simple fuel efficiency
As gasoline prices have skyrocketed more and more of us are looking for ways to minimize our fuel usage. Almost everyone I know has cut back on their driving to one degree or another, but we still cringe when we have to fill it up a few times to get to that can’t-miss wedding or graduation. Since most of you aren’t in a position to run to your local car dealership and buy the latest super hybrid fuel bet, I thought you might appreciate some less expensive options to increase the value you get for your fuel dollar.
Superior maintenance maximizes fuel efficiency
It’s surprising to hear someone complain about gas prices and then balk at spending the money to tune up their car. When ignition components wear out, mileage drops significantly. A clogged air filter or PCV valve can destroy good fuel efficiency.
Most of these items are fairly easy to repair yourself. Replace your air filter and PCV valve frequently. Make sure the spark plugs and wires are in good condition. If your engine has a distributor, make sure the rotor and cap are free of corrosion or wear.
A vehicle in good condition can get 25-40% more mileage than one that needs maintenance.
Help your engine breathe better
Just like you, your engine runs much more efficiently when you can breathe easier. Try a high-flow air filter like those made by K&N. Consider replacing your muffler with a more efficient type like the Aero Turbine. These two simple modifications can increase your gas mileage by up to 15%. Your investment of about $225 for these two items will have paid for itself by the end of the year.
Get more value at the pump
Have you ever noticed that when an article appears in the media about rising oil prices, within hours your local service station has also raised prices? Since there is a lag of about six months between the time an oil company buys oil and the time refined gasoline or diesel is sold at the pump, this increase has nothing to do with the actual cost of fuel, but with what the retailer thinks he can get. with charge The proper term for this practice is price gouging. This is only successful if the consumer refuses to change their buying habits and continues to buy the same amount from the same people regardless of price.
Unfortunately, most consumers feel that they are powerless to do anything about these price increases. However, if you look around, you can usually find one or two stations that don’t raise their prices as much as the others. If everyone really shopped around and consistently bought from the lowest priced retailer, then other retailers would be forced to compete to stay in business. Try to reduce your fuel consumption when prices go up. Buy more fuel at a time when prices are lower. The “free market” only works if you force it too by insisting on the lowest price for basic goods like gasoline and diesel. This is the only way to stimulate the competition necessary to reduce or eliminate price gouging.
Buy non-fume fuel
Gasoline and diesel evaporate a lot, and when some of their fuel turns to vapor, it’s usually lost to the atmosphere before your engine can use it. At a minimum, steam displaces fuel so that the same volume actually contains less fuel. There are a number of strategies that can reduce vapor loss and maximize the amount of fuel you purchase that is available for your engine. This in turn translates to more mileage for your fuel dollar.
- Buy your fuel as early in the day as possible. As temperatures rise, more fuel is converted to steam. The more activity there is at a station, the more the fuel is stirred up, which in turn creates more vapors. When the stations first open in the morning is when there is the lowest percentage of vapors in the fuel that is pumped into your tank.
- Never buy fuel when the station is refueling. Refueling causes a lot of agitation, which converts more of the fuel to steam.
- Have your gasoline pumped as slowly as possible. The faster the fuel is pumped, the more it is agitated, and the agitation turns the fuel into steam. The pumping equipment does not differentiate very well between a gallon of fuel and a gallon of steam. The faster the fuel is pumped, the higher the percentage of vapor in each gallon.
- Keep your tank as full as possible. As the tanks empty, evaporation increases. A full tank has very little surface area exposed to air, greatly reducing evaporation.
I hope these tips save you some money and gas!
