Gas prices are always too high, and high costs can affect your ability to fully enjoy your Cadillac driving experience. Fortunately, there are ways to beat any price hike. As your Cadillac dealer, we want to give you a few maintenance tips on increasing your Cadillac fuel efficiency so you can enjoy even more time behind the wheel while keeping fuel costs down.
Maintenance Tips To Improve Your Cadillac Fuel Efficiency
Replace Worn Spark Plugs
The spark plugs are the ignition source for combustion. A spark plug screws into the top of each engine cylinder, and it automatically ignites the fuel-air mixture once it’s sufficiently compressed. These plugs will eventually wear out, and worn plugs are one of the main causes of increased fuel consumption.
A worn or damaged spark plug doesn’t ignite successfully. The fuel-air mixture will partially but irregularly burn rather than ignite to create precisely spaced mini-explosions that produce efficient combustion. Fuel that doesn’t burn correctly is wasted, as it’s ejected into the exhaust system when the cylinder opens. Once we replace damaged plugs, you’ll notice an improvement in fuel economy.
Reduce Weight
Your Cadillac has voluminous storage capacity, but unnecessarily carrying heavy items is literally a drag. When you carry heavy loads, the engine has to work harder to produce more power to overcome the resistance caused by weight. If the engine has to work harder, wear and tear on components increases, meaning higher repair costs and wasted fuel.
On average, every 100 lb of unnecessary weight reduces your gas mileage by 1% and this will quickly add up.
Check Tire Pressure
Your tire pressure will drop even if they’re healthy and undamaged. When the external air pressure drops, tire pressure will also fall as the tires try to equalize with the outside air. This loss is slight, as you will lose 1 to 2 PSI per 10-degree drop in temperature. They will also rapidly lose pressure if they leak.
Underinflated tires generate increased resistance when driving, forcing the engine to work harder to overcome this resistance. In the process, your engine will consume more fuel.
Don’t Idle
When you expect to wait for a few minutes, it’s very normal to let the engine idle. This is particularly true on a hot day when you want the full power of the AC to keep you cool. Unfortunately, idling uses fuel. Studies have shown that each minute spent idling costs 4 cents in fuel. This might not sound like a lot, but it equates to half a gallon of wasted fuel per hour.
If you’d like more advice on reducing fuel efficiency or to book maintenance to keep your Cadillac fuel-efficient, contact our service department today at Brown & Wood Cadillac in Greenville, NC.
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