Have you turned into a revving machine, a more aggressive driver, or has the cold weather got you warming your car up more than normal. These are all habits that can lower your mileage. About the Author: John Miller. Fifth Gear Automotive provides automotive service and repair. We service all makes and models — both domestic and import.
Related Posts. Get to know our Service Advisor, Jeff! When your engine doesn't run smoothly, your car may use more gas than usual. Physical characteristics such as those below can affect fuel economy.
Fuel injectors control how much gas goes into the engine. A leak or other injector problem may reduce the amount of fuel reaching the engine, forcing your car to run less efficiently. For your best fuel performance, use a synthetic friction-reducing option. When your car's maintenance is neglected, all of the systems run less efficiently, including those directly linked to fuel economy. For example, a clogged air filter can affect engine performance and, by extension, fuel usage.
Misfires in your spark plugs can cause problems with overall fuel usage. Some tire shops even have a complimentary service. Dirty or worn out spark plugs affect the way your engine burns fuel in the combustion chamber.
Worn out spark plugs causes gas to be left unburned, wasting it. Air filters are somewhat delicate, made of pleated paper or thin fabrics. Like underinflated tires, this is an easy fix. Most air filter changes can be made at home as they are easily accessible and replaceable.
Usually, oxygen sensors last the life of the car. Which is good, because they are responsible for the air-to-fuel ratio of your engine. Typically, faulty O2 sensors send false, lean-bias alarms. Here are a few of the main culprits:. A bad oxygen sensor can ask for more fuel than what it actually needs. The result is wasted gas. Clean air is a key component in the combustion process and a clogged air filter restricts the flow of clean air to your engine.
An air filter caked with dirt and debris can have a negative effect on your gas mileage, leading to more fill-ups. Worn or dirty spark plugs prevent your engine from efficiently burning all of the fuel in the combustion chamber resulting in wasted gas. An inaccurate or defective coolant sensor or engine thermostat will send an incorrect signal to the engine computer causing the computer to think the engine is cold and supply more fuel.
Responsible for getting gas into the engine, fuel injectors need to be clean and free of carbon to work efficiently. Dirty or clogged fuel injectors will cause inefficient combustion, wasting gas. A big cause of decreased gas mileage can be chalked up to poor driving habits. An increase in trips to the gas station is the obvious symptom of decreased gas mileage.
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