Debunking Common Fuel Economy Myths


We continuously look for perfect ways to limit our monthly expenditures in fuel. Prices of oil-based fuels have escalated quite dramatically in the past few years, but fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve the fuel economy of our car. We could simply look for “improve mileage” in Google and we could get plenty of different tips to make our cars sip fuel just a little bit slower.

By following proper tips, we may not be able to double the mileage, but at least the car can run a dozen of miles longer on each full tank. It should be noted that mileage that manufacturers put in the advertising messages are just perfect values. It is applicable only if people drive their car on the Interstate at steady speed without any kind of break, no lunch, no sleep and no toilet break. So, it is very likely that even a brand new car has lower mileage than advertised.

There are a number of misconceptions that we need to be aware of. As an example, larger engines don’t always give improved fuel economy. In fact, a small 4-cylinder engine consumes less fuel, because they burn less gasoline at specific amount of time. For this reason, consumers should consider whether they need to drive their cars faster or to have improved mileage, which could help them to save money for a specific duration of time.

It should also be noted that newer cars don’t always more efficient than newer ones. In fact, newer cars could be equipped with high-performance features that require more power to achieve improved acceleration. This is also another consideration consumers should have when they are planning to purchase new cars. When looking for new cars, it is better to read reviews from current owners to know whether the car requires less fuel to reach specific distance.

Another myth we constantly hear is that turning on the air conditioner will make our car less efficient. It is true, but only if we don’t open the windows. When we open all four windows and drive at 40mph, the car will experience much improved drag that forces the engine to work harder to achieve specific speed.

By closing all windows, wind resistance can be minimized and in reality, there’s not much difference between turning on the air conditioner and keeping the windows closed, with turning off the air conditioner and opening all windows.

It is also important to note that filling our car with regular fuel won’t ruin the engine, even if the owner’s manual says that the car should get premium fuel. In general, it’s not really necessary to put premium fuel consistently in our car. On newer cars, the fuel management system is able to handle fuel with lower octane value. The manual simply says that it is recommended, it doesn’t mean that we have to run on premium fuel.

By using regular fuel occasionally, we could save about 25 cents for each gallon. It’s true that regular gas will cost us some horsepower, but in reality, we won’t notice any difference on the road.

About: RV is a local seo services professional and has been helping many small businesses since 8 years.

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