If you suspect that your car is gulping fuel faster than it should, chances are it is. Should you be worried? At today’s fuel prices, you definitely should.

But apart from worrying, what else can you do about it? For those who can afford to, getting a new model vehicle is always a great solution. Most 2023 vehicles in the U.S. deliver an impressive 27.1 MPG, an increase of 1.1 MPG from the previous year. Great news if you’re buying new. And if you aren’t?

How do you get extra miles out of each gallon of gasoline you buy for your current car?

By making small changes to your car and how you use it. Simple, and almost too good to be true.

Let’s take a look at four things you can do with your car to squeeze out more miles from every gallon you buy.

Modifications You Can Make to Improve MPG

Install a Fuel Economy Monitor

You know how they say you can’t improve what you can’t measure? That’s what the fuel economy monitor is all about. But doesn’t your car already have a fuel gauge? Yes, it does. The question is, how accurate is it?

Most older cars come with just a simple fuel gauge on the dashboard, and that’s it. But a dedicated monitor, also known as a scangauge or OBD-II display, gives you accurate real-time data about your speed, fuel efficiency, and lots more.

Why does this help? If you notice your MPG dropping from 40 to 18 every time you stomp on the accelerator, you’ll immediately see that the issue isn’t the car — it’s your driving. Once you know, you can start making small, real improvements.

The beauty of these devices is that you don’t need to tear apart your dashboard to install them. They plug into your OBD ports and can sit on your dashboard. Just buy, plug in, set up, and start using.

Switch to MPG-Friendly Tires and Wheels

The next thing you can do to optimize your fuel consumption is switch to MPG-friendly tires and wheels.

But you love your tires. They’re big, bold, and beautiful. Unfortunately, high rolling resistance, which is typically caused by wrong or bad tires, can account for up to 25% of your vehicle’s power loss. The result? Your car will need more fuel to run.

Get the right tires for your car and pair them with wheels that are lighter than stock, such as flow-formed wheels, instead of the cast-iron items that come with your car. Doing so will reduce the load on the engine drastically.

Flow-formed or flow-forged wheels, according to Curva Concepts, are stronger and lighter than cast options. They also offer better value than fully forged alternatives. Replacing stock wheels with these versions will help your car drive more efficiently.

Once you’ve got the right tire to wheel combination, always remember to keep them properly inflated, at the recommended PSI. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, which renders your tire and wheel change null and void.

Upgrade to Manufacturer-Approved Synthetic Engine Oil

If you think an oil change is just a routine maintenance you do every 3,000 miles, or every three months, you’re right. But the truth is that what you put in the pan can have a lot to say about the performance and efficiency of your car.

That’s why mechanics recommend switching from conventional oil to a high-quality, manufacturer-recommended synthetic oil.

Synthetic oil flows better at different temperatures, which reduces the friction inside the engine. With less friction, your engine will not have to work hard to do its job, and of course, this means better fuel efficiency. Some sources suggest that using the manufacturer’s recommended oil can boost fuel efficiency by up to 2%.

This might not sound like much, but with the current prices of gasoline, 2% is a money saver.

Adopt Fuel-Efficient Driving Habits

Technically, this isn’t a modification, but without it, all your other changes may not be very effective. You installed a fuel economy monitor. You have the right tires and lightweight wheels. You’re now using the proper oil in your engine. That’s all good and fine, but what about your driving habits?

No matter what you do to your car, as long as your driving habits are terrible, you won’t see much change in your MPG. Aggressive driving and hard braking, for example, can cost you up to 40% in fuel efficiency.

On the other hand, driving at steady speeds and properly applying your throttle and brakes will make life easy for your engine. Of course, you know what happens when your engine is not under pressure: proper fuel management.

So, practice gentle acceleration, anticipate stops, and use cruise control on open roads. You’d be surprised how much this little change in driving style affects your MPG.

Wrapping Up

Getting better mileage out of your gasoline doesn’t mean you have to buy a new car, especially if you cannot afford to at the moment. These modifications we’ve discussed in this article are not as expensive, but done properly, they can be as effective.

And guess what? You don’t have to do everything all at once. Combine just one of the modifications mentioned with improving your driving habits, and you’ll see significant changes almost immediately.

The key is to start with what makes sense of your situation and budget, and see how things go from there.