum. An air conditioning system that is not operating near optimum efficiency requires even more power. Make sure the condenser and evaporator coils are clean and free from obstructions, the drive belt is in good condition, and the refrigerant level is at the proper level.

Maintain engine cooling fan. The main engine cooling fan requires a lot power to operate on today’s hotter-running, low-emissions engines. Ensure the fan clutch is operating correctly so the fan runs only when needed. A fan that runs constantly causes a significant reduction in economy.

Replace spark plugs. A vehicles spark plugs fire as many as 105 million times every 35,000 miles, resulting in heat, electrical, and chemical erosion. A dirty or worn spark plug can misfire, which wastes fuel. At a minimum, engines should be tuned and the spark plugs replaced at the factory recommended intervals.

Make sure you are staying on top of your fleet maintenance to improve fuel efficiency and save money!

About Us:
The team at Greg’s Petroleum Service, your fuel delivery service provider and lubricant supplier in Bakersfield, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clarita or Ventura, California areas, is available to answer all of your questions about retail branding and any other service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!