Tune-up Tips for Increasing Gas Mileage and Engine Life

With rising gas prices and expensive costs of hybrid vehicles, we could all use some help on getting better gas mileage with the car or truck we drive. We all know that driving style has an affect on your miles per gallon, but what about those of us who feel that we have economical driving habits?

I feel I have an obligation to help out other drivers since I have experience with cars and doing routine tune-ups on all types of automobiles. The number one component in a tune-up that people tend to over look is the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensors are located in the exhaust and on some vehicles are mounted before the catalytic converters. They read the air to fuel ratio in the exhaust gasses and relay the information back to your cars computer. If the sensors are malfunctioning then they won't be able to accurately measure your air to fuel ratio and can cause your engine to run lean or often times rich. It can also lead to having your check engine light illuminate on your dash or cause you to fail your emissions test. One of the cars I used to own came equipped with 4 oxygen sensors. I replaced two of them myself and noticed a significant bump in my gas mileage around the city and highway. The only set back with changing your oxygen sensors are the prices. Some cost between $50.00-$150.00 each. However if you use your car to commute or plan on keeping it around for a few years then I would highly recommend changing your oxygen sensors.

Another helpful tip is to change the spark plugs. After a while your spark plugs electrodes can wear out leaving a bigger gap then usual. The larger gap will affect the combustion process of the engine and the result is wasted fuel that doesn't atomize completely. Each vehicle has a specific type and size of spark plug. Any competent mechanic can change these for you. Spark plugs can range from $6.00-$20.00 each depending on brand of plug and your vehicle. Local auto parts stores tend to have better prices then dealerships.

Another maintenance item to have done every couple of years is the fuel filter. Over time your fuel filter collects enough debris that it starts to have an impact on your cars performance and mileage. It can even get to the point where it will cause hesitation with your acceleration and also prevent the car from starting in a worse case scenario.
Another vital filter that's well known is your air filter. Again the engine can't run efficiently if the filter is clogged from road debris. Most oil lube shops check your filter for you when you receive an oil change. An OEM paper filter can cost around $15.00-$30.00.

There are several sensors that most fuel injected vehicles come equipped with such as the mass airflow sensor or the IAC (idle air control) sensor. Each manufacturer may have a different name for them but their jobs are to measure the amount of air coming through your intake when the throttle is opened or when you're idling. A simple trick is to get a spray can of electrical contact cleaner from any auto parts store and to clean the sensors using the directions on the can. A fouled sensor can cause idle issues making your car hesitate or read the wrong amount of air which can also throw off your air to fuel ratio. If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself then take it to a trusted garage. Depending on difficulty of location of the sensors this task should only take between 10 to 30 minutes.

Cleaning the positive and negative terminals on your battery is another good measure to make sure your engine is running as efficient as possible. If your battery terminal posts look dirty or corroded, disconnect the negative (black) cable first and then the positive (red) cable. Use a spray bottle and spray a mist of water on the terminals. Next take a tablespoon of baking soda and sprinkle it over the terminals. Spray another mist of water on each terminal. A bubbling affect is normal. Wipe off corroded residue with a disposable rag and reconnect the battery cables, this time positive first and negative last.
If you're taking your car into a shop to have this done make sure you have all your fluids checked as well. The most important fluids to keep an eye on is your engine oil, radiator coolant, and transmission fluid. All of them need to be changed or checked at correct intervals indicated by the vehicle manufacturer. An engine operating hotter then normal won't perform to its best ability. Also changing these fluids will decrease the parasitic loss of power in the drive-train.

These maintenance issues take care of the engine running more efficiently but another factor in having optimal gas mileage is to keep your tires inflated properly. Every month the average tire can lose 1-3 psi of air. A deflated tire causes a rolling resistance and in severe cases can overheat and a blowout occurs. Due to the extra rolling resistance it will take more gas to keep your car at a constant speed. On the sidewall of your tire it will say the maximum psi. You don't ever want to fill your tire up to that maximum number. The correct way is to fill it up to about 84% of the maximum pressure indicated on the tire. So if 44 psi is the max then you want to make sure the pressure is around 36-38 psi. The reason for this method is because the air in your tires will warm up and expand after only a couple minutes of driving.

By following these routine maintenance procedures coupled with economical driving habits, I guarantee you will see better gas mileage and have a healthier running vehicle.