5 Ways to Boost Your Gas Mileage on a Family Road Trip

 

Family road trips are a great way to spend some time together, see new things, and share some great experiences with your family. But nothing breaks the mood of a family road trip quite like having to stop for gas all the time. You should consider the following tips to get serious mileage out of your car no matter how far you’re going.

Keep to the Speed Limit

Image via Flickr by BrianChristopher

The faster you drive, the more you have to accelerate. Since acceleration is when your car uses the most gas, doing this through a trip is a sure way to reduce your fuel efficiency. Keeping your acceleration to a minimum and traveling at the speed limit means you won’t have to stop to fill up as often. An extra benefit of going a little slower is that you can better enjoy the countryside as you pass it at a more leisurely pace.

Buy a Fuel Efficient Car

Image via Flickr by Martiste

You don’t have to buy a moped to get somewhere without shelling out too much for gas. Instead, you can head to a dealership such as Pompano Nissan and pick up a fuel efficient vehicle for going on trips. A big SUV is great for staying safe in the city, but a smaller car or a hybrid is amazing for taking long trips without having to make many gas stops along the way.

Keep Your Car Well Maintained

Image via Flickr by City of Olathe, KS

Every system in your car should be up to snuff before you even consider leaving town. Taking your car to the mechanic when nothing seems wrong with it may sound like a waste of money, but it’s a lot cheaper than having to get a cab home if your car breaks down or having to miss work because you have to wait for your car to get fixed. Old spark plugs may be costing you up to 12% of your gas mileage and a dirty air filter may be wasting 20% of your potential mileage. These little things up your gas cost quick.

Check Your Tires

Image via Flickr by livingglassart home of oddballs and oddities

Make sure your tires are regularly rotated and that they are in proper alignment. Bad alignment will make you more likely to blow out a tire. Even worse, it will hurt your gas mileage. You should also check to make sure your pressure is at the number indicated on the tires. Pressure that is too high or too low can drop your fuel efficiency by 25%.

Fill Up During the Cool part of the Day

Image via Flickr by Frank Kehren

Gas is an unusual liquid in that it tends to evaporate easily and be very sensitive to temperatures. During the cool part of the day, which is usually early in the morning or later in the evening, you will get more gas because it’ll be denser. Remember that you buy gas by volume, not by weight. More volume will take you further.

No matter where you decide to go on your road trip, getting good gas mileage will make the trip that much better. You’ll have more money to spend on souvenirs and memories you and your family will treasure. What are your tips for booting gas mileage?

Similar Posts:

None Found