Saving on expenditures is a big part of our lives in today’s day and age. The resulting fluctuation in prices due to inflation affects everything around us, including the price of fuel. Managing expenditures on fuel is particularly important as it ends up influencing businesses and individuals alike. This is because an increase in fuel prices is likely to cause an increase in the prices of other goods as well since it is directly related to the cost of transportation for these goods.
To put it simply, saving money on fuel means saving money on other things as well. So how do you tackle your fuel expense problem?
Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can improve your car’s fuel economy:
Tire Maintenance
Tire maintenance plays a key role in improving the fuel economy of your car. Some important aspects of tire maintenance include:
Tire Pressure
A deflated tire will have a big impact on the fuel economy of your car. If the tire pressure falls by a mere 8 psi, it will automatically cause the rolling resistance to increase by 20%. Make sure you bring in your car regularly for auto repair in Lewisville, TX, and get your tire pressure checked to avoid any wastage of fuel.
Size of the Tires
Tire size varies with the size of the vehicle. For example, if you own a sedan, it’s likely that stock tires would be a suitable choice. However, some people tend to replace these small stock tires with bigger ones, simply because they look better. Big tires work well when you’re travelling for long distances, such as on the highway, but they are not feasible for everyday use. This is because they weigh more, and thus add more friction. Your car will need a higher rpm for these tires than it would for small stock tires; as a result, your fuel consumption will go up.
If you want to improve the performance of your car, it is advisable that you use stock tires. In case you’re confused about which tires would be suitable for your car, we suggest you bring it in for auto repair in Lewisville, TX, and get a professional opinion.
Tire Treads
Tire treads are the patterns you see on the exterior of a car tire. They help your car get a better grip on roads, in spite of any unfavourable weather conditions. Bigger tire treads, however, can result in similar problems that result from a deflated tire. Make sure to get tires with medium sized treads for optimal performance. You can also bring in your vehicle for auto repair in Lewisville, TX, if you feel your tire treads are causing a problem.
Battery Maintenance
A faulty battery plays a big part in excessive fuel consumption. Head to an auto repair in Lewisville, TX, to get your battery checked at regular intervals to avoid problems. Some of the ways the fuel economy is influenced due to a faulty battery are:
Alternator
An alternator is a component that is used to charge your car battery. It works by taking energy from the drive belt and converting it into electric current that is then used to charge the car battery. If the battery is not getting charged properly, the alternator will still keep on working. This will create a minor resistance in the performance of the car engine, causing it to burn an excessive amount of fuel. If you’re looking to maintain an economic consumption of car fuel, it’s important that you get your car alternator and battery checked when you take your car for auto repair in Lewisville, TX.
Fuel Injectors
Improper charging of the car battery will also cause problems for your fuel injectors. They may add more fuel than required, which will automatically result in the engine burning the extra fuel.
Oxygen Sensors
Oxygen sensors are a new kind of technology that is now present in almost all new cars these days. An oxygen sensor works by sensing the amount of oxygen present inside the exhaust of your car. It then passes on a signal to the fuel injectors via the Engine Control Unit to decrease or increase the amount of fuel being supplied to the engine. A malfunctioning O2sensor means that there is no way for the fuel injectors to know the required fuel rate and the engine will end up receiving extra fuel that will ultimately be wasted. To avoid this problem, make sure you get your oxygen sensors checked when you get your car checked for maintenance at auto repair in Lewisville, TX.
Air Filter
A malfunctioning air filter will also result in an excessive amount of fuel consumption. Too much dust tends to clog the air filter, which then reduces the amount of air entering the system and causes your engine to more fuel than required. Get your car’s air filter changed on a timely basis when you bring it in for auto repair in Lewisville, TX.
Extra Weight
Do not drive with any unnecessary weight as this affects the performance of your car. For example, having roof racks in place even when you are not taking a long trip will cause aerodynamic and weight resistance. This will result in fuel wastage.
Idling Your Car
A lot of people will let the engine run while stuck in traffic. This can seriously impact your fuel economy. Nowadays, the start systems of cars have become efficient enough that it is better to shut down the engine instead of letting it run in an idle mode.
Regular Visits for Auto Repair in Lewisville, TX
There are many things that impact the fuel economy of your car. The good news is that all of these can be corrected by taking your car for servicing on a monthly basis.If you’re looking for a suitable option for auto repair in Lewisville, TX, we suggest you visit Fifth Gear Automotive.
They provide the best auto repair services in the area, and their team of experts will make sure your car is in prime condition after each visit.
