How To Fix Poor Fuel Economy In Your Volkswagen
by schearerswpadmin August 13, 2018Why Fuel Economy Is Important For Your Car
Volkswagens are one of few luxury vehicles that are known for their highly efficiency fuel use. Fuel economy is important for many reasons, and has become increasingly more important over recent decades as gas prices have shot up. Besides cutting down on costs, there are other reasons why it’s important to monitor your gas mileage in your Volkswagen. Fuel consumption can tell you a lot about what’s going on with your car. For instance, if your car has recently taken a dive in fuel efficiency, your automotive technician should know about this information because it will help them locate the source of the issue.
Noticing changes in your car’s fuel economy can also help you to determine if your driving habits or conditions are taking a toll on your engine, possibly burning more fuel than you’d expect. For instance, driving in city traffic frequently can significantly decrease your VW’s fuel efficiency, or transporting heavy loads of items in your car can also lower fuel economy. Knowing this, you can also adjust your driving habits or conditions accordingly. We’ll get more into this when we discuss how you can help to prevent issues with fuel economy.
Factors That Commonly Contribute To Poor Fuel Economy
As we mentioned before, there are several things to consider when it comes to fuel economy. Fuel economy is affected by many different factors, but these are just some of the most common:
Individual factors
As we mentioned before, driving habits and conditions play a huge role in fuel economy. That’s why the gas mileage projected by the manufacturer upon purchase is simply an estimate. Here are some individual factors that greatly affect fuel economy:
Transporting heavy loads
- Driving in traffic frequently
- Excessive acceleration and/or braking
- Frequently commuting uphill
Tire care
You might be surprised to learn that the condition your tires are in plays an integral role in how your car uses its gas. When tires aren’t kept in good quality, the amount of friction they cause as you drive increases the resistance the car experiences, making it use more gas. Here’s what factors to consider when it comes to tire care:
- Tire wear patterns – unevenness could indicate suspension or alignment issues
- Tire pressure – should be kept at the proper level at all times
- Wheel balancing and alignment – should be performed as part of ongoing maintenance
Fuel system issues
The various components of the fuel system, such as the fuel injectors or the fuel filter, can become clogged or malfunction. This inhibits the flow of fuel to your engine, causing gas mileage to become significantly affected. You can avoid this through the following maintenance tasks:
- Perform ongoing inspections of fuel system components
- Clean fuel injectors routinely
- Replace filters
- Use the proper type of gasoline for your VW
Motor oil quality
The quality and level of the motor oil you use for your Volkswagen’s engine should be upheld at all times. Engine oil is what keeps your engine well lubricated, avoiding friction and excessive heat or strain from parts grinding together. These suggestions may help keep your oil in good condition, and for details please refer to your VW’s owner’s manual:
- Replace oil and oil filter every 3 months or 3,000 miles
- Use the right type of oil for your car
- Perform frequent inspections of the oil
Condition of the spark plugs
Spark plugs play a huge part in ignition and combustion, which directly affects how efficiently the car’s fuel is utilized. Spark plugs commonly wear out prematurely depending on driving habits and conditions; here’s what you can do to keep your spark plugs working well:
- Have a VW specialist inspect spark plugs regularly
- Replace spark plugs when needed
- Follow routine maintenance schedule set forth by VW
Air intake issues
Your VW’s air intake system provides your engine with the proper amount of oxygen it needs for the optimal fuel/oxygen mixture in the combustion process. If your engine doesn’t receive the right amount of oxygen, it can cause your engine to run rich, which means gasoline is over-used. Here’s what you can do to keep the air intake system in good condition:
Change air filters regularly
- Have oxygen sensors inspected and tested
- If you smell gasoline while your car is running bring it to a VW specialist right away
Here at Schearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. we specialize in Volkswagen cars, and we extend our services to clients from all over the areas of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Macungie, PA. We know how important fuel economy is to our clients and for the health of your car. If you’ve recently experienced issues with fuel economy, please call us right away to schedule a diagnostic appointment.