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The Effects of Aging on Fuel Efficiency

Do cars become less fuel efficient as they get older?

Fuel efficiency is a common concern for new drivers as they search for a car that won’t run up the bill. As the years go by, automakers are getting better and better at optimizing fuel efficiency in the vehicles they make. Today we’re going to look at a common question among car shoppers: Do cars become less fuel efficient as they get older? Take a look below to find out!

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Person cleaning a wheelThis topic has been discussed a lot, but most experts don’t believe that age will affect fuel efficiency. Sure, a car made in 1999 will probably not get the same mpgs as a car in 2019, but that has less to do with the age and more to do with the way the car was made. Fuel efficiency has become a larger concern among drivers who want to save money on gas as well as those who are looking to leave a minimum carbon footprint on the earth.

Of course, an older car that hasn’t been properly maintained will begin to lose fuel efficiency. The fluids need to be changed and replaced as needed, bad parts must be fixed, tires should be rotated and properly inflated regularly, and so on. One truth that is widely accepted is that cars will begin to experience a few issues the older they get simply due to wear and tear on the road, but that shouldn’t affect fuel efficiency.

It’s hard to know for sure if an older car has been properly maintained, especially if it has switched owners a few times. Your best bet is to take it into a respectable auto repair shop (like the one here at Hall Volkswagen in Brookfield) and have them take a look at it for you. Contact the team here at Hall Volkswagen today to learn more or to see our extensive inventory of reliable used vehicles!