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

In the Red (Why a Vehicle Overheats)
November 30, 2025
Heat is one thing that can damage a vehicle, especially if a problem isnt taken care of soon. Be on the lookout for signs that its getting too hot in some parts of your vehicle, starting with the most obvious one: the heat gauge/warning light on your instrument panel. When you see that heat gaug... More

10 Things That Are Lowering Your Fuel Economy
November 23, 2025
Regardless of whatever current gas prices may be, if you could use less gas, wouldnt you? Well, here are 10 things that are robbing you of better fuel economy that you can change for the better: Not enough air in your tires. Underinflated tires have a smaller rolling diameter and more res... More

Don?t Blow Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)
November 16, 2025
Its always a good idea to keep your cool, and thats especially true when it comes to some components of your vehicle. One is the engine. Its hot under that hood thanks to the mini explosions that are occurring in the internal combustion engine when its running. Your vehicle has a cooling syste... More
