What makes mpg go down

This extra weight may come from a cargo or bike rack, heavy interior load, or trailer. It's no secret that a speeding ticket can cost you money, but the act of speeding can also use gas more quickly. When you drive 80 MPH or faster, you create higher air resistance, decreasing your fuel economy. When your engine doesn't run smoothly, your car may use more gas than usual. Physical characteristics such as those below can affect fuel economy.

Fuel injectors control how much gas goes into the engine. A leak or other injector problem may reduce the amount of fuel reaching the engine, forcing your car to run less efficiently. For your best fuel performance, use a synthetic friction-reducing option. When your car's maintenance is neglected, all of the systems run less efficiently, including those directly linked to fuel economy.

For example, a clogged air filter can affect engine performance and, by extension, fuel usage. Misfires in your spark plugs can cause problems with overall fuel usage. Use car oils that are high in friction reduction. Choose either a synthetic or what your owner's manual recommends. In the winter, you don't really need to let your car idle to warm it up. All it really needs is 30 seconds. Still, because it's cold, you may want to warm up the vehicle for you! Getting into a warm vehicle is always preferable to getting into a cold one.

However, when you're waiting for someone, either turn off your car or put it in neutral. This will save gas and help the environment! When you need help getting your car or truck to run efficiently, turn to the service pros at Joe Bowman Auto Plaza! Check out our website to learn more about us. May 06, Nothing is more irritating than a vehicle that starts to get bad gas mileage. Incorrect Tire Pressure This is very common and it's also the easiest to correct.

Spark Plugs If spark plugs are misfiring or performing poorly, your gas mileage will be affected. Typically, faulty O2 sensors send false, lean-bias alarms. Meaning, they deem the engine to be lean or low on fuel, adding unnecessary additional fuel to the system. The unneeded fuel just goes to waste. Remeber earlier about seven paragraphs ago when we mentioned how cold temperatures cause decreases in fuel efficiency.

Want to get your fuel efficiency back to its new car days? Stop by Northwest Auto Center in Houston. You must be logged in to post a comment. Fuel Efficiency Going Down? Previous Next. View Larger Image. Dirty or Worn Spark Plugs Dirty or worn out spark plugs affect the way your engine burns fuel in the combustion chamber. In turn, this waste means your getting fewer miles per gallon.