Cars give poor gas mileage in winters because it remains in idle for a long time, takes too much time to warm up the engine, the traffic is slow and more. How to improve the gas mileage?

Tree Hugger provides some easy tips to follow to improve the gas mileage for cars and trucks.

1.) Check Your Alternator/Battery: During winters, a poor alternator or battery will cause lots of problems for the car to start and waste unnecessary fuel. The cold weather also makes the alternator and the battery to work harder to give the same charge in the electrical system. Most of the automotive stores and dealers check the battery for free, so check it before the cold season starts.

2.) Added Weight: Some use sand bags to add weight to cars in frigid conditions to give them better traction. But in good weather conditions, those bags are not needed. Also, under heavy snowy conditions, snow piles on top of cars and in truck beds. These add weight to cars, so they should be removed as much as possible. Also unnecessary things in cars such as books, equipment in the trunk should be removed when they are not used. Extra weight in cars gives poor gas mileage.

3.) Aerodynamics: Those who love skiing live their skis on top of their roof racks. It is fine when you are going to ski, but is not fine when you are not skiing, should be removed from the roof racks. Otherwise the ski’s reduces the car’s aerodynamics. In cold weather conditions the air is thicker and harder to break through, so there will be a drag.

4.) Check Tire Pressure: Studies have found out that for ever 5 degree Celsius drop in temperature, tire pressure drops by one pound per square foot. Fuel efficiency drops where the tire pressure drops off. During winter time, check your tires periodically to make sure they have ideal air pressure.

5.) Gasoline Blends: If you are using ethanol gasoline blends for your cars, then use Ethanol E10, which gives 1.5% lower mileage compared to other blends E20 and E30. Denatured E10 blend gives increased mileage of 1.7%.

6.) Accidents: Winter accidents are common and usually lead to traffic jams. Consult traffic channels and see whether your route is affected so you can take alternate routes. Google Maps provides traffic reports in some major cities, you can use that sometimes.

7.) Winter Tires: Use of winter tires helps ride well but affects gas mileage, but is necessary some times. Check Garden Seal report to find the best winter tire.

8.) Car Idling: For older cars, there is excessive idling because it takes too much time for the engine to warm up. For newer cars, they don’t require idling, they can be driven right away and warm up as you drive.

Besides these tips, also use hypermiling techniques to boost the car mileage in winter.