Poor fuel mileage can be such a weird problem to troubleshoot in your car. There are so many different variables that affect fuel mileage, and Certified Auto Repair wants to help you to narrow down what’s causing your car’s fuel mileage to be worse than you want it to be.
Improper Tire Pressure
Tire pressure makes more of a difference in things like engine performance and fuel mileage than most car owners realize. Whether the tires have more or less air pressure than the tires require affects how well the engine works. That’s because the engine has to work harder to propel the car if the inflation levels are off.
Misaligned Wheels
Misaligned wheels are a problem for your car’s engine in much the same way that tire inflation is. When the wheels aren’t aligned properly, the engine is working harder than it should. That burns fuel inefficiently and can eventually cause engine damage.
Misfires
Misfiring happens when your car’s engine doesn’t have the spark, air, or fuel that it needs in order to fire properly. You hear misfires as engine knocks, which might be louder as the damage gets worse. Misfiring can also be intermittent, which can be difficult to diagnose. The big problem, besides engine damage, is that you’re burning fuel inefficiently.
Delayed Oil Changes
Without the right services, your car’s engine doesn’t have what it needs in order to keep itself running properly. Engine oil in particular is vital for keeping your car’s engine cool, clean, and lubricated. When oil is old or the levels are too low, you see that as bad fuel mileage.
Incorrect Octane Levels
You might have seen a recommendation in your car’s owner’s manual to put specific octane levels of fuel into your car’s tank. If you’re not doing that, you’re likely to experience poor fuel mileage. The good news is that if you’ve only been doing that for a short time, you can turn the situation around by using the proper octane level in the tank.
Still trying to figure out what’s causing bad fuel mileage in your car? Let Cary’s Auto Service in Tempe, AZ help. We can accurately assess what’s going on with your car’s engine and other systems to determine what is resulting in poor fuel mileage. We can also help you to stay on target with recommended maintenance afterward, so you can hang onto the engine performance that you regain.
