No matter what vehicle you own, the odds are good you are concerned about fuel economy. Every car and truck has a base MPG rating assigned to it by the manufacturer, but you can tinker with this number through safer driving, maintenance and using after-market parts.
Here is a look at 6 ways that you can improve your vehicle’s MPG using after-market vehicle parts.
1. Sparkplugs
The right spark plugs for your vehicle can produce additional power while cutting down on toxic emissions, and this can lead to reductions in fuel consumption and a cleaner burning engine. Keep in mind that some sparkplugs are going to be vehicle-specific, and finding the right fit absolutely contributes to how much bonus fuel economy you can squeeze out of them.
Sparkplugs
Spark plugs fit into the cylinder heads for internal combustion engines and are responsible for igniting the vehicle’s compressed fuels through an electric spark. The right spark plugs can improve performance significantly, and improvements in MPG are just one such advantage of using aftermarket versions.
2. Air Filters
According to Crutchfield, this is one of the most important parts of your vehicle that can be replaced in order to improve upon your gas mileage. If your filter is dirty or clogged, it is going to restrict the air flow to your engine. This is going to waste gas by reducing the efficiency of your vehicle. If your engine can suck clean air in more easily, it is going to run better.
Air Filters
There are different air filters to consider here, but K&N Filters come highly recommended because they are made from high flow materials and are reusable. These filters are made to last as long as your vehicle does. According to CARiD, disposable paper air filters are definitely the wrong way to go. Better performing air filters will not only increase your MPG, but they will improve performance in other areas as well.
3. Air Intake Kits
Because airflow is so important to the efficiency of your vehicle, another smart investment is an air intake kit replacement, which can improve the vehicle’s power, fuel economy and response. A K&N air intake kit, for example, will make it possible for your engine to breathe more easily by pushing more air into the engine more quickly than stock boxes are normally able to.
Air Intake Kits
K&N air intake kits come highly recommended because they are guaranteed for as many as a million miles, which is a distance you are not likely to reach in your vehicle.
4. Tonneau Cover
If you’re driving a truck, your tailgate might be hindering your MPG significantly. One way you can rectify this is with a tonneau cover. This is going to prevent passing air from rushing right into the open bed of your truck.
Tonneau Cover
The cover provides a surface for air to blow past, and this is going to reduce the amount of drag that your truck experiences when you are on the road.
5. Exhaust Systems
Upping your vehicle’s mileage per gallon is a great excuse to pick up a new set of exhaust pipes. There are specially engineered systems that are designed specifically to improve your gas mileage by freeing up your exhaust flow. Auto Anything says that this is because of the specialized mandrel bending, which prevents the holdback and drag that normally negatively influences your mileage.
Exhaust Systems
Performance exhaust system upgrades not only offer significant gas savings but also boost horsepower between five and 10 percent. The extra growl of your engine will just be icing on the cake.
6. Electronic Tune Ups
Your car is actually a computer, and a computer system is responsible for how well it runs. You can improve your gas mileage by reprogramming the computer in your car, according to Crutchfield. You can optimize the tuning of your vehicle to the specific way that you drive as well as the conditions that you normally drive in.
Electronic Tune Ups
Because a stock vehicle is tuned for an average driver and for a specific range of conditions, changing the parameters with an engine-tuning computer can improve the mileage capabilities of your vehicle.
CONCLUSION
There are a myriad of gadgets on the market that promise to improve your mileage per gallon or MPG, but very few actually deliver. On the other hand, using after market performance parts on your vehicle can have a profoundly positive impact not only on the performance of your vehicle, but on its MPG capabilities as well. If you really want to have a positive impact on your gas mileage, these are the parts that are well worth considering.
