It’s still Friday and that means another Forum Friday. This week, the topic is increasing fuel mileage. The original poster in this thread drives a Fiat with the 1242 cc (1.2 liter) straight four petrol engine. These tips will work on any vehicle no matter what the make.
First thing to think about when wanting to increase fuel mileage is to think about the throttle as an egg: you don’t want to smash it. Be gentle with stop-light starts and try your best not to “stomp” on the accelerator. The same goes for braking. Believe it or not, but hard braking damages fuel economy substantially. It’s like taking all of the energy that you have built up to get going and throwing it in the trash. A gentle slow down can go a long way and always look ahead and anticipate stops.
One poster suggested to keep the speed down. This advice holds true as the faster a vehicle travels, the more force is needed to maintain that speed as it fights against the wind. Traveling at the speed limit can do wonders as it reduces the wind resistance. Other ways to reduce this is to travel with the windows up. Even with the air conditioner on, driving with the windows up at highway speeds can increase fuel mileage.
Another poster recommended adding an aftermarket cold air intake and/or exhaust. Perhaps a little more on the drastic side of things, adding aftermarket “breathing” modifications can increase fuel economy. They make the engine work easier as there is less restriction. Unfortunately, the added horsepower and noise can be a negative as any driver with a passion for automobiles might be tempted to put their foot in it just a little bit more.
Read the thread yourself and make sure to sign up to Autotalk.com’s forum and post away.
