Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency can save us all money. Here are a bunch of good tips to help getting the most miles out of your car. But first we would like to talk about a few Honda cars that received excellent marks in a recent mpg (miles per gallon) test by Consumer Reports Magazine.

We are proud to say that the Honda Insight, Civic Hybrid, Civic EX, Civic SI, Fit and Odyssey were all named "Best in Fuel Economy" in their respective categories. Consumer Reports found that in their Small Cars category Honda cars filled 3 of the 6 cars. The category also included the Toyota Corolla LE, Mazda3 i Touring and the Kia Forte EX.

Things to look out for that could hurt your MPG

1. Inspect your tires

Make sure that your tire pressure is between the recommended levels. Low tire pressure can increase road friction forcing the engine to work harder reducing gas mileage. Check for cracks, cuts or bulges in the sidewalls for they are signs that the tires may need replacing.

2. Inspect your engine fluids

Engine coolant and transmission fluids are vital to allowing various parts to move. If parts don't move properly the engine will work harder, which will reduce mpg. Make sure that you check your check the transmission fluid via the dipstick. If the fluid feels gritty or has a distinct smell it could be a sign of engine damage.

3. Check and replace vital engine parts

Timing belts and hoses are some of the most important parts of a car engine. Make sure they are not too worn out or loose to ensure engine efficiency. Tears or breaks in these parts could lead to expensive repairs.

Driving techniques for better MPG

1. Reduce speed

More speed = more power, more power =more gas. Reducing your speed from 75 to 55 mph could improve your mileage by up 10 mpg.

2. Drive Smoothly

Hard acceleration and hard braking greatly reduces fuel efficiency. This is common driving for city drivers, stop and goes between street lights and stop signs are hard on engines and brakes. The hardest work for our engines is the quick accelerations from zero, this is when our cars use the most amount of fuel for the least amount of distance traveled. So try to stay as much as you can at a constant speed around town and on the freeways.

3. Drive Thoughtfully

Try to combine errands and only use the car when you need to. Don't drive to a restaurant that doesn't have a lot of parking and spend time driving around looking for a spot. Try to avoid driving the car when its cold and avoid idling when possible.

4. Lose the weight

The heavier the car, the more the engine has to work to pull it along. Thats why larger trucks and SUVs get less mpg than smaller cars. Try and get rid of stuff thats weighing down your trunk or your back seat.

5. Aerodynamics

You may also want to remove the roof rack when it's not in use. Having a large object on the roof will not only add weight but its shape will slow down the car due to aerodynamic drag. The less drag your car has going through the air the better the gas mileage. Closing your windows during highway driving will also help allow the car to go through the air smoother. That loud roaring noise you hear from the windows is the air hitting the pillars and inside of the car instead of flowing smoothly around the car.

We hope these tips will help you with your MPG.

HondaonGrand.com

*all data was found from Consumer Reports Magazine