Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. (e.g. never use 5W-30 oil when your engine requires 10W-30 by design.)
Ask your mechanic about:
• Friction reducing additives
• Motor flushes
• Oil treatments
• Oil conditioners
• High performance oils
• Synthetic oils
If you’re going to run your engine harder than the average driver or will be using your vehicle in a high temperature climate, first and foremost, look into the synthetic motor oils available.
If it’s time for the recommended service for a tune up, don’t delay. If you’re not sure if the date has passed, get your vehicle checked right away. The longer you wait the more fuel you’ll waste.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
The exact adjustments that could be made for fuel economy and efficiency related to your engine tune up/maintenance are too many to list. Ask your mechanic about what could be done to make or keep your vehicle fuel efficient.
Replace sparkplugs and sparkplug (ignition) wires with quality equipment and reasonably often.
Ask your mechanic about the quality of all equipment you’re currently using. Only buy quality equipment that improves spark. Don’t buy any ridiculously inexpensive plugs. Replace traditional center electrode plugs with superior ones (fine wire or other).
Ask your mechanic if you could replace your standard plugs (iridium or platinum) with double platinum, copper-alloy or gold-alloy plugs. There have been claims of better combustion and power increase with these latter, more expensive plugs.
A word of caution: Some of the expensive plugs need more electricity and therefore demand it from your system. Some electrical systems may not last as long with this change, which may mean a few minor updates and replacing your actual plugs more often. If you want to use the gold-alloy plug, ask your mechanic: Can your ignition wires, coil wire and coil handle the increase in demand and heat? Will your cylinders build up too much pressure from the extra heat? If they can handle the pressure and you update your ignition wires, then you’ll be set to go.
If you want enhanced performance and superior fuel economy, changing to superior plugs may be for you. If not, buy the best platinum plug for your vehicle.
Ask your mechanic about widening the gap between the center and ground electrodes of your plugs to get a better spark range. Note: Unless you’re a week-end mechanic, I don’t recommend doing this without the help of a professional.
Some sparkplug wires, although inexpensive, will cost you more money in the long run. Look into more costly wires that offer a good (ohms) resistance. Replace corroded ignition wires as soon as possible.