GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Fuel Economy > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Great ways to increase your MPG	Post a Reply Back to Topics

ecotoyota Rookie Author Washington Posts:3 Points:2,090 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:42:03 PM Ignore ecotoyota Report Abuse Hi, I've been using a lot of techniques and modification on my car and I can usually get about 4-8 mpg more on average over the MPG HYW doing country, city and highway. I just thought I would pass this on to you guys. Here are just a few. First. One of the key techniques is Coasting. When ever you know your going to have to stop. Let off of the gas or put the car in neutral. You want to do this far enough away that you don't have to slam on your brakes once you get to the stop light or stop sign. Another way to think of this kind of driving is "Driving without brakes." Drive like your brakes are almost gone. Lets say your going about 50 MPH you would want to coast to the point at which by the time you have to start using your brakes your speed is at about 35 MPH or less. Second. Don't floor your car at every start up. Doing this will just use a ton of fuel for a few less seconds to get up to the desired speed. Third. Do not go beyond the speed limit. Yes, I will agree that you can get somewhere sooner by going 5 to 10 mph more then the posted speed limit, but have you ever calculated that saved time? Its quite small maybe 2 or 3 minutes for a short trip of 20 or 30 minutes. Plus going over causes more air resistance which reduces your MPG. To get more details on this subject check out ecomodder . com /blog/slow Fourth. When you start your car on a cold morning don't let the engine warm up for a long period, because while its sitting there its getting 0 MPG. Also, you can easily warm it up on the road, which will also warm up the transmission and other moving parts. Of course, make sure to scrape the windshield if need be before heading off. Fifth. This is a harder one that is a bit more involved, but can give a great MPG boost from 2 to 4 MPG. Create a grill block. What I mean by a grill block is something that covers the bottom and/or upper part of your grill in which air would come through to go into your radiator. If you live in a high temperature area I would not suggest this, due to your engine over heating, but in the winter this would work just fine. This affects the aerodynamics of your car to which air will more smoothly pass around the car. Making less turbulence the air would have to go through due to going through your engine and radiator. Sixth. If you have a Manuel transmission your already getting great MPG, but to get even more shift into higher gears sooner for lower RPMs. Lastly inflate your tires to the highest it can withstand or close to it. By doing this the tires will have less resistance on the road and be able to even coast longer and increase your MPG. I inflate my tires to 40 PSI. The max on the sidewall of the tire is 44 PSI. Tire technicians will tell you that your tire will wear the center of the tire more if you do this, but this is incorrect. Tires have a frame inside them that prevents this from happening. I though the same thing, but then when I researched it I found people who have been doing it for years and have never had a problem. I've been doing this to my tires for a while now and the wearing has been normal. I will say that doing this might make your car feel more of the road, but for me I haven't noticed any difference. If anyone would like to learn more about any techniques or modifications please feel free to check out the site that I learned this from. (ecomodder . com) There are tons of tips for better MPG on this site. Good luck! Ecotoyota [Edited by: ecotoyota at 2/8/2013 3:44:53 PM EST]

ecotoyota

Rookie Author
Washington

Posts:3
Points:2,090
Joined:Feb 2013

Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:42:03 PM

Ignore ecotoyota Report Abuse

Hi, I've been using a lot of techniques and modification on my car and I can usually get about 4-8 mpg more on average over the MPG HYW doing country, city and highway. I just thought I would pass this on to you guys. Here are just a few.

First. One of the key techniques is Coasting. When ever you know your going to have to stop. Let off of the gas or put the car in neutral. You want to do this far enough away that you don't have to slam on your brakes once you get to the stop light or stop sign. Another way to think of this kind of driving is "Driving without brakes." Drive like your brakes are almost gone. Lets say your going about 50 MPH you would want to coast to the point at which by the time you have to start using your brakes your speed is at about 35 MPH or less.

Second. Don't floor your car at every start up. Doing this will just use a ton of fuel for a few less seconds to get up to the desired speed.

Third. Do not go beyond the speed limit. Yes, I will agree that you can get somewhere sooner by going 5 to 10 mph more then the posted speed limit, but have you ever calculated that saved time? Its quite small maybe 2 or 3 minutes for a short trip of 20 or 30 minutes. Plus going over causes more air resistance which reduces your MPG. To get more details on this subject check out ecomodder . com /blog/slow

Fourth. When you start your car on a cold morning don't let the engine warm up for a long period, because while its sitting there its getting 0 MPG. Also, you can easily warm it up on the road, which will also warm up the transmission and other moving parts. Of course, make sure to scrape the windshield if need be before heading off.

Fifth. This is a harder one that is a bit more involved, but can give a great MPG boost from 2 to 4 MPG. Create a grill block. What I mean by a grill block is something that covers the bottom and/or upper part of your grill in which air would come through to go into your radiator. If you live in a high temperature area I would not suggest this, due to your engine over heating, but in the winter this would work just fine. This affects the aerodynamics of your car to which air will more smoothly pass around the car. Making less turbulence the air would have to go through due to going through your engine and radiator.

Sixth. If you have a Manuel transmission your already getting great MPG, but to get even more shift into higher gears sooner for lower RPMs.

Lastly inflate your tires to the highest it can withstand or close to it. By doing this the tires will have less resistance on the road and be able to even coast longer and increase your MPG. I inflate my tires to 40 PSI. The max on the sidewall of the tire is 44 PSI. Tire technicians will tell you that your tire will wear the center of the tire more if you do this, but this is incorrect. Tires have a frame inside them that prevents this from happening. I though the same thing, but then when I researched it I found people who have been doing it for years and have never had a problem. I've been doing this to my tires for a while now and the wearing has been normal. I will say that doing this might make your car feel more of the road, but for me I haven't noticed any difference.

If anyone would like to learn more about any techniques or modifications please feel free to check out the site that I learned this from. (ecomodder . com) There are tons of tips for better MPG on this site.

Good luck!
Ecotoyota

[Edited by: ecotoyota at 2/8/2013 3:44:53 PM EST]

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

Clunk49 Rookie Author Nashville Posts:23 Points:2,635 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 10:40:06 PM Ignore Clunk49 Report Abuse I can monitor current fuel mileage via the overhead display on my diesel truck and can recommend driving the speed limit or 62 mph, whichever is less. I see 2-3 mpg improvement in every case.
kkitzhaber Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,839 Points:367,690 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 9:38:58 PM Ignore kkitzhaber Report Abuse .
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,342 Points:693,375 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 8:06:19 PM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse ECOTOYOTA writes: I never said this was new but it is a lot better organized then any topic on this site. It seems like people only post on here to get points. Which creates a lot of spam. _______ People only post on here to get points??? While some people do post for points, there are a lot of substantive comments made as well. It seems hard to believe you did any serious looking before posting the comment. This topic will generate some initial interest but as time passes and others post new topics, this one will disappear, probably never to be seen again.
ecotoyota Rookie Author Washington Posts:3 Points:2,090 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:16:29 PM Ignore ecotoyota Report Abuse OceanArcher it doesn't matter what your terrain is you can still coast to your stopping point. If your in a city, its a little harder but can be done.
OceanArcher Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,708 Points:1,328,375 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:11:44 PM Ignore OceanArcher Report Abuse Coasting is not an option in the "flatlands" ....
MertieMan Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,788 Points:2,895,610 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 7:47:55 AM Ignore MertieMan Report Abuse The best way to increase your gas milage is to stay home and not drive.
ecotoyota Rookie Author Washington Posts:3 Points:2,090 Joined:Feb 2013	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:23:14 AM Ignore ecotoyota Report Abuse I never said this was new but it is a lot better organized then any topic on this site. It seems like people only post on here to get points. Which creates a lot of spam.
Mr1lung All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:811 Points:164,150 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 10:01:46 PM Ignore Mr1lung Report Abuse NOTHING NEW HERE
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,342 Points:693,375 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 8:27:12 PM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse Thanks for the comments but these things have been discussed at great length already in a number of topics.