Tips on How to Improve Gas Mileage

Unfortunately some of us have to drive large trucks either because of climate, work, location, or any combination of other things. Most of these large vehicles get very poor mileage, but but with proper care and maintenance we can improve it slightly.

Mythbusters have proved that these aren't the most fuel efficient when the truck is empty, but they didn't try it when it was full of wood or old appliances. A topper can really help when you are hauling bulky unaerodynamic objects by reducing the drag from wind.

This one is pretty obvious. The more junk you have, the more power you need to haul it. Try to reduce all unnecessary weight. For example, get rid of steel racing jacks, and replace then with aluminum ones, or bottle jacks. Also clear out stuff that you don't need like shovels or bags of concrete or stones, and other stuff like that.

In the winter (especially in harsh northern climates) you should cover the front grill of your vehicle to increase the temperature of the air that is entering your engine. Blocking the front will force the air to be pulled past the hot metal of your engine resulting in better efficiency. This is especially true with diesel engines.

Another simple alternative is to drive more efficiently. Drive at around 55 mph, or the lowest rpm in your highest gear. You should also make sure overdrive is on, which tells your car to shift gears sooner. If you drive a manual, shift up into a higher gear as soon as possible.
When you are approaching a stop light, let the car coast for as long as you can. If you are far away and it is red, sometimes you can time it in a way that you won't even need your brakes. This will greatly increase mileage, considering that it takes the most energy to accelerate form a dead stop.

One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle is to make sure the tires are at the proper pressure, or maybe one or two psi higher. This will increase the tire's circumference, and also improve the way the tread wears.
Another simple one is to make sure your belts are in good condition. Slipping belts take more power to turn, and don't transmit as much energy.
Keep your fluids full and make sure you have plenty of coolant in the summer.
Use an oil that is a little less viscous (thinner) to decrease friction, or you could use synthetic (not recommended).
At every oil change (or possibly more frequently if your car is older) use an injector of carb cleaner or similar. All you have to do is pour it in your gas tank and it will dissolve gunk in your fuel system.

During the summertime avoid using your air conditioning as much as possible. It puts a lot of load on your car and uses lots of gas. Instead open your windows. Windows cause drag that can also decrease mileage, but not as much as your ac.
In the winter using your heater doesn't affect your mileage, it can actually help keep the engine cool on warmer days.

Well, thats all I could think of right now.

If you have ideas or tips feel free to comment.

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

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