It may sound cliché, but good gas mileage starts with you. Watching how you drive can help you maximize your fuel economy. Modern Toyota's will show you your average fuel consumption, allowing you to keep tabs on it while you're on the go. Making adjustments to how you drive can help you see an increase in this number. One of the most common culprits of decreased gas mileage is rapid acceleration and fast cruising speeds. Instead, you should maintain even pressure on the accelerator to maintain the speed limit. Remember, the harder you press the accelerator, the more fuel you burn. In fact, it's been shown that keeping the speed limit and driving calmly can save you up to 38% on gas than more aggressive drivers. Another way to maximize your fuel efficiency is to avoid additional weight as much as possible. Since your vehicle will have to use more fuel to move the extra weight, you can lose 1% from each mile per gallon of fuel for every 100 additional pounds of cargo. A number as small as 1% may seem insignificant; however, miles add up quickly.

Although you may practice safe driving habits, the most surefire way to maximize your car's fuel efficiency is to keep up with routine maintenance. Always remember that a healthy engine is an efficient engine. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your engine running longer. However, it will help maximize your fuel efficiency during your everyday drives in the short term. First and foremost, oil changes should be performed regularly to ensure that the oil being circulated through the engine is clean and can provide proper lubrication. If the engine is not properly lubricated, it will begin to run rough, making the engine work harder. This is another thing to remember, the harder your engine has to work, the more fuel it uses. Another way to make your engine's job more manageable is to keep a clean engine air filter. This is sometimes forgotten. However, the engine air filter is critical to your engine's health, performance, and efficiency. The air filter is in place to clean the air flowing through the air intake system to enter the engine to be burned. If this filter is dirty, it can become clogged and, therefore, unable to provide the proper airflow. This can cause additional stress on the engine, using extra fuel. Lastly, our service experts recommend getting your Toyota's spark plugs checked every 30,000 miles and having them replaced whenever necessary. The spark plugs ignite the fuel-air mixture inside the engine's combustion chambers. If they are dirty and contaminated with carbon, they won't operate properly, sometimes leading to complete failure. Before failure, the spark plugs won't provide as much of a spark, forcing the engine to let more fuel into the cylinder to burn.

It's essential not to forget that your tires also play a role in your car's efficiency. You should have your tires rotated with every oil change to ensure that the tires don't get any uneven premature wear caused by the extra weight of the engine and transmission on the front axle. This will extend the life of your by maintaining good tread. Having good tread means that your tires will maintain a good grip on the road, and the engine won't have to over-exert itself to send more torque to the wheels to maintain traction. Maintaining the recommended tire pressure is also essential, as over or under-inflated tires can cause a dragging effect, forcing the engine to work harder. Wheels that are out of alignment can have a similar effect, so it's important to have your alignment checked twice a year and adjusted if necessary.

If you're like most drivers, you're probably doing everything you can to stretch every gallon of gas your car takes. To make sure your engine is running as efficiently as possible, bring it to the service experts here at Pearson Toyota. Our experienced technicians have the tools and know-how to help maintain your vehicle and keep it running its best. Book your next service appointment with us by using our online scheduler or calling our service center directly. We look forward to serving you!