The wheel alignment of your car is only one of the few things that could influence fuel economy. Still, it is a great question to ask how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy. The answer lies on the opposite of a properly aligned vehicle wheel. When tires are not inflated adequately, there is a fluctuation in fuel economy. In this article, we will be talking about how you can utilize your vehicle’s wheel alignment to improve your use of fuel. Besides its effect on the fuel economy, there is more to your car’s wheel alignment that you must understand. In this article, we will be talking about all of them and more. Stay tuned and keep reading.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
What can affect fuel economy?
At this time when prices keep on rising, it is not enough to have the newest model for a car. There are different features that car buyers look for before they could tell that a vehicle is actually worth the money. On top of the checklist is the fuel economy of a vehicle. Others refer to this as the gas mileage or the fuel efficiency. Simply speaking, the fuel economy is how far your vehicle can travel using a certain amount of fuel. Usually, the distance is computed in miles, thus the keyword gas mileage. There are countless vehicles to choose from in the market. But if you narrow down your options into three to five cars, it is most likely that you car buyers will purchase the vehicle that is most fuel efficient.
Now that you have an idea why gas mileage is important, you may be wondering how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy. We will get there for sure. But before that, you must know what other features of your car affect gas mileage in a positive or a negative note. Here is a list of things to look out for in your car to make it more fuel efficient.
- Check your car for rolling resistance
You may be wondering what rolling resistance has to do with how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects the fuel economy. Technically, rolling resistance occurs in the tires. The tire is the rubber material around your car’s wheels. Rolling resistance is needed in order for the tire to roll from one point to the next from a still position. This resistance is present in all car tires. The more resistance the tires have, the lesser the conservation of fuel. On the flipside, lower rolling resistance makes a fuel economical vehicle.
- Make sure your car tires are properly inflated
In order to give you an idea just how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy, you must learn about appropriate tire maintenance. Fuel efficiency rises about 3% when car tires are properly inflated.
- Ensure that all wheels are aligned
It is easy to know how your vehicle's wheel alignment affects fuel economy when you have experienced driving with improperly aligned wheels. When your wheels are aligned, it is easier for you to drive straight. You also have additional control to your driving when your vehicle's wheels are properly aligned. A smooth drive means well for your fuel economy.
You may have already recognized how your vehicle's wheel alignment affects fuel economy as you drive. The short list mentioned above is easy to notice and will give you great results if you follow the suggestions for each car feature. Knowing how your vehicle's wheel alignment affects fuel economy comes with knowing all other factors that make a car economical in fuel usage or fuel inefficient. The next section delves in why you should ensure that your car's wheels are properly aligned.
Is correct wheel alignment important to achieve good fuel economy?
Yes. Wheel alignment is related to the fuel economy. Almost all car drivers search for ways to improve their gas mileage. Better gas mileage means you can save the money that you could have used for additional fuel. Asking how your vehicle's wheel alignment affects fuel economy is understandable. Wheel alignment has a lot to do for a more efficient usage of fuel.
Aside from better fuel consumption, correct wheel alignment brings with it other benefits for your car. Improper wheel alignment uses up more fuel. If you notice that you have been going for fuel refills more often than you did in the past, chances are, you have misaligned wheels. When vehicle wheels are not properly aligned, they tend to drag and require more fuel to be controlled more freely. It is not only crucial to know how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy. Just as important as that piece of information is, you must also know that correct wheel alignment affects how you drive your vehicle. Correct alignment will ensure a smoother and safer ride.
How bad is it to drive with bad alignment?
Driving with bad alignment will surely make things worse when you hit the road. How your vehicle’s alignment affects fuel economy is related to how it affects your can all in all. Poor wheel alignment can cause bad steering so it is not a surprise that it may lead to car accidents. Getting a wheel alignment is essential for your car since the arrangement of your wheels must be regularly maintained. As mentioned earlier, having a bad alignment may result in a great deal of trouble on your part. So whether you are driving a new or an old car, do not forget to take on the wheel alignment. Not only does knowing how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy help you save on gas or oil, it also helps you realize the outcome of events if you compromise on the alignment of your wheels. Here are a few of the things you must be prepared for once you have a bad alignment.
- Consequent damage to your car tires
How your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy and the suspension of the car. Wheel and car alignment mean the same thing and for sure, the misalignment in the wheels will cause the tires to suffer damage each time you hit a curb or a hump on the road. Poor car suspension will lead to malfunctions in the wheels such as uncontrollable veering to the right and left direction.
- Compromised Safety
You must remember that how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy is just as much as how it influences your safety whenever you are driving your car. Neglecting the alignment of your wheels is like letting your guard down. Without wheel alignment your safety and the safety of those driving around you may be put to danger when the alignment finally gets to the steering. Additionally, if you are driving with a bad alignment, there is a great chance you are wasting fuel. Your odometer will inform you of this so if you are aware of how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy, you must make sure that you are running in the right level of fuel.
- Further repair costs
The cost for fixing damaged or wearing wheel alignment is lesser than other complicated repairs such as with the engine and coolant system of the car. Although its initial repair cost may be just a couple of hundred dollars for all four wheels, the price has a high chance of going up if the problem gets worse. Not only will you experience how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy, but you may encounter its upshot to your budget as well. Make the decision to align the wheels of your car as early as possible.
- Increased maintenance cost
Aside from how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy, you might also want to consider its effects on the overall maintenance of your vehicle. If you do the wheel alignment early in the life of your automobile, you will be sure to tap yourself on the back since it would greatly help your car endure through repeated problems like a misaligned wheel.
Truly, maintaining a proper wheel alignment is better than to continue driving with bad alignment only to find out that your vehicle is on the brink of irreparability. In all cases of faulty components, not only in wheel alignment, it is advised to discontinue driving. It may be an inconvenience for a while. However, it is better to not use your vehicle in a while because you will have the wheel alignment done properly rather than lose your car overall. If you are planning on selling your car someday when you have used it as long as you wanted, maintaining proper wheel alignment is a must.
Does bad alignment affect acceleration?
Tire wear impacts the acceleration of your car and it is almost always caused by the incorrect alignment of your car’s wheels. Yes, tire wear can be held responsible for how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy but it is not the only thing that you can get from bad alignment. As previously mentioned, the poor alignment of your wheels can negatively affect how you steer or control the direction of the vehicle
You will hear screeching sounds coming from your wheels when you step on the brakes. This is your car’s way of telling you that there is something wrong with the wheels. Do not ignore this symptom for it will cause further damage to the tires when the problem is left unchecked. Additionally, the tendency of the wheels to pull to the veer to the sides increases with a bad tire alignment. This can make your vehicle too accident prone. Most drivers hold tighter to the steering wheel attempting to force their control with the wheels. Resorting to this will wear the wheels more. Do not compromise your safety and have the problem fixed by a professional.
Is wheel alignment really necessary?
After finding out how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy, it is safe to say that having it in your car is necessary. However, some would still argue that it is not as important as other maintenance that you have to invest on for your car. Though this may be the case, it cannot be denied that not having wheel alignment in your vehicle has many disadvantages. The fact that it can cause accidents for you when you drive should be reason enough to make sure your car wheels are properly aligned. You cannot afford to have this part wrecked or damaged beyond repair. Keep in mind that the wheels of your automobile are the ones you trust in terms of the mobility of your car. You will still have to replace the wheels when the alignment goes bad, but it is better to prevent this from happening at all cost.
How do I know when I need an alignment?
Various symptoms can signal you of the need for wheel alignment. Whether it is for maintenance or for installment, you can trust that properly aligning your wheels can have a positive effect on the condition of your tires. Knowing how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy can direct you to what you should do for your car. Be keen in observing wheel alignment damage symptoms. It is not hard to watch out for signs like screeching sound, or the wheels pulling to different directions, and poor power steering. Furthermore, if you notice that you are having difficulty driving straight, your car surely needs to get its alignment fixed.
This guide has walked you through what you need to know in how your vehicle’s wheel alignment affects fuel economy and the things you can do to prevent it from happening. The condition of the wheels are mostly taken for granted and more often than not, drivers only care about their wheels when they are flat. Maybe it is because that type of trouble is obvious and wheel alignment is not. Do not mistake the problem to be absent just because you cannot see it.