Gas mileage is a simple equation, but it’s a lot more complicated when you look at all of the factors that affect that one number. Cool Green Auto has these tips for you about your car’s gas mileage and what might be affecting it.
Fuel Problems
Any time you’re talking about gas mileage, you need to start with fuel and the fuel system. You could have issues with the ECM not sending the right amount of fuel to the engine or the problem could be that the fuel injectors are clogged. There could also be something going wrong farther back, like the fuel pump going bad or your fuel filter could be clogged.
Spark Plug Issues
Without fire, or in this case spark, there’s no combustion in your car’s combustion engine. There are several possible issues with your car’s spark plugs. The wires or the plugs may have gone bad, meaning they’re not firing at all. Or the timing of the spark could be off. Regardless, spark plugs are small, but can create big problems in your car’s engine and throw off your gas mileage.
Airflow Problems
Air is crucial for your car’s engine. If your car isn’t getting the right airflow to the engine, either because of a clogged air filter or because the ECM is calibrating airflow incorrectly, that’s going to show up in performance. Too little or too much air means that your car isn’t going to be able to properly combust fuel, and that leads to gas mileage issues.
Avoiding Oil Changes
Did you know that oil changes can affect your gas mileage? They absolutely can, especially if you’ve gone longer than you should between oil changes. Oil does a few things in the engine. It lubricates engine parts, it helps to keep the engine cleaner, and it also cools the engine along with the coolant system. All of that helps your car’s engine to run as efficiently as possible, which translates to better gas mileage.
Over or Under-inflated Tires
This one might really surprise you. If your car’s tires are under or over-inflated, that affects your gas mileage. Incorrect tire pressure makes your car’s engine work harder to get and to keep your car moving, which means that gas mileage suffers with incorrect pressure. Anything that you can do to make it easier for your car’s engine to function is a good thing.
Is your car’s bad gas mileage a mystery you’re trying to solve? Let Cool Green Auto in Shepherdstown, WV help. We can run full diagnostic testing that gives you the answers you need.