6 parts to check when your car consumes fuel abnormally

Cars "consuming" fuel abnormally is a phenomenon that many drivers and car owners often encounter after a period of use. According to car care and maintenance technicians of car manufacturers, in addition to the driver's driving habits, the cause partly comes from some parts of the car. Therefore, when discovering that the car "consuming" more fuel than usual, the driver needs to check the following parts to "correctly diagnose" and repair in time:

Tires that are too worn or have lower than standard tire pressure (under-inflated tires) are one of the reasons why your old car consumes more fuel after a period of use. Tires that are too worn or have low tire pressure increase the friction area between the wheel and the road surface, causing the engine to consume more fuel due to greater resistance.

Therefore, when detecting that the car is consuming fuel abnormally, the driver should check the condition of the tires. Make sure the tire pressure is inflated according to the specified parameters, usually posted by the manufacturer on the door position, on the driver's side. If the tire is found to be worn, the tire should be rotated or replaced to ensure safety.

Engine oil

Engine oil that is not replaced after a period of time will cause the lubrication ability to no longer be effective. Friction between larger parts causes the engine to heat up quickly, so the vehicle will consume more fuel than normal, over time can reduce the engine life. In addition, users replace engine oil that is not up to standard, the specified viscosity also affects the engine's performance.

Therefore, if you do not know the regular oil change schedule, you need to check the oil condition through the engine oil dipstick. In addition, you should refer to the manual or ask the car manufacturer's technical experts to choose the right oil for your car's engine.

Coolant

Insufficient coolant or poor quality also contributes to making the car "consume" more fuel than usual. According to car care technicians, each car model has a coolant temperature sensor attached to the side of the engine, in direct contact with the coolant. When the coolant is not guaranteed or the sensor is faulty, it will report a lower result than the actual temperature. The amount of fuel injected into the engine will be more than normal, causing the car to consume more fuel.

Therefore, depending on each vehicle model, users should periodically check and replace the coolant according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The coolant tank is usually located in the engine compartment, under the hood. When checking with the naked eye, make sure the coolant level in the auxiliary tank is always between the "Full" and "Low" positions, some vehicles are marked "Min", "Max". If the coolant level is below the "Low" level, more must be added.

In addition, according to the manufacturer's recommendation, car users need to replace the engine coolant after 40,000 km to avoid changing the chemical composition of this solution. According to experts, the coolant should be mixed at a ratio of 60% coolant to 40% distilled water. When checking and replacing the coolant, the engine should be cooled, then the radiator cap should be opened to avoid burns.

Engine air filter

As the name suggests, the air filter has the task of filtering the air, preventing dirt before entering the combustion chamber. Over time, if the engine air filter is too dirty, it will accidentally obstruct the air flow into the combustion chamber, forcing the engine to inject more fuel to ensure power output, causing the vehicle to consume more fuel.

According to the manufacturers' recommendations, car users should pay attention to periodically cleaning the engine air filter system after the car has operated for 5,000 km, and replace the air filter after 20,000 km. For older cars, often used in dusty environments, the air filter should be cleaned after 3,000 - 4,000 km and replaced after 15,000 km. In addition, the air filter system should be regularly checked. If the filter is found to be torn or damp, it should be replaced with a new air filter.

Spark plugs

Spark plugs have the task of igniting the fuel mixture with air in the combustion chamber. Over time, the quality of spark plugs will decrease due to soot and loose pins, causing slow ignition and low efficiency in burning the fuel mixture with air. This will cause a lot of fuel to be sprayed, causing waste. Therefore, in addition to the above parts, you should pay attention to checking and replacing spark plugs on the vehicle.

Exhaust system

During vehicle use, the exhaust pipe may be dented due to collision, leading to blockage or obstruction of the exhaust pipe, resulting in increased exhaust pressure and causing the vehicle to consume more fuel.

Therefore, users need to check the exhaust system. If the exhaust pipe is found to be clogged or blocked, they should take the vehicle to a service station for inspection, repair or replacement. In addition, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, when taking the vehicle for maintenance, they should pay attention to checking the fuel injection system. Because if the injector is dirty, the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber will not be guaranteed and may cause fuel waste.