Winter doesn't just bring cold weather and snow, it also brings it's own particular problems to maintaining and improving gas mileage. Here are two specific things you should to do in the winter to sustain good fuel economy. Make sure your oil is the proper grade for winter. As temperatures drop it causes the oil in your car to become thicker.
If it gets too thick it will not be able to properly lubricate your engine. Not only will an engine that isn't properly lubricated use more gas but it can also sustain considerable damage. It could even cause damage to the point where the engine would need to be replaced. To find the correct grade for your car, check your owners manual or ask your car dealer. Winter temperatures require an oil that is considerably thinner than the oil used during warmer times. Your car, like many cars, could use multi grade oil.
Multi grade oil is an oil that changes it's thickness or viscosity at different temperatures. The multi grade oil might already be the proper oil for winter. Again it is recommended you check with an expert to determine the proper grade. Winter weather brings a second common obstacle to improving gas mileage, a change in tire pressure. In the winter the air pressure in your tires drops. It is one of those things you studied in chemistry class but may have forgotten.
One of laws of gasses is gas compresses as temperature drops. When the air in your tires compresses, the air pressure in your tires is reduced. If your tires were inflated to the proper pressure at 75 degrees, those tires will be 5 to 10 pounds too low at 25 degrees and will be 7 to 14 pounds too low at five degrees. Low tire pressure is one of the most common gas robbing conditions. It has been estimated that more than 25 per cent of all vehicles on the road have at least one tire with low pressure.
You will be decreasing your fuel economy by 4 percent if your tires are 5 to 10 pounds under inflated Your tires will experience a one to two pound reduction in tire pressure for every 10-degree drop in air temperature. If you tested your tire pressure in November, chances are they'll be too low in February. To correct and prevent the problem of low tire pressure you need to check the tire pressure on a regular basis. Check them every month at a minimum.
Also check them when there is a significant fall in temperatures. These are just a few of the fuel robbing conditions that winter brings. You can prevent the decrease in gas mileage and in fact increase fuel economy by knowing about these conditions and taking the necessary steps to avoid them.
Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of industry insider information on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to improve gas mileage.
