With gas prices on the rise throughout most of the country, more and more drivers are seeking ways to reduce their overall consumption. A number of automakers have released hybrid and even 100% electric vehicles, but the fact is that most of us don’t have the expendable cash laying around to invest in one. Thankfully, however, there are some simple car modifications you can make to save on gas. While they aren’t going to completely cut your dependence on gas, they will make your vehicle more energy-efficient, which is something everyone should be striving for.
Change The Air Filter Regularly
I know this is common sense to most people, but you would be surprised at just how many drivers NEVER change their air filter. As a result, the engine must work overtime to compensate for the reduction in air. To create the combustion necessary for the engine to power your car, air and gas must mix together. If there’s not enough air running to the engine, the combustion is weakened.
Install a Vacuum Gauge
This alone isn’t going to directly save you gas while driving, but instead it will let you know exactly how much is being used. The fact is that most drivers have no clue how much gas their car or truck is burning through. We just look at fuel meter and take note of when it starts to get low. If switching gears too fast is burning a lot of fuel, the vacuum gauge will let you know. So, how much do these nifty little devices cost? It depends on what model you get and where you’re purchasing it from, but you can expect to spend around $30-$60 bucks on one, which isn’t bad considering the amount of gas money it’s likely to help you save.
Lower Your Weight
Common sense should tell you that the more your car weighs, the more gas it’s going to consume. After all, this is the primarily reason why it costs so much to drive a truck with a full pickup bed. For this reason, it’s recommended that you try to get into the habit of keeping your car’s interior clean and free of any debris and unnecessary items. I think we’ve all been guilty of leaving boxes, clothes or other stored items in our vehicles for longer than what we should. Essentially, this is just burning gas and making our car’s engine work harder. Before driving off in your vehicle, check the trunks and backseats to make sure there’s nothing else that needs to be removed.