With the price of gas increasing daily, there are many people asking how they can improve their gas mileage. Well I am here to tell you that there are many different ways that you can improve your gas mileage. There are ways such as general maintenance like getting regular tune-ups as well as making sure that your tires are inflated properly. Yes, having your tires inflated properly can effect your gas mileage! Have you ever tried to ride your bicycle with flat tires? It takes A LOT more effort to ride with flat tires! Ok, so it may not be as difficult for your car, but every little bit helps with gas mileage.

Certain things that you can add to improve your car’s engine performance and airflow will also improve your car’s gas milage. I will go in detail about how and what you can do below.

COLD AIR INTAKES

How do cold air intakes work?

Cold Air Intakes work by sucking in the colder more dense air and then it rams it into the intake. The cooler air mixes with gas better and in return the gas burns hotter. Cold Air Intakes also tend to have better breathing air filters that are both washable and reusable. The only downfall it being reusable is that it needs to be oiled in order to catch the dirt particles. It is common that people over oil them which will damage the mass air flow sensor. If you maintain a cold air intake properly than you would improve your horsepower AND fuel efficiency! A good thing is that they are typically easy to install. They also have a mandrel bent tube that maintains a smooth inner diameter for better air flow. A lot of cold air intakes have an inline air bypass valve in them to help with the winter cold air. They suck in warmer air from engine compartment during full throttle or hard acceleration. See diagram below:

There are many names for cold air intakes like CAI’s, Filterchargers, FIPK’s, etc.. The key to better performance is to get as much air in the combustion chamber as possible (CAI’s) and then get it out as quickly as possible. That’s where exhaust systems come into play.

Performance Exhaust Systems

Performance exhaust systems are made from a variety of material. Some are made of aluminum while others are made from stainless steel. They are all made for one reason which is to get the best possible performance from your engine! They are also mandrel bent to keep a constant diameter for better flow and they are usually bigger in diameter. Typically they have a stylish chrome plated muffler and tip. The muffler has bigger baffles for better flow so it will change the sound to a more performance sounding engine. If you get a system that attaches after the catalytic converter it will not mess with the emissions and it will be covered under the factory warrant. Most systems are a direct bolt-on replacement from the stock unit. But beware, there are some that will need some modification of either your vehicle or the system.

Additional Tips

We covered Intakes and exhausts so now let’s talk about some other ways to improve gas mileage. If you have a pick-up you can gain better gas mileage simply by adding a bed cover. You can add a soft roll-up tonneau cover or a fiberglass tonneau cover. If you put a lot of things in the bed of your truck, like dirt bikes or equipment, the best cover for you would be a soft, roll-up cover that is easily rolled away and leaves the bed free to put in the things you need. If not then you can consider the fiberglass cover. They are a bit pricey but they look fabulous and can be painted to match your truck. As for car drivers, you can put on splash guards or a sunroof wind deflector. Anything you add that will deflect the air and make it more aerodynamic will help improve your gas mileage.

Ok, I think I have covered the biggest gas mileage savers for now. Some of these ideas are expensive and are not for everybody but in this gas climate, every little bit helps and these are all proven ideas of how to save on gas mile