How-to guide · Ford of Peoria · Peoria, IL
How to Get Better Gas Mileage: 10 Tips That Work
Whether you drive an F-150 to job sites or commute across Peoria, the biggest gas-mileage gains usually come from how you drive and how you maintain the vehicle. This guide lists 10 tips with what FuelEconomy.gov, run for the Department of Energy and the EPA, reports for each, plus what our Peoria service center checks.
The short answer
Drive smoothly, observe the speed limit and use cruise control on the highway; take off a roof box and extra weight you do not need; turn the engine off instead of idling; keep the tires at the doorjamb pressure and use the recommended grade of motor oil; have a check engine light looked at; and combine errands into one trip. FuelEconomy.gov says aggressive driving alone can cost 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
10 ways to get better gas mileage
Start at the top: the driving habits cost nothing to change and usually make the biggest difference. Your owner's manual has the exact specifications for your vehicle.
| Tip | What to do | What FuelEconomy.gov says |
|---|---|---|
| Drive sensibly | Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking. | Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic. |
| Watch your highway speed | Observe the speed limit; slowing down 5 to 10 mph on the highway adds up. | Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 50 mph. Slowing down 5 to 10 mph averages a 7% to 14% benefit. |
| Use cruise control | Use it on the highway to hold a constant speed. | In most cases it will save gas. |
| Skip the roof box | Remove a roof-top cargo box when you are not using it, or use a rear-mount carrier. | A large, blunt roof box can cut fuel economy about 2% to 8% in the city, 6% to 17% on the highway and 10% to 25% at 65 to 75 mph. Rear-mount boxes or trays cost only 1% to 2% in the city and 1% to 5% on the highway. |
| Lighten the load | Take heavy items you do not need out of the vehicle. | An extra 100 pounds could reduce MPG by about 1%, with a bigger effect on smaller vehicles. |
| Do not idle | Turn the engine off when you are parked. | Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour; restarting takes only about 10 seconds worth of fuel. |
| Keep tires inflated | Set all tires to the pressure on the sticker usually in the driver's door jamb (or the glove box and owner's manual), not the maximum on the sidewall. | Proper pressure improves mileage 0.6% on average, up to 3%. Under-inflation costs about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires. |
| Use the right motor oil | Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. | Worth 1% to 2%. For example, 10W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-30 can lower gas mileage by 1% to 2%. |
| Fix engine problems | When the check engine light comes on, have the vehicle inspected. | The cause could be as minor as a loose gas cap, or a more serious issue that could reduce fuel economy. |
| Combine trips | Plan errands into one route instead of several cold starts. | Several short trips from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one longer, multipurpose trip covering the same distance. |
From FuelEconomy.gov, run for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, read October 26, 2026. Results vary by vehicle and driving conditions.
Maintenance that matters for mileage
FuelEconomy.gov points to three maintenance items. Tire pressure: keep tires at the pressure on the driver's door jamb sticker, not the maximum on the sidewall. Ford of Peoria's maintenance guide adds: check all tires, including the spare, at least once a month when the tires are cold, meaning the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours; the recommended pressure is on the placard typically on the driver's side doorjamb. Motor oil: use the grade your manufacturer recommends, and look for "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol. The check engine light: modern vehicles can seem to drive normally even when a repair is needed, so have it inspected rather than ignoring it.
One common myth: on fuel-injected, computer-controlled engines like those built from the early 1980s to today, replacing a clogged air filter does not improve fuel economy, though it can improve acceleration. Filters still matter for the engine; Ford of Peoria's maintenance guide says your vehicle's filters should be changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and most can be inspected and replaced during a routine oil change; your owner's manual has the schedule for your vehicle.
Tire pressure steps and filter interval from Ford of Peoria's general maintenance advice page; the rest from FuelEconomy.gov, "Keeping Your Vehicle in Shape." Both read October 26, 2026.
Plan and combine your trips
Your engine uses more fuel when it is cold than when it is warmed up. FuelEconomy.gov says several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip covering the same distance, so map out errands in one loop.
- Stagger your hours to avoid peak rush hours, if your schedule allows.
- Drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle.
- Carpool or share rides: taking turns driving can cut your weekly fuel costs in half.
- In cold weather, skip the long warm-up: most manufacturers recommend driving off gently after about 30 seconds.
From FuelEconomy.gov, "Planning and Combining Trips" and "Fuel Economy in Cold Weather," read October 26, 2026.
Driving a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or EV?
Many of the tips above apply to electrified vehicles too. FuelEconomy.gov adds a few of its own:
Read the owner's manual
These vehicles manage energy in different ways, so a tip that applies to one model may not apply to another.
Use the economy mode
Many have an "economy mode" or similar feature that may limit performance, such as acceleration, to save fuel.
Brake gently
Gentle or moderate braking lets regenerative braking recover energy as electricity; hard braking uses the friction brakes, which do not.
Keep it charged
For plug-in hybrids, a charged battery means using as much electricity and as little gasoline as possible. For EVs, it helps maximize driving range.
Pre-heat while plugged in
Heating, air conditioning and other accessories can have a bigger effect on hybrids and EVs. Pre-heating or pre-cooling the cabin while plugged in can extend electric range.
From FuelEconomy.gov, "Tips for Hybrids, Plug-in Hybrids, and Electric Vehicles," read October 26, 2026.
Mileage-minded service at Ford of Peoria
At Ford of Peoria, The Works® is a complete vehicle checkup: a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. It covers several of the maintenance items on this page in one visit. See our oil change advice and tire care pages for more.
Schedule service online, and check our service specials before you book. Ford of Peoria is at 2211 W. Pioneer Pkwy. in Peoria. Get directions.
Ford of Peoria service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-noon |
| Sun | closed |
From Ford of Peoria's website, October 26, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Gas mileage FAQ
What is the best way to get better gas mileage?
Start with how you drive. FuelEconomy.gov says aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic. Easing off, observing the speed limit and using cruise control on the highway are free and add up quickly.
Does tire pressure really affect gas mileage?
Yes. FuelEconomy.gov says keeping tires at the proper pressure improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average and up to 3% in some cases, and under-inflated tires cost about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires. Ford of Peoria recommends checking all tires, including the spare, at least once a month when they are cold; the recommended pressure is on the placard typically on the driver's side doorjamb.
Will a new air filter improve my gas mileage?
Not on a modern car. FuelEconomy.gov says replacing a clogged air filter on a fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engine (early 1980s to the present) does not improve fuel economy, though it can improve acceleration. On older carbureted engines it can improve both by a few percent.
Does motor oil affect gas mileage?
It can. Using the manufacturer's recommended grade improves gas mileage by 1% to 2%, according to FuelEconomy.gov. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower it by 1% to 1.5%. Your owner's manual lists the right grade.
Why is my gas mileage worse in winter?
FuelEconomy.gov says a conventional gasoline car's city mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than at 77°F, and can drop as much as 24% on short 3- to 4-mile trips. Instead of idling to warm up, most manufacturers recommend driving off gently after about 30 seconds.
Can Ford of Peoria check my car for anything that hurts mileage?
Yes. The Works® at Ford of Peoria includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. If your check engine light is on, have it inspected at our service center.
Keep your Ford running efficiently
Book The Works, a tire pressure check, or a check engine light inspection at our Peoria service center.
Sources
Gas mileage tips and percentages are from FuelEconomy.gov, administered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, read October 26, 2026. Service details, address and hours are from Ford of Peoria's own website, checked the same day. Your owner's manual is the final word for your vehicle. Photo is illustrative.
- Driving More Efficiently (aggressive driving, speed, cargo, weight, idling, cruise control), FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), read October 26, 2026
- Keeping Your Vehicle in Shape (check engine light, tire pressure, motor oil grade, air filters), FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), read October 26, 2026
- Planning and Combining Trips, FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), read October 26, 2026
- Fuel Economy in Cold Weather, FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), read October 26, 2026
- Tips for Hybrids, Plug-in Hybrids, and Electric Vehicles, FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), read October 26, 2026
- General service: The Works, tire pressure, filters, Ford of Peoria, October 26, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Ford of Peoria, October 26, 2026