Increased Mileage

Right now with gas sitting within a Popsicle’s price $3.00 a gallon or more it makes sense to make a few changes that can help get more miles to the gallon out of the old clunker. Here are a few helpful tips listed by what they cost.

Free

Air in the tires more air equals less rolling resistance and more freeway friendly gear ratios (if the tires are inflated bigger they act like an increased overdrive). At the very least tired should be set at what the manufacturer of the car recommends, but I experimented with my 1987 Porsche and found I like about 45 pounds in the tires. It saved about 2 mpg, for free. Additionally replace the factory tires with tires that are the same width and a little taller, even more overdrive gearing with less tire on the ground rolling resistance.

Knock off the jackrabbit starts- my Porsche has a MPG gage which is basically a glorified vacuum gage but it is a constant reminder of loss and a good tool to show you how much foot you should use when.

Combine trips- or shop at places where you can get everything, or multitask like Super Wal-Mart, Target or Big K.. Bank online and have direct deposit.

Regular maintenance

Tune up- At the very least you can change the plugs every 3,000 miles. If you can’t do it, many High Schools and Community Colleges will fix your car for free for the students getting a chance to gain experience.

Wax on wax off- Mr. Miyagi said it best, a clean car with wax on it reduces wind resistance.

Replace the factory air cleaner with a large volume low restriction intake. Check local ordinances before you buy and modify. Be careful what you are buying because some of those intakes can get pretty pricy, so shop around decide what you want, check out everybody’s price including eBay. Keep your old air filter and box in the event you need to pass smog sometime. Some good air intakes are under $100.00. The intake doesn’t have to be the best, you are seeking to reduce restriction, not race Indy.

Repair

Exhaust . . .specifically the Catalytic Converter most cars now come with a straight thru converter (where you can see daylight when you look down the exhaust). This is imperative and if you have the other type, you must replace it with this type. Cost between $100 and $300.00 dollars, with a savings of about 3 MPG. Consider replacing the muffler with a low restriction muffler or glass pack. Check with local ordinances on noise and muffler replacement.

Repair body damage- this can and usually does detract more from your mileage than not cleaning and waxing, particularly if the damage is in the front or on the side.

If your coil fails look into something that provides a little more spark.

Cam shaft- should you need a cam shaft there should be a number of suitable replacements that offer better fuel economy that are cheaper than a factory camshaft.