HOW CAN I IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE?
HOW CAN I IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE?
Posted on May 7, 2026
Improving gas mileage comes down to three key areas: how you drive, how well your vehicle is maintained, and how you use it every day. Managing all three together helps reduce fuel consumption and lower your overall driving costs.
Drive Efficiently
Your driving style has the biggest and most immediate impact on fuel economy, as small changes in how you accelerate, brake, and maintain speed directly affect how much fuel your engine uses.
- Accelerate and brake smoothly while maintaining a steady speed to avoid unnecessary fuel burn
- Use cruise control on highways and keep speeds around 90–100 km/h to reduce speed fluctuations and avoid the sharp increase in fuel consumption at higher speeds
- Limit excessive air conditioning use, as it adds load to the engine and can increase fuel consumption, especially in city driving
- Avoid idling whenever possible, as even a minute of idling wastes fuel without moving the vehicle
Keep Your Vehicle Maintained
Regular maintenance ensures your vehicle runs efficiently, preventing small inefficiencies from turning into noticeable increases in fuel consumption.
- Keep tires properly inflated, as even being 1–3 PSI underinflated can reduce fuel efficiency by about 0.3–1%, with larger pressure drops causing greater losses
- Stay on top of basic maintenance like oil changes and air filter replacements to keep the engine running efficiently
Reduce Vehicle Weight & Aerodynamic Drag
Both extra weight and air resistance force your engine to work harder, which increases fuel consumption in different driving conditions.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle to reduce engine load, noting that extra weight affects city driving more while aerodynamic drag has a greater impact at highway speeds
- Minimize drag by removing roof racks or cargo boxes when not in use and keeping windows closed at higher speeds
Plan Smart Trips
Combining errands into one trip and planning your route ahead helps reduce cold starts, avoid heavy traffic, and limit stop-and-go driving—one of the biggest causes of poor fuel economy.
Discover the Difference.
At Kramer Mazda, we're committed to delivering exceptional service and a truly customer first experience. If you'd like to learn more or have questions, we'd love to hear from you.