Business lines Global brands Select location Menu Search Exxon Home Car maintenance Car maintenance Taking care of your car can help improve its efficiency. Proper car maintenance can extend the life of your car, but did you know it can also impact your car’s fuel efficiency? Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind. Fix any problems right away Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.† Check tire pressure Checking and adjusting the pressure of your tires once a month can increase a car’s fuel efficiency by up to 3%.† Gear up Get into the habit of shifting up to a higher gear as soon as you can. Higher gears are more economical in terms of fuel consumption.† Upgrade your motor oil You can help improve your gas mileage by as much as 1–2% by upgrading the manufacturer’s recommended motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2%. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5%. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.† Change air filters Replacing a clogged air filter on an older vehicle with a carbureted engine can help improve both fuel economy and acceleration by a few percentage points under normal replacement condition.† Replacing a clogged air filter on vehicles with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines — such as those manufactured from the early 1980s to the present — or diesel engines does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration. Get more out of every trip Explore our comprehensive list of tips to help you improve fuel efficiency and get more out of every trip. Learn more Drive your way to better fuel economy See how simple things like accelerating more smoothly can impact your fuel efficiency. Learn more Save on gas by making smart choices From carpooling to choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle, there are a number of choices you can make to save on gas. Learn more Tips to help you on your journey Get tips, tricks and short cuts to help make getting where you need to go just a little bit easier. Learn more †The data has been sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy Energy lives here™ Contact us Select location Privacy center Do not sell my personal information Privacy policy Terms & conditions © 2021 ExxonMobil. All trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.