Fuel prices continue to increase annually, and all drivers want to save money by maximizing the kilometers they can get out of each liter of fuel, whether they drive petrol, diesel, automatic, or LPG. The concept of improving car mileage is always in the back of our minds. Thankfully, driving habits and proper maintenance can help with gasoline consumption.
In this blog you will get an overview of suggestions to optimize mileage for many different types of vehicles and also discuss the reasons for low mileage in petrol cars.
How to Increase Mileage of Petrol Car
Due to their easy handling and lower cost at first purchase, petrol cars have sizable popularity in India. However, they are not always the most fuel efficient. To find out how to increase the mileage from your petrol car, consider these ideas:
- Check Your Tyres for Correct Pressure: Tyres that are low on pressure will have more rolling resistance, which will force the engine to work harder and therefore use more petrol. Check for optimum tyre pressure every two weeks.
- Drive Smoothly: Aggressive acceleration and braking uses a lot of fuel. Instead try to get up to a speed where you can operate at a constant rate.
- Switch Off at Signals: When you are stopped for over 30 seconds, you may improve your fuel efficiency by turning off the engine.
- Use Recommended Engine Oil: Recommended manufacturer oil and the highest grade oil, will also vastly reduce fuel consumption, as friction will be greatly diminished.
- Avoid Carrying Excess Weight: More weight equates to more power needed to the engine, more power needed to the engine will reduce your efficiency. Take anything you don’t need to take out of the boot (or trunk).
By following these suggestions, you can improve your petrol mileage significantly.
How to Increase Mileage of Diesel Car
Diesel vehicles inherently achieve higher fuel efficiency than petrol ones, but with appropriate maintenance, you could achieve even higher efficiency:
- Regular Servicing: Diesel engines accumulate more carbon deposits than their petrol counterpart, so it is extremely important to stay up to date on service intervals.
- Change the Air Filter: A blocked air filter restricts airflow into the engine, inhibiting fuel efficiency. Clean or replace air filters as necessary.
- Using Good Quality Fuel: It is always important to use good-quality diesel. Poor-quality / impure fuel not only prohibits high fuel efficiency, but can create other issues with your engine as well.
- Driving Style: Diesel engines operate efficiently at lower RPM’s. Driving in the appropriate gear range can give your car a much-improved mileage.
- Don’t Idling for too Long: Diesel engines also tend to consume more fuel while idling / stopping. Switch off the engine if you are waiting for too long.
Check: Best Mileage Cars in India Under ₹5 Lakh
How to Increase Mileage of Automatic Car
While automatic cars may be more convenient, they usually use more fuel than a manual transmission. However, it is still possible to improve automatic car fuel efficiency with these steps:
- Use cruise control when driving on highways: This will help maintain speed and eliminate unnecessary acceleration that burns fuel.
- Do not accelerate too aggressively: Vehicles shift to a lower gear whenever you suddenly accelerate, and this utilizes a lot more fuel, Always accelerate gently.
- Make sure your transmission fluid is checked regularly: Low or old transmission fluid may not lubricate the transmission properly, rendering your gearbox inefficient and using more fuel. Always ensure that your transmission fluid is at the proper level.
- Avoid stop-and-go driving whenever possible: This can be done by driving steadily and smoothly accelerating and braking, to improve fuel economy.
Watch the traffic situation ahead of you and coast when it is possible to avoid using fuel.
How to Increase LPG Car Mileage
Cars that run on LPG are generally inexpensive to drive, but they need to be used with care to get the most out of the car. The following tips can boost your LPG car’s fuel consumption:
- Make Sure the LPG Kit is Well Tuned: If the LPG kit is incorrectly tuned, you will never get the fuel efficiency the car is capable of. A good idea is to regularly have the LPG kit checked to ensure it is functioning optimally.
- Change the Spark Plugs as Required: LPG engines require a high energy spark to ignite the fuel. Worn out spark plugs will decrease fuel consumption.
- Alternate Between Petrol and LPG Occasionally: An LPG engine that runs only on gas may lose lubrication due to having no petrol going through the engine every now and then; This is not good for your engine.
- Never Let the Tank Run Completely Empty: If you run your LPG tank completely empty, it can lead to severe damage to your system. Always refill your LPG tank before it runs out.
By properly maintaining your LPG system you will not only enjoy lower fuel costs but also better fuel consumption.
How to Increase the Car Mileage (General Tips for All Cars)
The following recommendations apply to all types of vehicles regardless of fuel type:
- Drive at a Steady Pace: Cars are generally the most fuel efficient when driven between the speeds of 50–80 km/h. All speeds above this drop the fuel efficiency significantly.
- Make Sure your Wheels are Aligned and Balanced: An out of alignment wheel can create resistance which may negatively affect fuel consumption malleability.
- Don’t Carry Excess Weight: Remove luggage carriers, racks, etc., and other heavy items from the boot which are not needed.
- Use Air Conditioning Judiciously: The air conditioning system will use extra fuel particularly in small cars. Use the system only when necessary.
- Combine Trips: If possible, combine multiple small errands into one trip, rather than driving for small errands individually.
Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Tint Car Windows? A Complete Guide
Reasons for Low Mileage in Petrol Cars
Even if you drive responsibly, there are occasions when petrol engines will not give you good mileage. Below are typical reasons:
- Clogged Air Filters: Reduced airflow causes the engine to use fuel more aggressively.
- Poor Engine Oil Quality: Using old oil or low-quality engine oil increases friction. Always change engine oil as per conversations.
- Bad Spark Plugs: Old spark plugs will not ignite the fuel very well and can waste it.
- Traffic conditions with stop-and-go driving: You can experience drastically poor mileage with stop-and-go driving.
- Low Tire Pressure: By just being slightly deflated, your tire pressure can sap 5-10% in overall mileage.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you have a petrol or diesel vehicle, an automatic or LPG car, your mileage can be improved by simply being a smart driver and taking responsibility for maintenance. Following the tips stated above about how to improve car mileage will save you money on fuel and keep your vehicle going longer.
Those small habits, such as maintaining your tire pressure, driving smooth, and servicing your vehicle regularly, all add up to some big difference.
