Some good automotive ideas

[james.hendrickson]

All,

Here are some things people just never think about when it comes to your car.

Clean the miscellaneous stuff out of your vehicle. The more weight the more fuel you burn the more money you waste. The half full bottle of anti-freeze in the trunk isn't helping your mileage.

Slow down. For most trips you don't save that much time by driving quickly. Fuel usage in your vehicle is a bell curve and most cars are geared to have their best mileage at around 55 mph (ish). Driving 65 everywhere is throwing away money.

Everyone knows about trucks creating a wind break, so consider driving behind other vehicles. Even another car will help your fuel mileage.

If you have a device with multiple batteries, get a battery tester first. Then when the device seems to die, test all the batteries. Sometimes they are in series and one battery will draw more than the others. So only replace that battery instead of throwing out good ones. Also rotate the battery in the slot, this will sometimes remove corrosion which is making a bad connection. Also, be sure to get the right battery for your vehicle.

I have a Jeep Renegade, which is a voltage guzzler. The battery died during a particularly difficult winter storm. I replaced the correct branded battery with a generic one and ran into all kinds of electrical problems. They persisted until I took it to a mechanic, who installed the correct battery. So, the lesson here is: get the part with the correct manufacturer's specifications. Don't cheap out - you'll spend more in the long run.

[bjl584]

Please don't wind break behind semi trucks. You literally have to grab their bumpers and be in the blind spot for that to work.

[ua_guy]

A couple of advanced tips, in no particular order:

1. Since most vehicles now have Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, a much higher percentage of vehicles are now running optimal tire pressures which should contribute to better fuel economy. That's great! However, TPMS still allows for a pretty wide range of pressures. Keep an eye on them. As we slide into cooler fall weather, tire pressures will drop with temperatures, and some of you may see your TPMS lights illuminate. Check and set those tire pressures for the cooler weather ahead. Optimal tire pressures will also maximize tire handling ability in bad weather.

2. Tires are increasingly expensive. In addition to maintaining correct pressure, make sure to rotate them often. A general rule of thumb is "every other oil change" although it should happen more along the line of every 7,500-10,000 miles. That will help you get the most life out of your tires in addition to your driving style. Allow extra distance for braking. Not every start needs to be jackrabbit off the line. Go easier in corners. Driving style has a huge impact on tire life (and fuel economy).

3. I'm about to trailer a vehicle a few thousand miles. One of the things we did to prepare was have the wheel bearings on the trailer repacked and the electric brakes checked as part of annual maintenance. This is maintenance for safety. We also had the tires on the trailer rotated, and we have checked and set the air pressures as well. It's generally advised that trailer tires are run at max recommended PSI to keep sidewall flex (and temperatures) low, to prevent blowouts. Inspect tires for weather checking and cracking, and belt separation. Trailer tires may only last 10k miles, so keep an eye on tread depth. And it's always a good idea to carry a spare. Check the trailer often while traveling; look at the tires, and if you have a heat gun, get temperature readings on the tires and hubs when you stop for breaks so you know what is "normal" and can identify any problems early. A hot wheel can indicate low tire pressure, a failing bearing, a sticking brake, or overloading (you may need to shift some weight).

4. Modern vehicles have electronic systems which are "always on" and will drain the battery over time. Thankfully, they also have battery protection systems and can shut things down when the voltage becomes too low. But if your battery is old and weak, it may lose charge much more quickly, and not have enough juice to crank the engine when you need it. Draining AGM or lead acid batteries is very hard on them. If you're going to leave or not drive the car for several weeks at a time, consider hooking up your car's battery to a battery tender/maintainer. This will prevent drainage, and it will prevent sulfating of the battery's plates, which affects its ability to take and hold a charge.

[disneysteve]

1. Since most vehicles now have Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, a much higher percentage of vehicles are now running optimal tire pressures which should contribute to better fuel economy. That's great! However, TPMS still allows for a pretty wide range of pressures. Keep an eye on them. As we slide into cooler fall weather, tire pressures will drop with temperatures, and some of you may see your TPMS lights illuminate.

Yep, and the one in my current car is much more sensitive than the one in my previous car. My light has come on in the middle of summer when it dropped from being 95 every day to "only" being 85.

I also wonder what triggers that system to light up. Sometimes when the light comes on, I click to see the pressures and one or two tires not flagged will actually be lower than the one flagged.

[BarbaraAlvares]

Some really practical automotive suggestions here, especially for saving money through regular maintenance habits. I’ve been studying with an NYS Practice Test 2026 recently, so everyday advice threads like this are refreshing.

[Fishindude77]

Look ahead, let off the gas and coast up to stops or slow downs rather than using your brakes. Your brakes will last twice as long, saving you $$.
Anytime you park on any type of an incline, set your parking brake. This saves wear on U Joints and the transmission.

[ua_guy]

Look ahead, let off the gas and coast up to stops or slow downs rather than using your brakes. Your brakes will last twice as long, saving you $$.
Anytime you park on any type of an incline, set your parking brake. This saves wear on U Joints and the transmission.

Clarification: On an incline, set the parking brake with the transmission in neutral and then take your foot off the brake. This does two things: It ensures the park brake is set with enough force to hold the vehicle on the incline. And it eliminates any roll or slack before shifting the transmission into park. This keeps the weight of the vehicle off of the parking pawl (automatic) and any weight off of the transmission and driveline. Then, when you return to the vehicle, shifting out of park (or out of gear on a manual transmission) should be effortless and without any clunking or binding.

[pacerob]

Nice advice, really useful tips about fuel saving and choosing correct parts. I try to keep my driving smooth and car light as well. My friend is also just passing his driving test and looking for a first car, so open site for finding your earlier test in driving test cancellations is useful for finding earlier test dates and helping him get on road sooner.