Back to all

The Elite Tire And Auto Care Guide to Saving Fuel: Car Weight

September 8, 2019

The team at Elite Tire And Auto Care in Livonia, and Michigan car owners are all talking right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Livonia drivers want to save the environment and their pocketbooks.

And we all know—or should know—that preventive maintenance will help maximize fuel economy. But is there something more people in Livonia can do? After all, some of us folks can't cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.

Weight is one major enemy of fuel economy. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get from point A to point B. And that means buying more gas in Livonia and producing more emissions.

Of course, your vehicle's weight isn't negotiable. And you can't do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn't an article about diet and exercise.

But look around your vehicle. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight around? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave your home? Store sports equipment in the garage. Load it when you need it and store it when you don't. Who knows? The extra exercise just might reduce the other type of weight in your vehicle.

The same goes for anything else in your car: make-up kits, music collections, extra electronics, spare clothing; whatever your particular extras may be. Pack it when you need it; store it when you don't.

Clean out your trunk. You'd be surprised how much weight you're lugging around in plain old junk. Toss old papers, leftover food and regular old dirt. Even if it's not a lot of weight, you'll feel better when you get into your car. A good cleaning is also part of good car care.

Now, don't toss stuff you really do need. You do need that spare tire—the one in your trunk. And a kit of emergency essentials is not a bad idea. But just carry around the day-to-day essentials. You can pack a more extensive kit and store it in your garage, then toss it in your vehicle when you go on a longer trip, but you don't have to lug it around all the time. After all, are you a driver? Or are you a junk chauffeur?

Lose the junk and save some money in Livonia.

Elite Tire And Auto Care
33729 Plymouth Rd.
Livonia, Michigan 48150
734.427.3100

 

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Elite Tire & Auto Care

Step Up your Stops

September 13, 2026

Lets face it. Many of us take our vehicles brakes for granted. We step on the pedal, the brakes slow us down and stop us. Theyre also vital to helping us control our vehicles. Thats why its important to think about brakes as one of the most important safety systems we have. Malfunctioning b... More

Keep It Rolling Right

September 6, 2026

Keeping your tires rotated regularly is one of the simplest yet most important maintenance services you can perform on your vehicle. It is where each tire is moved to a different position: front to back, side to side. That rotation helps to ensure your tires wear evenly, which directly impacts sa... More

Control Arms: Small Part, Big Impact

August 30, 2026

Heres one part of your vehicle you may never have heard of: the control arm. Its the part that connects the wheel hub and steering knuckle to your vehicles frame. What it does is lets your wheel move up and down while keeping it aligned with your vehicle. Most control arms have things called ... More