Some Tips to Increase Your MPG

How To Improve Your Gas Mileage

Here are some tips to improve your gas mileage. While I don’t recommend them for everyone, you can judge for yourself if you think these can help you. Presently I’m getting 30 mpg with my 1990 Caravan with a 3 speed trans on a 3.0L engine with 200,000 miles. (That’s on long trips to Florida going 70 mph behind trucks.) Remember that not only do you use less fuel, but you also keep carbon emissions down.

Keep Tire Pressure Full
I like to buy high pressure tires that allow me to put 51 psi in the tire. This will create less friction with the road, increasing fuel economy. Expect 10% over tires with low pressure.

Change Air Filter
A lot of people recommend the K&N filter, but I have found just changing your filter seems to work just as well. Expect a 10% increase over a dirty filter

Don’t Buy a “Tornado”
A lot of people recommend the “Tornado” gadget for your intake. Most people who have seriously tested them say it doesn’t work with a fuel injected car. I bought one, it made no difference for me.

Follow a Truck
By far, the most mpg improvement I can make is by following a big truck down the highway. Depending on the wind resistance of your car and how closely you follow, you can improve your gas mileage 30% to 50%. You don’t need to follow too closely to make a big improvement.

Change Your Spark Plugs
A good tune up is always a good idea. Expect a 10% increase over a poorly tuned vehicle

Buy Better Gas
Some cheap gas seems formulated to not work as well. I like to mix 93 octane and 89 octane with different “better” gas stations. Expect a 5% increase.

Drive 55
Expect to lose 10% of your gas mileage every 10 mph you go over 55 mph.

Accelerate Slowly
Do I need to say more?

Avoid traffic lights
An engine sitting at idle gets 0 mpg.

WHAT’S YOUR MPG TIP?

Those are all good tips, I have noticed that if I stay on top of the oil changes on a regular 3000 miles that helps as well. Have you noticed the same? or is all in my head?

Yes, an oil change is a good idea. Cleaner oil is thinner. Also, use light weight oil if you can. 5w-30 or 10w-30.

If you have a roof rack, take if off if you can. Don't needlessly carry stuff on your roof.

Do a timing belt adjustment, or have it changed. Sloppy timing can really retard mileage.

Just want to expand on one of jsintons tips. Like most, I've always known the laws of physics dictate driving slower boosts mileage no matter what others say. I recently had a perfect opportunity to put it to the test. I had to drive a 22 mile stretch of flat deserted desert road several times back and forth the other day and was in no hurry. Zero traffic and a moderate hill in the middle and two huge sweeping curves. One stop sign. Never needed the A/C. Saw little to no wind. I used both the cummulative and spot mpg readout on the upper display.

The first trip I set the cruise at 70 mph. I averaged 22.8 mpg. The second trip I set the cruise at 55 mph and averaged 24.0 mpg. The third trip I set the cruise at 45 mph and averaged 26.4 mpg. The forth trip I set the cruise at 40 mph and averaged 25.9 mpg.

Physics won the test. From those numbers it appears somewhere between 40 and 45 mph is about the most efficient speed you can drive. Practicle? Probably not for most but, if the price of gas shoots through the roof, it's an option. Was interesting to see mileage decreased at 40 mph. Just food for thought. Cheers.

96GC 3.8 ltr 195K miles.

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A few more tips:
> When at a stop light, shift to neutral. A loaded engine will eat more gas at idle.
> Use the A/C only when you have to. I turn mine on only above 90 deg and keep it off on 10 mile or less trips.
> Play the lights. When you see a red light or a light thats' about to go red, take your foot off the pedal and coast. It's asinine to race up to a red light and jam on the brakes.
> Take your foot off the gas further away from stop signs.
> Do you realy need all the seats in the van all the time? Get rid of that excess weight.
> Make a list of what you need and take it with you. It will save that extra trip for something you forgot.
> Combine trips. Get that new pair of shoes, get that hair done, and arrange appointments around that family trip to the theater.

jsinton - Thanks for the great thread!

Get the wheels aligned,