How do you get better gas mileage?

DeKALB — A recent study by AAA Illinois found replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent. That could result in savings of up to 15 cents per gallon, the study found. But despite such results, few drivers appear to be doing anything extra to improve mileage, Beth Mosher, AAA Chicago’s director of public affairs, said in a phone interview Wednesday. “They (consumers) talk a big game, but when asked what they are doing to conserve, they expect someone else to take care of that,” Mosher said. And there’s plenty of steps motorists can take to save money in a time of high gasoline prices. The average retail price nationwide for regular unleaded gasoline fell Monday by about 9 cents to $2.96 per gallon, making it 4.5 cents per gallon less than it was last year at this time, according to the Energy Information Administration. The average price of gas in Illinois is $3.17 per gallon, and DeKalb’s gas on average is only slightly higher at $3.18. But local prices are 22 cents more than the current national average.
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High gasoline prices often cause consumers to resort to netted tailgates, front spoilers or the use of additives in gas tanks to improve mileage, but experts say there is a much simpler solution — a tuneup. “People try all these types of tricks, but they overlook the most important step, which is keeping their car maintained and keeping air in their tires,” Mosher said. Ed Cyrier, owner of Auto Clinic in DeKalb, agrees. Nearly everyone who comes into his shop is concerned with fuel economy, and his advice to drivers is to check tire pressure — and check it often. Since pressure gauges cost about a dollar and are no bigger than a pen, monitoring tires is one of the cheapest ways for drivers to save money, he said. Motorists can improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent by keeping their tires properly inflated, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The department also calculated that when gas prices are $3 per gallon, yearly savings for an average driver are $69 for replacing worn-out spark plugs, $136 for replacing a dirty air filter and $429 for replacing an old oxygen sensor. Clean air filters are important because the less “bad” air drawn in, the less gas a car needs to burn to clean it. Newer vehicles can have as many as four air filters installed, Cyrier said. “They tell the computer how much oxygen is in the exhaust, then the computer either enriches it or cleans it,” he said. “When the sensors get slow and worn-out, you lose fuel efficiency.” Aside from applying strategies that improve gas mileage, consumers can limit activities that hinder fuel efficiency. Installing wider or bigger tires on a vehicle or adding large light racks, lift kits or roof racks can drop fuel mileage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is “less resistance, less friction, better mileage,” Cyrier said. The Energy Information Administration reported the Midwest’s second-largest weekly decrease ever Monday at about 19 cents per gallon. However, the Illinois AAA states that gas prices will continue to fluctuate and also can be affected by natural disasters. Employing fuel-efficient strategies, as simple as they seem, can help decrease damage to consumer pocketbooks. “By in large, people are still driving and they are going to continue to still drive,” Mosher said. “Gas prices would have to get a whole lot higher for people to really alter their driving habits.” Carrie Frillman can be reached at cfrillman@daily-chronicle.com.