A vehicle that performs at it's peak will realize the best fuel economy. If something interferes with peak performance it will decrease gas economy and will cause you to use more gas and spend more money. For that reason proper management of the oil in your engine is a critical component of good fuel economy.



A priority in your car maintenance needs to be scheduled oil changes. Changing the oil according to the car makers recommendations is essential to keeping your car at its peak and keeping your gas economy at its best.

The job of the oil in your car is to lubricate the moving parts of its engine, minimizing friction. preventing metal- to-metal contact and carrying away excess heat. All of those functions promote better gas efficiency.

Another major function of oil in your engine is to remove dirt, metal shavings and other impurities which are then captured in the oil filter. In addition to negatively affecting fuel economy, neglecting the oil in your car could lead to replacing the engine itself.

The interval between oil changes is very important. It is important to following the car makers maintenance schedule. If the manual says to change the oil every three months do it. If the manual says to change the oil every three thousand miles do it. When oil is left in an engine too long, it becomes saturated with the very dirt and impurities it is supposed to remove. Once the oil is saturated it will be less efficient in doing its job. Your car's performance will decline and your fuel economy will get worse.

Make sure that you are using the right grade of oil that is required by your car or truck. By using the lowest multi grade of oil recommended in your owner's manual, you can improve the fuel efficiency of the engine, particularly when starting it cold.

Using the wrong grade of oil may cause your car to run poorly as the weather changes. The wrong grade will get thick and heavy in cold weather. Oil that is too thick and heavy requires the engine to work harder because the thick and heavy oil's resistance is greater. The harder the engine works the more gasoline it will use. The wrong grade of oil can cost you 1 to 2 percent of your gas economy.

If you use, for example, 10W-40 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-40 it can lower your gas mileage as much as the two percent mentioned earlier. In addition if something goes wrong with your car, and the manufacturer can show you used the wrong oil, it could void your warranty.

Many drivers make the mistake of procrastinating in getting the oil changed. The more a driver puts off changing the oil the worse the fuel economy will be. Using the proper grade and changing the oil on time will help you get better gas economy.