The ABC Auto Works & Tire Center Guide to Saving Fuel: Car Weight
April 5, 2019
The team at ABC Auto Works & Tire Center in Walled Lake and Michigan car owners are all talking MPG right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Walled Lake drivers want to save the environment and their pocketbooks.
And we all know—or should know—that preventive maintenance will help maximize MPG. But is there something more Walled Lake car owners can do? After all, some of us Walled Lake 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 Walled Lake to Commerce. And that means buying more gas in Walled Lake and producing more emissions.
Of course, your SUV’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 SUV. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight around Michigan? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave your Walled Lake 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 Walled Lake. You’d be surprised how much weight you’re lugging around Walled Lake 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 Walled Lake 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 Walled Lake.
Need Service?
More articles from ABC Auto Repair & Tire Center

T for Transmission, T for Trouble (Automatic Transmission Trouble Signs)
March 15, 2026
One of the hardest working components of your vehicle is its transmission, shifting gears up and down when you need it to. The transmission is vital to your vehicle driving properly, and if you start to see signs of problems in it, its best to have them fixed earlier rather than later. (Since ne... More

Why is My Brake Pedal Hard to Push?
March 8, 2026
When you push on your brake pedal, you should find your vehicle easy to stop. But at some point, you might notice stopping takes much more pressure on the pedal than it used to. When it gets to that point it becomes a safety issue, and you should bring your vehicle in so we can track down whats... More

No Fuel-ing! (Fuel Filter Replacement)
March 1, 2026
Your vehicle has a few filters you might be somewhat familiar with. Theres the oil filter that removes impurities from your engines oil, and a couple of different kinds of air filters that prevent contaminants from getting into the engine and the cabin. But you may not know that your vehicle als... More
