Which routine maintenance steps maximize your automobile's fuel efficiency?

Maintaining proper tire pressure, performing regular oil changes, and ensuring clean air filters are key components in maximizing your automobile's fuel efficiency. Proper tire pressure is crucial because under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, which in turn requires more fuel to maintain speed. Regular oil changes ensure that your engine runs smoothly; fresh oil reduces friction, allowing the engine to operate efficiently. Clean air filters are necessary to allow the engine to breathe properly, enabling optimal air-fuel mixture and combustion, which directly affects fuel economy.

While other maintenance tasks like waxing and washing can contribute to a vehicle's overall appearance, they do not significantly impact fuel efficiency. Engine tuning and cleaning, although beneficial for performance, are not as directly related to everyday fuel efficiency as the combined effect of maintaining tire pressure and changing oil and air filters. Regular oil changes alone, while important, do not address the other critical factors that affect fuel consumption as effectively as maintaining all three areas together.