Follow These Tips to Improve the MPG on Your Car or Truck

Gas mileage: It’s on everyone’s mind. When gas prices soar, you’ll want to get the most miles per gallon possible. Do you know how to get better gas mileage? If you’re worried about your vehicle’s low fuel economy, there are plenty of solutions. To make it even easier, Paint A Part has compiled a list of tricks and tips to improve your MPG.

Fix Body Damage

Body damage isn’t just an aesthetic issue, it’s a performance issue too. Your car or truck has been intricately designed to be as aerodynamic as possible. Any damage to your hood, bumpers, fenders, or other parts of your auto body changes your vehicle’s aerodynamic profile, which in turn will force your engine to work harder, tanking your gas mileage.

Body damage is often bad news for your gas mileage, but the good news is that it can be fixed! Restoring your auto body smooths out those rough edges and reduces friction, making your car or truck more aerodynamic again. If you need a replacement hood or a replacement bumper, fenders, or any other part, you can find them at Paint A Part. Paint A Part saves you money on repairs by shipping these replacement parts pre-painted and pre-assembled, directly to you.

Check For Technical Issues

Once you’ve fixed body damage to your car or truck, you can start a deeper inspection for even more MPG gains. If you want better mileage, sometimes a simple clean is all you need. Drivers who stick to a routine maintenance schedule are less likely to see dips in their fuel economy. One of the most common causes of lower MPG is clogged or damaged fuel injectors. Other regular maintenance projects that can improve your fuel economy include replacing dirty air filters, changing your fuel filters, inflating your tires, and performing regular oil changes.

Using the right type of motor oil can also make a difference. Lower-weight oils (i.e., 10W-20) perform better on mileage tests than higher-weight oils. However, you should always stick with your auto manufacturer’s recommended oil for the best performance. Better MPG will also reduce the frequency of your oil changes as well.

Remove The Extra Weight

Car and truck add-ons like rooftop carriers, bike racks, and camping gear might not seem intrusive, but the extra weight can impact your fuel economy. You’ll get better gas mileage if you remove any accessories that are not in use. A government study found that using a large roof-top cargo box can reduce fuel economy anywhere between 2-8% while city driving, or 6-17% percent on the highway. Driving with a rooftop carrier at Interstate speeds (65-75 mph) can reduce your fuel economy by as much as 25% due the poor aerodynamics. The same study also found that for 100 pounds you add to your vehicle, your MPG goes down by 1%.

Small Changes Can Make A Difference

There are plenty of other smaller adjustments you can make to your car or truck to help with your gas mileage. For example, using cruise control while you’re on the highway keeps you driving at a consistent speed, which can save gas. Aggressive driving wastes gas. You can get better gas mileage just by driving sensibly and going the speed limit.

If your AC is running your MPG is being adversely affected. You can reduce gas mileage anywhere between 1 to 4 MPG simply by turning off the air conditioning.

And there you have it! If you’re worried about your gas mileage, there are plenty of steps you can take to restore lagging MPG. And Paint A Part is here to help! We can help you fix car damage with pre-painted replacement parts.