The vehicle model isn’t the only factor that affects how many miles you can drive with a gallon of gas. In fact, maintenance like engine tune-ups and environmental conditions can significantly impact fuel efficiency. Here are five elements that can greatly affect your MPG.

What Affects Miles-Per-Gallon Ratings?

1. Battery Cables

Have your battery cables inspected every time you get an engine tune-up. If this wiring is corroded and rusty, it will make the alternator use more power to run the car. You could be wasting gas when a simple cable swap would save money.

2. Weight

Vehicles can carry a lot of weight. However, excess cargo can slow a car and cause it to use more gas than usual to go at the same speed. Consider removing unnecessary items from the vehicle — like seasonal gear, tools or furniture — so it can use fuel more efficiently.

3. Cruise Control

If you’re driving on the highway, consider using cruise control. This helpful feature mitigates the natural fluctuations that occur when you manually drive and may save up to 6 percent on gas consumption.

4. Temperature

When it’s colder, cars use more gas. Avoid making short one-stop trips in chilly temperatures and instead combine various trips to provide the most efficient use of fuel.

5. Maintenance

Get an annual engine tune-up to keep your vehicle in top shape. During this appointment, a mechanic will assess parts that often require yearly replacement like air filters, spark plugs, and fuel filters. They’ll ensure the vehicle is using appropriate miles-per-gallon and inspect potential reasons why it’s not. Then, they can make the necessary repairs to keep the car running with proper MPG for the months to come.

If you’re ready to schedule maintenance on your vehicle contact M & M Garage, Muffler, & Tire in Chester County, SC, to set up an engine tune-up. Their team has over 25 years of experience offering Chester, Rock Hill, and Lancaster County residents with quality brake repairs, general inspections, exhaust replacements and more. Call (803) 872-4263 for a free estimate or visit the website for information on their services including tire sales and repairs.