Increase your car’s mileage – Let’s be honest — with rising fuel prices, every drop counts. Whether you drive a petrol hatchback, a diesel SUV, or a turbo-petrol sedan, getting the most mileage from your car is always a win.
The good news? You don’t need to install fancy gadgets or switch to an EV to save fuel. Just by making a few smart changes in how you drive and care for your vehicle, you can significantly improve your car’s fuel economy.
Let’s look at 12 easy tips that actually work to increase your car’s mileage, save money, and keep your ride running smoothly.
🔧 1. Regular Maintenance Is a Must
This is the 1st rule for improving mileage — and it’s often overlooked. A car that’s regularly serviced simply performs better.
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Schedule periodic tune-ups, oil changes, and replacing filters on schedule.
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Dirty air filters, old spark plugs, and worn-out engine oil all make your engine work harder — and burn more fuel.
- In India, Mostly car manufacturers suggest that periodic maintainence of their cars should be done in 10000kms / 1 year, whichever is earlier. Some manufacturers like Tata, Jeep, VW, Skoda also suggest that the periodic maintainence of their cars should be done in 15000kms / 1 year, whichever is earlier.
👉 A well-maintained engine is a fuel-efficient engine.
🎈 2. Maintain Optimal Tyre Pressure
If there’s one easy fix you can do today, it’s to Maintain optimal tyre pressure as recommended in your owner’s manual.
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Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance.
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Over time, that eats into your mileage.
✅ Make it a habit to keep tires pumped up every 10-15 days. It also helps your tyres last longer. You can check your car’s optimum tyre-pressure guidelines mentioned on the driver side door of your car.
🛞 3. Don’t Ignore Wheel Alignment & Balancing
Misaligned or unbalanced wheels drag your fuel economy down without you even realizing it.
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Get your wheel alignment and balancing checked every 5,000 to 7,000 km.
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It reduces uneven tyre wear and ensures your car rolls smoothly.
🧠 4. Drive Sensibly to increase your car’s mileage
Your driving style can make or break your fuel economy. Aggressive acceleration, speeding, and hard braking all guzzle more fuel.
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Drive sensibly, and you’ll see the difference.
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Maintain a steady speed and go easy on the throttle.
Just this habit alone can increase your car’s mileage by up to 20% in city conditions.
⚙️ 5. Use Efficient Gear Shifting (For Manual Cars)
Driving in the wrong gear is a common reason for poor mileage.
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Efficient gear shifting means upshifting early and avoiding high revs which lead to increase your car’s mileage.
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Don’t drive in lower gears for too long, and avoid letting the engine struggle.
💡 For petrol cars: shift between 2,000–2,200 RPM.
💡 For diesel cars: 1,500–2,000 RPM works best.
🛑 6. Turn Off the Engine at Long Stops
Don’t keep the engine idling at traffic lights or while waiting at railway crossings.
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If it’s going to be more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine.
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Modern engines don’t waste much fuel restarting.
In modern day cars their comes a feature known as Idle Engine Start-Stop Function. Use that feature, you’ll save more than you think by cutting out idle waste.
🚗 7. Lighten the Load
Carrying unnecessary weight in your boot? It’s time to declutter.
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Every extra kilo means your engine has to work harder.
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Also, remove roof boxes or carriers if you’re not using them — they add wind drag.
- Don’t overload the car with extra passengers, they will also lead to engine need to be worked hard.
📦 Travel light for better fuel efficiency, i.e instant increase your car’s mileage!
❄️ 8. Use the AC Wisely
Air conditioning puts extra load on the engine, especially in small cars.
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Use it on recirculation mode.
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On pleasant days, roll down the windows and let natural air flow. Just do it in cities at slow speed.
Using AC smartly helps you strike a balance between comfort and mileage.
🧽 9. Keep Your Car Clean & Aerodynamic
A dirty or heavily loaded car affects aerodynamics — and that can subtly impact your mileage too.
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Wash your car regularly.
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Don’t carry large items on the roof unless necessary.
Even small things like closing windows on highways can help reduce wind resistance.
⛽ 10. Refuel at Reliable Petrol Pumps
Bad or adulterated fuel can lower mileage and damage your engine over time.
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Stick to reputed fuel stations.
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Some people even track their mileage after filling from different pumps — that’s how much of a difference it can make.
🕓 Also, filling fuel early in the morning or late at night may give you a slight edge due to fuel density.
📲 11. Use Apps to Avoid Traffic
Apps like Google Maps or MapMyIndia or AppleMaps help you avoid traffic jams and unnecessary idling.
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Plan your routes smartly.
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Less time stuck = more mileage saved.
Small time savings = big fuel savings.
📉 12. Track Your Mileage
Keep a simple note or app to track fuel efficiency over time.
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Divide kilometers driven by litres filled.
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A sudden drop in mileage can alert you to a problem early.
🚨 Regular tracking keeps you informed — and helps you make changes when needed.
✅ Final Thoughts
Increasing your car’s mileage isn’t rocket science. With a bit of awareness, smart driving, and regular car care, you can easily get more kilometers per litre — and save big in the long run.
Recap of Top Tips:
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✅ Maintain optimal tyre pressure
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✅ Drive sensibly
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✅ Efficient gear shifting
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✅ Regular maintenance is a must
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✅ Do periodic tune-ups, oil changes, and replace filters on schedule
All of these put together can boost your mileage by 15–30% depending on your current habits.
🔎 FAQs on Improving Car Mileage
Q. Does AC really reduce car mileage?
Yes, especially in stop-go city traffic. It can drop mileage by 5–10%.
Q. How often should I check tyre pressure?
Every 2 weeks or before a long drive.
Q. Can premium fuel improve mileage?
Only if your car is tuned for it. Most regular cars don’t benefit significantly.
💬 Got a Tip That Works for You?
Drop it in the comments! Let’s build a smarter driving community that saves fuel and drives better.