New cars are wonderful. You slide behind the wheel, start the engine, and see everything come to life. The engine purrs. You feel it as you let your hand glide over the dashboard. There’s nothing quite like a new car.
But then, life happens. You drive. You go to work. Take a vacation. And little by little, your new car starts to break in, wear down.
You start changing fluids. You start replacing parts. Will your car ever work the same as it did when you first drove it off the lot?
Will you ever experience the same fuel economy as your car ages?
What Is Fuel Economy?
Fuel economy is something we all pay attention to when we’re looking at cars. The more you drive, the more fuel economy becomes. You know you’ll be spending more at the pump with a car that gets 10mpg over a car that gets 40mpg.
But what goes into calculating fuel economy? It can be influenced by four things.
It starts with your vehicle-specific attributes. This includes things like your car’s engine size and type, the vehicle weight, what kind of tires are on your car, and how much pressure they have. Are you driving an automatic or a manual? What type of fuel does your car use? It also depends on the overall design and how aerodynamic the body type.
It also depends on your driving habits. Frequent and rapid acceleration or hard braking reduces fuel economy. Smooth and gradual changes in speed help conserve fuel. How far do you travel from home each day? How fast or slow is your drive? If you tow or carry a heavy load, your fuel economy will be reduced.
Where does your drive take you? Driving on hilly or mountainous terrain requires more energy (fuel) to climb inclines and affects fuel economy. Cold weather can reduce fuel efficiency because engines take longer to reach optimal operating temperatures, and air conditioning or heating systems consume additional power. Wind resistance also increases in adverse weather conditions. And then those weary days where it’s nothing but traffic – stop-and-go traffic decreases fuel economy due to frequent acceleration and deceleration.
You do have control over the fourth category – maintenance and condition of your car. A well-maintained engine runs more efficiently. Regular oil changes, clean air filters, and proper spark plug conditions can improve fuel economy. Proper alignment and balanced tires reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel efficiency. A properly functioning exhaust and emission control system ensures optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency.
What Causes Fuel Efficiency To Change Over Time?
In short, the answer is: Yes. As an engine ages, fuel economy can decrease somewhat. But this decrease has less to do with the age of the engine and more to do with the condition of the engine and other engine components.
Over time, an engine’s components can wear down, reducing its efficiency. Spark plugs and valves may not seal as effectively, leading to decreased compression and fuel efficiency.
Fuel injectors can become clogged with deposits, leading to inefficient fuel delivery and poor combustion, which reduces fuel economy. Oxygen sensors help manage the air-fuel mixture in the engine. Over time, these sensors can become less accurate, leading to a suboptimal mixture and reduced fuel efficiency.
A clogged or failing catalytic converter can increase backpressure in the exhaust system, reducing engine efficiency and fuel economy. As a transmission ages, it may not shift as smoothly or efficiently, which can increase fuel consumption, especially in automatic or CVT transmissions.
As the components wear down, fuel efficiency also starts depending on how much maintenance you provide over time.
A clogged or dirty air filter restricts airflow to the engine, causing it to work harder and consume more fuel. Worn spark plugs can cause incomplete combustion, leading to a reduction in fuel efficiency.
Tires that are worn, underinflated, or misaligned increase rolling resistance, requiring more energy (fuel) to move the vehicle. Using old or incorrect engine oil, or having low levels of other critical fluids, can increase friction within the engine and reduce efficiency. If brakes are improperly adjusted or components are sticking, it can cause unnecessary drag, which requires more fuel to overcome.
Then, it also depends on things outside of your car and driving experience. The load and weight of your vehicle. Environmental factors such as temperature changes. Worn out and out-of-date technology.
What’s The Key To Improving Fuel Efficiency?
Awareness is the key to maximizing your car’s fuel efficiency. The more aware you are that your daily habits control how well your vehicle operates, the more fuel efficient your car will remain over time. It starts with:
Regular maintenance. That means keeping the engine tuned and replacing components like spark plugs, filters, and oxygen sensors. Use the recommended grade of motor oil and change it at the intervals specified by the manufacturer. Check tire pressure regularly and inflate to the manufacturer’s recommended levels. Proper wheel alignment and balance reduce rolling resistance and prevent uneven tire wear.
Optimizing your driving habits. Avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking. Observing speed limits, as fuel efficiency generally decreases at speeds above 50-60 mph. Avoid excessive idling, as modern engines don’t need to idle to warm up and restarting the engine uses less fuel than idling.
Reducing your vehicle load and drag. This includes removing unnecessary items from the trunk or back seat to reduce load. Removing roof racks and carriers that increase aerodynamic drag, especially at higher speeds. Closing windows as you reach higher speeds on the highway, which also increases drag.
Using efficient routes. You know those quick trips to the store? It’s time to start planning out efficient routes and avoid short trips. Combine them into one longer trip, planning out your route to avoid heavy traffic and numerous stops. It might sound like a lot of planning, but through awareness, you’ll start to notice new things about your trip. You’ll find easy ways to make it more beneficial for you and your car.
Fuel Economy Starts With Maintenance
That’s where we can help. We’re a family run auto maintenance shop that helps people just like you maintain their vehicles for the long run. Whether it’s a routine maintenance item or a major system overhaul, we can help you get to the root of the problem and get you back on your journey quickly.
How can we help you today?