How To Improve Your Fuel Economy This Winter

Cold weather can take a beating on your vehicle, especially the gas mileage. From your fluids thickening to lowering your tire pressure, you have to pay special attention to your vehicle during the winter. Additionally, you aren't going to get as much bang for your buck at the pump during the winter as you would during the summer because your gas mileage is not as great due to numerous reasons. While there are some ways to improve your gas mileage for the entire year, there are specific ways you can improve it during the winter months. Here are some tips to help you get the most gas for your money this winter. 

Tire Pressure

It is not uncommon for your tire pressure to be lower during cooler months. As the weather gets colder, the air in your tires will contract, leaving less in the tires. You can expect the tire pressure to drop about 1 to 2 pounds per every 10 degrees the weather decreases. As your tire pressure decreases, so does your fuel efficiency. In fact, your gas mileage lowers about 0.4% for every one PSI. If you want to help increase your gas mileage, then you should ensure that your tires are well-inflated at their ideal PSI level. Each vehicle is different when it comes to the ideal PSI. In order to determine what your vehicle's PSI should be, you can check on the driver's side door jamb or the owner's manual. 

Keep Your Vehicle Warm

During the cooler months, it is important to warm up your engine before you head out on the road. Allowing your vehicle to sit idle while it warms up can use up some of your gas. Instead of having to warm it up every time you plan to head out, you should park your vehicle in a relatively warm place. If you have a garage, then you should keep your vehicle in there instead of the brutal cold air. If there is an especially warm place in the yard where the sun hits best, then keeping your vehicle there can help keep it from getting too cold. 

Avoid Seat Warmers and Defrosters

Anytime you choose to run your defroster or heat up your seat, you are using more gas than usual. Using these will force the vehicle to work harder and use more gas. Avoid doing this by keeping your car covered so you don't have to run the defroster. Cloth seats are known to stay much warmer than leather seats in the winter. You may want to consider this when shopping for vehicles. For information about car-related issues and car repair, click here.