How do I get better gas milage from a small car?

Question

It's a 2000 Hyundai Sonata & a great little car.

But what are the basic things people need to do to improve gas milage?
Thanks,
pkm

Answer 1

By far the best fuel saver is to not start it because regardless of mpg, once the engine runs, it burns fuel. Thus, common sense and restraint in this case can help as much if not more than even doubling your mpg could.

Now something like 90 percent of your fuel mileage is in proper maintenance, and how you drive.

Keep in mind it always takes fuel to build speed, so letting go of the gas earlier when you know you have to stop anyhow helps, by using the brakes less you conserve fuel because it doesn't use as much gas to keep your car going beforehand.

The speed limit is good, so is increasing your distance from the car in front, which will allow you to keep a better average speed, drafting is for racing and tailgating does not save fuel in the real world (but in most cases actually uses more because you're constantly adjusting speed).

The ultimate idea is to use the gas pedal as the only means to control your car, once again letting go early and coasting down by staying way back are the keys here. The hardest trick here is to control our common racetrack mentality, of having to beat traffic, of wanting to get there now and always being in such a darn rush. Let the other drivers fight it out amongst themselves, it is far safer in the back and there is never any competition for last place, but it sure saves gas to stay out of that competition.

A light foot on the throttle helps as well, keeping your rpm's below 2000 helps reduce engine friction: This friction is, when going from 2000 to 4000 rpm, the friction actually increases by a factor of 8, unlike the rational thinking that it would double, the lower the rpm's, the better.

Answer 2

well there is lots of things you can do many companies make fuel saver items, but not all of these work. the best thing to do is get a jap car. but there is some things you can do. the lighter the car is the better milage you get. using octane booster that you get at the local autozone also helps. keep the tires at the correct tire pressure.Change your air filter oftenand use a K&N air filter its reusable.dont drive like an idiot keep it steady no jerky accelerations.DONT use your a/c and keep the windows up. Use a full synthetic oil such as castoral, redline or if your serious about your car royal purple but it aint cheep at about $13 a quart. another thing is using a manual transmission. but the BEST thing you can do is MAiNTAIN your car (use premium gas,change spark plugs,o2 sensor change, etc.)

Answer 3

Keep a clean air filter installed. Take off slowly from a stop.
Keep the tires inflated properly. Go easy on the gas and allow it to coast on downhill grades as much as possible.
Keep it tuned up, and burn good gas to keep the injectors clean, maybe even put some injector cleaner in once a month.

Answer 4

Use Ethanol Fuel or Higher Octane Fuel
also....
check your tire size to make sure there the exact manufacturers size cause if there bigger = less fuel efficient

parking your car in the shade helps gas from evaporating its a little trick

also....

clean your air and oil filters often


have fun driving

Answer 5

Make sure your tires are properly inflated (under inflation hurts fuel economy)

Avoid "jack rabbit" starts, instead accelerate smoothly off the line

Make sure your car has a clean air filter.

Avoid using the A/C when possible as this will minimize the load on the engine.

Perform all regular, recommended maintenance

Answer 6

Get regular tuneups, use synthetic oil (proven to increase mileage and make the engine last longer), make sure the tires are properly inflated and, if it is a standard transmission, short shift it. Reving the engine beyond the minimum shift rpm wastes gas.

Answer 7

the most effective way to improve your gas mileage, is to improve your driving habits. My dad had a computer on his car years ago that displayed the fuel usage instantly, so if you floored it, it would display "12MPG" while if you were cruising along with the cruise control on it would read"29MPG" with that kind of instant feed back, you can see what you are doing that is wasting gas and make the appropriate changes.

Answer 8

Dave,

All these answers are in the "ballpark". I would do one other thing and you will by doing this be able to fine tune your driving habits.

Install or have installed a vacuum gage somewhere near the steering wheel and that way you will be able to fine tune your driving by keeping as low a vacuum reading as possible.

Answer 9

-avoid stop and go whenever possible.
Clutch cars, slow down using nuetral instead of always downshifting. That way, you can use your momentum to start driving again.
fill up with premium gas. Gives better gas mileage.
Empty your trunk.

Answer 10

Sythetic oil is a great way to reduce fuel consumption. It also saves you money by reducing maintence. Easier starts in cold weather. Sythetic oil should be a no brainer.