How to Improve Your Toyota’s MPG

Longo Toyota is dedicated to helping you get the most from your Toyota. One way to save money on operations and repairs for your Toyota is to make sure you take action to improve your mpg. Fuel efficiency is a top concern with today’s vehicles, but you can make your fuel go further with these tips on increasing your mpg.

What Is MPG?

Miles per gallon (mpg) is a measurement of the distance a vehicle can travel per gallon of fuel. Manufacturers also use mpg to determine the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, which is a measurement of how it uses its fuel. A higher mpg means better fuel efficiency. Drivers may prioritize fuel efficiency when shopping for a vehicle because it means few fill-ups at the pump and can be more cost-efficient. 

Understanding the fuel efficiency of your vehicle is important when determining which vehicle is best to buy, creating a travel budget, and for the daily use of your vehicle. Longo Toyota can help find a great car for you with excellent fuel efficiency.

Ways To Improve Your MPG

Regardless of your vehicle’s mpg, there are ways to improve it and get the most out of your fuel. Following tips to boost the fuel efficiency of your Toyota can help you save money and maintain your vehicle.

Maintain a Constant Speed

When driving, try to keep a consistent speed if possible. This means that you don’t speed up or slow down. Following the speed limit exactly will help you maintain a constant speed. This helps improve mpg because acceleration uses more fuel, so if you drive at a consistent speed on highways and throughout cities without having to accelerate constantly, you can preserve your fuel.

It’s easier to get better fuel efficiency on highways because there are not as many stops as there may be within city limits. When possible, it can help to travel by highway rather than through a city. Also, when driving on highways, use your Toyota’s cruise control feature to help you maintain a consistent speed.

Accelerate Slowly

When starting your car or transitioning to a zone with a higher speed limit, accelerate your vehicle to the new speed slowly. Pressing the gas pedal hard and pushing it all the way down uses more fuel. Slow acceleration is also easier on your engine and can prolong its life because it takes less work to get up to the tire rotations per minute that a new speed requires.

Increasing your vehicle speed slowly is also safe and can help you avoid accidents. The sensitivity of your gas pedal can change depending on your vehicle, so it’s useful to become familiar with the amount of pressure your vehicle requires to accelerate.

Be a Conscious Driver

For safety, it’s important to be alert and pay attention to your surroundings while driving, but being a more conscious driver can also improve your gas mileage. Being aware of what’s in front and around your vehicle can help you prepare for stops and changes in the speed limit. It’s also useful to be familiar with the area in which you’re driving so you can anticipate periods of heavy traffic that may require you to stop frequently.

Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly

Tire pressure is the pounds per square inch (psi) of air pressure inside your tires. This determines how inflated your tires are. Proper inflation helps you get the fuel efficiency your vehicle is capable of because then your tires can rotate evenly and propel the vehicle forward with minimal effort. Low tire pressure can affect the miles per gallon you get and the smoothness of your ride. With a low tire, you may also experience more bumps and risk getting a flat tire.

You can check your tire pressure with a gauge that presses on the air valve on each tire and provides a measurement of how much pressure is in the tire. The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle can be found on the inside of the driver’s door. When it gets colder outside, you may check your tire pressure more regularly because the cold air may lower the air pressure. If the gauge says your tires have low pressure, add air using an air compressor, which you can purchase or use an air compressor, which are often located at gas stations.

Combine Errands

When you expect to make trips to different locations, try to plan accordingly so you can complete your errands in one trip. You can use a map app to plan the best route to take in order to make all your stops. This helps you to use less fuel and be efficient with your mileage.

Reduce the Use of Your Air Conditioning

Running the air conditioning in your vehicle uses fuel, as it causes the engine to work harder. By running the air less frequently, you can improve your mpg. This is especially true for shorter trips in your vehicle. In warmer weather, you may do this by rolling your windows down rather than using air conditioning. You can also park your car in the shade so that you can use less fan power to cool down the interior when you begin to drive again.

Park in Covered Areas During Colder Months

In the winter, try to park your car in warmer areas, such as a garage or another covered area. Doing this can allow your vehicle’s engine oil and other fluids to remain thin, which is optimal for your engine, instead of the fluids thickening in the cold. Having thinner fluids to lubricate your vehicle’s engine quickly allows for a more efficient start-up when you turn on your vehicle. This helps warm your vehicle’s interior for your comfort, too.

If you’re looking for a vehicle that has top-rated mpg, stop into Longo Toyota and discuss your options. We have many vehicles that are optimized for saving you money on fuel and helping you to get on the road more often.

 

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