Cars: If You Want To Save Gas, Take Care of Your Oil!

A car that runs at it's peak will produce the best fuel economy. Anything that interferes with peak engine performance will decrease fuel economy and cost you gas and money. That is the reason that proper oil maintenance of your engine is critical to maintaining good fuel economy.

You need to make scheduled oil changes a priority in maintaining your car. Following the auto producers oil change recommendations is a major component of keeping your car running at its peak and keeping your gasoline economy at its best.

The job of the oil in your car is to lubricate the moving parts of its engine, minimizing friction. preventing metal- to-metal contact and carrying away excess heat. All of those functions promote better gas efficiency.

The oil in your engine also removes metal shavings, dirt and other impurities which are then captured in the oil filter. Neglecting your cars oil can create other problems above and beyond the effects on fuel economy. Improper oil maintenance could lead to replacing the engine itself. Keeping a record of when you last had the oil changed will ultimately help you save gas.

Following the manufacturers maintenance schedule for oil changes is very important. If the car maker says to change the oil every three months or every three thousand miles, do it. If your oil is not changed at the proper intervals it becomes saturated with the very impurities it is supposed to remove. Once saturated with these impurities the oil will be less efficient in doing its job. Engine performance will decline and so will your fuel economy.

Make sure that you are using the right grade of oil that is required by your car or truck. By using the lowest multi grade of oil recommended in your owner's manual, you can improve the fuel efficiency of the engine, particularly when starting it cold.

Using the right grade of oil ensures that your car will run as smoothly as it should in all types of weather. The wrong grade can be too thick and heavy in cold weather. Oil that is too thick and heavy forces the engine to work harder to overcome the oil's resistance. The harder the engine works the more gas it uses. Using the wrong grade can decrease your engine's fuel efficiency between 1 and 2 percent.

As an illustration: using 10W-20 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage. Use only the oil recommended in the owner's manual for the best engine efficiency and the best fuel efficiency.

Many drivers make the mistake of procrastinating in getting the oil changed. The more a driver puts off changing the oil the worse the fuel economy will be. Using the proper grade and changing the oil on time will help you get better gas economy.

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Cars: If You Want To Save Gas, Take Care of Your Oil!

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