Drive Efficiently

Everyone wants to get the most bang for their buck these days – and this is true when it comes to cars as well.
Driving your vehicle efficiently will help you keep some of those precious dollars in your pockets.  MPG (miles per gallon) is something that we are asked about every day by almost every customer.  Here are some of our tips on making your car efficient and getting the best gas mileage your vehicle can deliver.

Be Sensible  Aggressive driving wastes gas, it’s that simple.  As tempting as it is, refraining from speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower you gas mileage up to 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town.

Speed Limits  There is actually an additional benefit to your car if you drive the speed limit other than saving you from getting that annoying ticket you have to pay, especially around town.  Gas mileage usually decreases significantly above 50mph.  You can assume that each 5mph you drive over 50mph is like paying an additional $0.25 per gallon for gas – does that hurt your pocket yet?

Remove Excessive Weight  All of that extra “stuff” that you are keeping in the back of your vehicle adds up, and makes your engine work harder, and… uses more gas.  An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent.

Don’t Idle  You actually use more gas when you idle than by turning your car off and then back on when you’re ready to drive again.  Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle.

Replace that Air Filter  Replacing a clogged air filter on vehicles with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines—such as those manufactured from the early 1980s to the present—or diesel engines does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration – which takes us back up to driving sensible.

Coast to Decelerate  By anticipating traffic slowdowns as early as possible, you can decrease your speed, conserve fuel and save money by simply taking your foot off the accelerator.  Most vehicles are equipped with fuel-injection systems that automatically shut off the flow of fuel to the engine when the accelerator is fully released, so you’re not using that costly gas when you simply are coasting.

The Beach Auto Brokers full inventory of vehicles is available for you to look at, test drive, and ask questions about.  And our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you.  No matter which vehicle you decide is the best fit for you, remember to drive efficiently and save a few dollars.