Fuel Economy

Batavia, IL Auto Service

Top 10 things Reliable Auto Repair can do to help you improve your fuel economy and save money on gas:

1. Change your Air Filter -
   In order to run properly, your car's engine needs to be able to pull in clean air. The air filter allows the engine to pull in clean air...but over time, it can get clogged with dirt and debris. This makes it difficult for your engine to pull in the air it needs, and causes the engine to run less efficiently. A less efficient engine can equate to higher fuel costs.
2. Replace your Spark Plugs
   Your spark plugs provide the source of ignition for the fuel in your engine. When spark plugs get old, they start providing less of a hot fat spark for ignition, which reduces the amount of fuel that actually burns. Inefficient ignition can be a big cause of reduced fuel economy, as it permits raw fuel to be dumped out your exhaust pipe, not using it for power.
3. Replace your Fuel Filter
   A clogged fuel filter can make it more difficult to provide fuel into your cylinders. When the fuel filter becomes clogged, it can reduce the atomization of the fuel, which does not allow the engine to burn the fuel completely.
4. Tire Inflation & Repair
   Under-inflated tires can greatly reduce your fuel efficiency. An under-inflated tire causes additional friction with the road, so it will consume much of the forward motion that is generated by the engine, causing the engine to work harder to propel the vehicle at the same speed.
5. Wheel Alignment
   Your vehicle's wheels may be misaligned, and you might not even know it. Even a slight misalignment can cause your vehicle to drag a tire across the pavement instead of rolling properly. This causes the engine to work a lot harder and consume more fuel. During a wheel alignment, our technicians will also check the components in your suspension and steering, to ensure that the wheels will keep tracking properly and will ensure that you waste as little fuel as possible
6. Check Engine Light
   When your check engine light is on, it means that one of the sensors, coils or other engine control components has ceased to work properly. This means that your engine is probably working in a "limp-home" mode, which means that your engine is wasting a great deal of fuel. Have our technicians diagnose the problem with your engine control system, and get your fuel economy back to where it should be.
7. Fuel Injector Cleaning
   Dirty fuel injectors do not spray fuel properly into the engine. As the injectors get dirty and partially clogged, instead of spraying an atomized mix, the fuel can drip into the engine in liquid form. The engine cannot efficiently burn liquid fuel, so that fuel ends up being wasted. A good fuel injector cleaning can help improve the atomization of fuel, and improve your fuel efficiency.
8. Oil Changes
   Dirty engine oil contains metal particles and sludge which cause additional friction in the engine. This added friction can greatly reduce the efficiency of the engine. Changing your oil regularly can help to reduce the friction, increase fuel economy and also increase the life of your engine.
9. Transmission Flush
   A dirty transmission can cause slipping...which means that it will take more force from the engine to propel the vehicle at the same speeds.
10. Tire Rotation

What can I do to improve my Fuel Economy?

• Drive Less Aggressively - Aggressive driving, such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking, wastes fuel and reduces your fuel economy. You can see up to a 30% increase in fuel economy by driving sensibly.
• Observing the Speed Limit - As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph decreases your overall fuel economy by 10-20%
• Remove Excess Weight from your vehicle - Avoiding keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle can help you increase your fuel economy by up to 2% per 100 lbs removed.
• Avoid Excess Idling - When your engine is running and the car is not moving, you are getting 0 mpg. The longer your vehicle sets idling, the lower your overall fuel economy, and the more fuel you burn.
• Use Cruise Control on the Highway - Setting your cruise control at highway speeds can help you maintain a constant speed, which helps save gas by reducing speeding up and slowing down cycles.

Other Services Include

• Brake Repair
• Oil Changes
• Steering/Suspension Repair
• Computerized Diagnostics
• Electrical Repair
• ABS System Repair
• Air Conditioning and Heating Repair
• Engine Flushes
• Cooling System Flushes
• Power Steering Flushes
• Brake System Flushes
• Transmission Flushes