What Does MPG Mean?

Meaning of MPG near Grand Junction

As a used vehicle dealership, Grand Valley Auto Grand Junction is underpinned by transparency. And so when it comes to vehicles' MPG, it's our duty to detail exactly what this initialism means and why it's important when shopping pre-owned vehicles.

What to Expect

Simply put, MPG stands for miles per gallon. This value details an estimated range of mileage earned per gallon of gasoline expended during vehicle operation. While important to convey to shoppers, it might just be a deciding aspect. With a higher performing vehicle, fuel costs are lowered than otherwise.

As well, miles per gallon varies depending upon vehicle details and equipment as in drivetrain. It's also relative to whether your driving the city or highway, sitting in traffic and personal driving habits respective of hard braking or quick acceleration. Any listed MPG is more of an estimate though affected by all these factors.

Equipment Matters

Any one of our used vehicles is equipped with elements that allow for an estimated MPG to be advertised. Even before vehicle production, a brand will test prototype models to help determine miles per gallon. As well, certain industry clearinghouses and publications may render respective performance tests to confirm the brand's MPG estimates.

All of this is largely due to the equipment any given vehicle harbors.

As such, engine displacement in liters and cylinder configuration have say in how much mileage will be accrued between intersections or on long stretches of interstate highways. And with drivetrain included in this overall equation, any difference in MPG will stem from all-wheel drive (AWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD) and so on.

And believe it or not, but tires will also affect miles per gallon secured.

Larger all-terrain tires will reduce MPG, while a smaller tire setup with more efficient treads for driving paved roads is likely to earn elevated miles per gallon. So, dependent upon the application in driving, be sure to take this detail into consideration if you're desiring to save on fuel costs.

Personal Driving Habits

Another factor toward efficiency when driving any vehicle is your personal driving habit. While we have our own styles intact, an external factor is where and how we're driving.

For example, say you're sitting at a red light in Grand Junction. As soon as turning green, you depress the gas pedal toward quick acceleration. With such force applied, more gas will be expended to facilitate a faster pace. The more this is done at each intersection, you'll see lowered miles per gallon between fueling stops.

As well, the same is true of braking hard. The stop-and-go of intermittent and constant braking will surely drain your vehicle's fuel reserves. This lessens fuel efficiency to a certain degree given the need of constant acceleration.

Tips to Secure MPG

While the equipment in your vehicle cannot be changed or swapped, you may wish to consider a few tips toward more efficiency. And as soon as employing these suggestions, you'll note the difference in performance almost immediately:

  • When coming to a red light, take your foot off the accelerator and coast to a stop.
  • With a light turning to green, gently depress the gas pedal for a slower, more gradual start.
  • Turning at speed should see you initially coast through until forward momentum allows for gentle acceleration.
  • Inspect your tires on a frequent basis and have your setup rotated with every oil change appointment.
  • While driving, keep your windows closed or slightly open to reduce drag of oncoming air or crosswind.

Applying the suggestions above will go a long way in seizing more efficiency while lessening the cost of fuel in the process.

Grand Valley Auto Grand Junction - Contact Us for More Information

Contact us with any questions as to the performance of any vehicle you may have browsed within our online showroom. And a best approach is to set a date and time for a test drive of favored pre-owned vehicles onsite near Grand Junction.

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