How to Improve the MPG in a Scion XB
by Marsanne Petty
Reduced fuel efficiency results in higher costs when you fill up your Scion XB with gas. Improving your gas mileage in your Scion XB, mostly by following simple tips, can be fairly easy. Although the typical Scion XB gets about 30 to 34 miles per gallon, the mileage can be improved slightly if you make the effort. Keep track of your mileage, so if there is a change or reduction in it, you can address the situation promptly.
Step 1
Inflate your tires to the correct pressure. Many people believe that the proper inflation is the psi listed on their tires, but that isn't true. The correct inflation for your Scion XB can be found on the side of the driver's door jamb. Over- or under-inflated tires cause a decrease in gas mileage.
Step 2
Drive safely and cautiously. If you follow the recommended speed limit in a given area, you will generally miss all of the red lights, reducing the number of times you stop and start. Stopping and starting use more fuel than steady driving speeds.
Step 3
Consider the aerodynamics of your Scion XB. Avoid roof racks unless you need them for long trips. Don't install extra lighting across the roof of your car. Keep your vehicle clean of dust, dirt and debris. Anything that obstructs the flow of wind around your car decreases fuel mileage.
Step 4
Empty your Scion XB. Take anything that isn't necessary for your day-to-day activities out of your car. This includes the back seat area and the trunk. Every 100 pounds of weight shows a marked decrease in fuel mileage.
Step 5
Combine errands into one trip to improve your gas mileage. An engine requires more fuel to start the first time you crank it on a given day, but less fuel if it is only turned off for a short period of time. If you have five errands to run in a week, and you choose to complete them on five different days, you will use four times more fuel than if you had finished all of the errands in one day.
References
Things You'll Need
- Scion XB
Writer Bio
Marsanne Petty has been a writer and photographer for over ten years, and is currently pursuing the combination in tandem. She attended Madison Community College, receiving a degree in Administration. She has published several articles for magazines, including Jack Magazine, and the local newspaper, the Jasper News. Her latest creation, a pictoral history of Hamilton County, Florida, was published in early 2009 through Arcadia Publishing.
