Gas Mileage: Things That Can Cause Low Gas Mileage

Things That Can Cause Low Gas Mileage

By Automotive Editor

There are lots of things that would cause low gas mileage, from bad gas and dragging brakes to carrying around extra weight ...

If there is a sudden drop in gas mileage one wonders what would cause low gas mileage. Engine troubles and high vehicle emissions could definitely be the main causes that would cause low gas mileage. In addition to that it could just be bad driving habits, which may add up to 30 percent extra gas use.

Professional Help

If you are in the habit of keeping track of your mileage over time, then you will notice the decline immediately and take your car to a skilled automotive technician for a check up. Related to your engine trouble could be a cleaning necessary of your fuel injection system. Or it could just be low tire pressure, and there could be some leaks in your tires, which you may not have noticed.

Summer And Winter Gasoline

Most regions in the US have different formulations of gasoline for the summer and winter months. The winter gasoline is partially oxygenated, in order to compensate for higher emissions when the engine of a car is cold. In other words, the winter gasoline does not have as much energy as the summer gasoline as it is slightly 'pre-burned' to reduce emissions.

These change of formulations would cause low gas mileage in the winter months. Sometimes the difference could be about one to two miles per gallon. In winter the tires are colder and that means lower pressure. Low tire pressure in any case affects fuel economy.

What would cause low gas mileage are just old driving habits, like allowing a vehicle to warm up a few minutes before starting up. Congested roads are used because of shorter daylight hours and holiday shopping attracts cars on such roads and the traffic is often slow moving causing low gas mileage.

In many modern cars the air-conditioning comes on automatically as soon as you turn on the defroster and the use of the air-conditioning affects fuel economy. A loss of traction can also affect your gas mileage.

Another big reason which would cause low gas mileage is the need for a tune up of your vehicle. Replacing your air filter may make all the difference, because a clogged air filter will kill your performance and gas mileage totally. There are lots of other things that would cause low gas mileage from bad gas and dragging brakes to carrying around extra weight.

Easy Way Out

Of course a gradual loss in gas mileage is related to a failing oxygen sensor and the engine will otherwise be running fine. But the first things for you to check are your tires and replacement of your air filters, both are cheap and easy things to do.

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