Unique Auto

Posts Tagged ‘fuel economy’

Gas is getting more and more expensive and if you have a long commute or if you just like to drive the gas bill can become a burden.

Luckily there is easy ways to lower your gas bill and I’ll list seven that are easy to do and does not require you to invest money in a new car or snake oil add-on kits. I’ll show you seven ways that are commonly available and easy to do.

1. MAINTAIN ECONOMIC TIRE PRESSURE

Driving with under inflated tires is not only dangerous as the tires could overheat, it also uses more gas than inflated tires.

Inflate the tires to the max pressure allowed by your cars manuals, and periodically check the pressure using a trustworthy pressure gauge.

Many hypermilers inflate their tires more than that, to the maximum pressure printed on the sidewalls of the tires themselves. This is often as much as 60 percent more than what the car manufacturer recommends and it will give additional gas savings due to lesser rolling resistance.

The downside is a harder and less comfortable ride. And I can’t recommend you outright to do this, even if it’s safe, as there is a possibility of uneven tire wear in some conditions.

2. REMOVE ROOF RACKS, SKI BOXES AND TRAILERS

If you thought it’s too much of a hassle to remove the roof rack or ski box when it’s not needed, think again! The same goes for driving with an empty trailer or a pick up truck with no flatbed cover.

Anything that you attach to the outside of the car will spoil the aerodynamics of the car and with that your fuel economy. Always remove roof racks, bicycle holders, ski boxes and trailers when not needed.

3. TURN OFF THE A/C

Even if some would argue that the A/C does not affect MPG, it actually uses lots of energy. That energy is taken right from your tank and from your fuel mileage. If at all possible, turn it off. If that’s too uncomfortable set it to a higher temperature as that will use less fuel.

TIP: Park your car in the shadow, keep the doors open for a minute or two before driving somewhere to cool off the seats of the car and, if possible, drive at night to avoid hot temperatures and sunshine during the day.

Just remember, driving at high speed with the windows open is even worse for the fuel economy than using the A/C.

4. DEVELOP YOUR DRIVING STYLE

Your driving style is one of the biggest factors affecting your fuel economy. Refrain from breaking by letting your car roll to a stop when you’re not in front of other drivers, keep your top speed below 60MPH or 100KM/H and don’t push the pedal to the metal when you accelerate.

5. WALK

Many times if you’re not going that far, walking or biking is a lot more economic than taking the car. You’ll save a lot of fuel and you’ll also avoid the other maintanance costs associated with driving.

6. FIX ANY FUEL LEAKS

Obviously if you have a fuel leak you will spill your hard earned gas on the ground costing you money and polluting the environment. Repair all fuel leaks immediately.

TIP: If your gas cap is missing or broken and you live in a hot environment, especially if you park in the sun and the car gets really hot, a lot of gas will evaporate and escape through the missing or broken cap into the air. The loss can be significant and the gas vapors will harm the envirnment.

7. PARTICIPATE IN A CAR POOL

Sharing a car on your daily commute can be a fair amount of hassle compared to going alone but you’ll save more gas and money than any of the other tips except for actually walking or biking.

Joining with just one other person to use the same car for your commute will save you half your monthly commuting cost.

ADDITIONAL FUEL SAVING TIPS

Those tips are among the easiest, most readily available, low cost ways you can save tanks of fuel. And that’s a no gadgets needed bag of tricks.

There’s many more ways you can save gas. You can get a more fuel efficient car (hybrid, diesel, smaller vehicle), change your driving style, improve your cars aerodynamics, use tires with a low rolling resistance, plan your driving, plan for extreme weather and a lot more that this article is too short to cover

There’s also many ways to NOT save gas, like installing one of those fuel saving gadgets advertised everywhere. They usually cost a lot but give barely measurable improvements in MPG.

To keep track of your actual gas mileage you can use a handy online fuel mileage calculator

In this article I’m going to discuss the properties of the diesel and gas engines, and compare them to each other. Specifically their usage in automobiles.

Looking at them from a distance both the gas and the diesel engine work in about the same way. Fuel manufactured from refined crude burns in the cylinder forcing the piston to move from the resulting pressure. The movement of the piston is then transferred to the wheels through crankshaft, gearbox and transmission.

It’s when we look at the engines a little closer that we start to notice that there are differences. Differences in gas mileage, smell, vibrations, price and expected age to name a few.

With a gas engine there is an ignition system that uses high voltage electricity with wiring and spark plugs. This is not needed in a diesel as it compresses the air n the cylinder until it's hot enough to ignite the fuel when injected. In the gas engine it's the spark plug that ignites the fuel-air mixture through a high voltage spark at the right time.

Also separating the diesel and gas engines is the fact that gas engines mix the fuel vapor with air in the intake manfold before it's entering the cylinder. The air/fuel mixture is then sucked into the cylinder to be burnt the next time the piston strikes.

The diesel on the other hand sucks clean air into the cylinder and then waits for the piston to compress the air as much as it will go. At this time when the air is compressed and hot enough to ignite the fuel, diesel is injected directly into the cylinder (or a small space connected to the cylinder) through high pressure nozzles. The fuel ignites instantly due to the high temperature in the cylinder.

The differences is fuel injection and ignition results in the diesel burning the fuel more efficiently than the gas engine. That's why diesels have better fuel economy than it's gas burning relatives.

I'm not saying that a diesel engine is better. It's different, it has drawbacks too. Diesel engines usually is harder to start in cold and freezing weather. As you may remember it was the hot compressed air that ignited the fuel. When it's too cold outside the air will never become hot enough to ignite the fuel, and the engine won't run.

That’s why diesels have glow plugs that are used when starting a cold engine. Electricity from the accumulator heats the glow plugs inside the cylinders before you even try to start the engne. This way the hot glow plugs ignite the fuel when the air is not hot enough to do it. A couple of seconds after the engine has started it is usually hot enough to ignite the fuel without the help of the glow plugs and these are not used again until the next cold start.

This is one of the nuisances of having a diesel in your car. Glowing can take from a couple of second to half a minute and can be quite a stress if in a hurry. You just have to wait until it's ready or the car won't start. On the other hand if the engine is well done the glowing does not take long and you soon get accustomed to it.

Lets for a second look at the practical differences between the diesel and the gas engine. The diesel is large and loud, it emits black smoke when accelerating and is generally regarded as bad smelling by those not owning one. It also has a sturdier construction due to the higher pressures it must handle and thus can often go twice as many miles as a gas engine during it's lifetime. The heavy duty contruction also makes it expensive when bought new.

Features of The Gas Engine

• More quiet that the diesel
• Better acceleration and higher top speed
• Uses an Ignition System with Spark Plugs to Light The Fuel
• Adds fuel to the air before letting it into the cylinder
• Not as sturdy as a diesel. Lower price but breaks down faster
• Gas readily available everywhere
• MPG is low compared to a diesel

Features of The Diesel Engine

• Loud noise, sounds like a truck or agricultural machine
• Slow acceleration (get one with turbo charger, that helps)
• Lower top speeds but can easily reach the legal speed limit in most places
• Uses glow plugs to help the fuel ignite when the engine is cold
• Lets clean air into the cylinder and injects the fuel later
• Engine is simple and robust. Higher price but runs many miles
• Emits black smoke when loading it (like a quick acceleration)
• Easy to convert to using Eco fuel oils
• Has a great fuel economy

If I where to give you advice on selecting either a gas or a diesel powered car I would probably tell you this: Get a diesel if you drive long trips and can live with the small nuisances of more noise and poor acceleration, get a gas powered car if you drive less than average or if you just want the comfort at any price.

Now why don't we consider the topic of used cars. Should you buy used cars or new ones? New cars begin depreciating the second you sign the papers.  That makes the question a lot simpler to answer. Since a car is a depreciating asset, meaning in general cars lose value with time, the best money decision is to purchase the car when it will tend to lose less value. Maintenance costs are also a factor. The slightly used car is about the best for both concern. The big hit to car value has already occurred. That loss went to the original owner. The car is still in good condition, often still under warranty, so that it won’t have need for constant and costly repairs like  an older model car needs.

Continuing the discussion about used car prices : There are many places to look for late model used cars.  Dealerships take in trade-ins from customers who purchase or lease new vehicles. The dealers want to sell those cars. Companies like Carmax specialize in used automobiles, while eBay has an entire subsection dedicated to car auctions, mostly for used vehicles. There are car auctions in every city. These include police auctions of impounded vehicles as well as dealer auctions that might involve, for example, cars purchased from car rental companies. 

When dealing with used cars one will also want to consider fuel consumption and The most trusted source for used car prices is Kelly Blue Book. Categories include make, model, year and condition from poor to excellent. It also breaks down the prices between dealer sales and private sales. That does make a difference because dealers have overhead that private sellers do not have.

Have you considered financing? Think about saving up the pennies and making a cash purchase.  No matter how low the monthly payments or interest rate, paying cash is better. Yes, cars are status symbols. But bells and whistles can cost a lot of money. That can even mean a less stressful life. People with more expensive cars worry more about theft, accidents and wear. Not that used car owners like to drive junk, but a little ding or dent means less on a simpler model. 

Sure cars are a status symbol, but wealth isn’t based on what you spend. Wise spending turns into wealth. There are people living hand to mouth even though they earn a lot of money. Good used cars help the budget.

The bar has been set with the new Toyota Prius. The amazing Fuel Economy is what has the largest appeal to many people.  The 2010 Toyota Prius comes equipped with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, which is up from the past 1.5L.  Contrary to what is the norm, the larger engine actually improves gas mileage due to the increase in torque.The 2010 Prius has gained some more muscle in the form of 50 extra horsepower. 

The 2010 Toyota Prius should get right about 50 MPG; which is up 4 MPG from its predecessor.Frugal driving can net over 75 MPG!The improvement in fuel economy also comes from the lightened body and powertrain. Engine noise is toned down thanks to a stiffer chassis.

In redesigning the Prius, engineers have successfully improved the steering by angling the wheels slightly and creating brake discs at all four corners. The new Prius comes stock with some great features such as: air, CD, and power everything. A remote air conditioner, LED headlights, rearview camera system, and XM radio are all new accessories available on the new Prius.

The battery recharging system has also been upgraded. The new Prius is at the top of the compact car class in regards to safety. Some features include, seven airbags, as well as a driver knee bag, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitors, radar cruise control, a lane-departure warning system, a rearview camera, a “Safety Connect” system, and Intelligent Parking Assist.

See the new Prius and a nice inventory of other hybrids at the Riverside County Toyota Dealer.

Most of us have to keep an eye on our outgoings nowadays and one fairly big expense is running our cars. The price of fuel seems to be forever going up and so there are a few rules we can all follow to help save on fuel.

One thing a lot of us are guilty of is putting our foot down when we accelerate. If you drive an automatic it is best to accelerate at a fairly moderate speed to give the transmission time to shift to the higher gears. If you accelerate away and brake right away this is a big waste of fuel.

A good way to save petrol is simply reduce your speed. As the speed increases fuel decreases!

Under inflated tyres are very often overlooked. If they are not set at the correct pressure they will need to use more petrol to keep the car moving. Get yourself a good tyre gauge and check the tyres at least once every month. One tip is to check them when they are cold because driving the car warms up the tyres and also the air inside which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading.

Check your air filter because one which is dirty will restrict the flow of air to the engine which will affect performance and also economy.
 
New wheels and tyres may look good and they can improve the way that a car handles, but if they are wider they could create more resistance and increase petrol consumption. So it is worth considering keeping the old ones for long road trips which will give you a far smoother ride and far better economy.

If you are thinking of changing your car then maybe this is the ideal time to downsize a little. Nissan and Toyota are two of the leading manufacturers who have developed highly fuel efficient cars.

This may not seem obvious, but take a look inside your car and give it a bit of a spring clean. We are all often guilty of collecting rubbish in our cars and its surprising how this extra baggage mounts up in the terms of weight. The more the weight in the car the more fuel is burnt.

Finally, probably not a popular thing to say, but whenever possible why not simply walk?!!

For 2009, Volkswagen is reintroducing the diesel powered Jetta TDI with a new clean turbo diesel engine that meets emissions standards.Diesel fans applaud diesel vehicles for their excellent power and fuel economy. Those who dislike diesels say they are smoky, smelly and slow.
Diesels are uncomplicated, enabling you to drive all day and still get great fuel economy. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI almost sounds too good to be true. According to Volkswagen, the Jetta TDI is faster to 60 miles per hour than a petrol driven Jetta, plus it’s 50% more fuel efficient.
This is an extremely practical car. The inside is straightforward, if maybe somewhat plain. The driving position is nearly perfect with driver’s seat which adjusts the height and a tilt and telescope steering wheel. There is a lot of back seat space and all round visibility is good.The boot is large with a flat floor and sides, making it so much easier to load.
The Jetta TDI is powered by a new 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine, delivering 140 horsepower compared to the 170 horsepower of the 2.5 litre 5 cylinder engine in the petrol driven Volkswagen Jetta. Diesels tick over slower than petrol engines, hence the low horsepower number.
Fast acceleration is not one of the Jetta TDI’s strong point. Accellerate and there’s a pause, a fairly slow move off, and then a sudden surge of power.
Economy of fuel. It is estimated that the automatic Volkswagen Jetta TDI averages 29 MPG around the towns and 40 MPG on a run. Lowest fuel consumption was 28 MPG whilst putting the Jetta TDI through its paces. Best was a longer run with the cruise set at 67, with an average of 55 MPG. Even without using cruise, most of the longer journeys averaged 48 MPG or even better.
So, a diesel can definitely save you money plus remember you are going nearly twice as far on each gallon.
The VW Jetta TDIis a great diesel car. The Jetta TDI is fast, quiet, clean and efficient, plus it is comfortable, practical, and fun to drive.

Over the many years since the automobile was first rolled out onto a roadway, Americans have had a fascination and almost an obsession with vehicles of all types. However, with the way that the price of gas has skyrocketed in the last few years, many people are less in love with their cars and looking for ways to economize. And, since the oil industry insiders say that gasoline prices will continue to increase, people are either looking for alternatives or are settling in and adjusting to the greater expense of operating a car.

There are numerous ways in which the high gasoline prices of today impact people and society in general. Certainly, there is an increase in prices across the board because the most basic cost of transportation has risen and businesses are left with no option but to pass along their higher costs to their customers, whether that customer is another company or the end consumer.

When gasoline prices begin to rise, soon the cost of all kinds of other things increase too because of the higher cost of fuel to manufacture and distribute goods. Then the companies have no choice but to pass their increased costs on until the retail prices paid by consumers is impacted, and in most cases it is the end consumer who will ultimately end up paying through the nose for it all.

Both companies and individuals are currently busy seeking the best solutions they can find to try to reduce gas consumption and get better fuel economy for their vehicles. The high gasoline prices that have already arrived and which are predicted to rise even higher have motivated more and more people to look at alternative fuels.

Fed up paying silly prices for your gas? Find out how to half your costs: “Click Here“

Companies that are very much reliant on gasoline and diesel fuel to operate are searching for viable solutions to help stem the tide of rising costs and keep their prices from skyrocketing, which in turn will help them to remain competitive in an economy that is struggling under the burden of higher gas prices. Some of these companies are replacing their fleets of vehicles with new cars and trucks that are more fuel efficient and deliver better fuel economy. Other companies are “going green” and looking to biofuels as one of their solutions, while still others are adding hybrid vehicles to their fleets.

Today’s consumers are more and more often looking for ways to ease their transportation expense woes as well. Many people are selling off their gas guzzling SUVs, trucks and mini-vans and are buying new cars that are smaller and more fuel efficient, thus taking a smaller bite out of the family budget. In addition, many people are taking advantage of mass transit options, participating in car pools, and walking or biking whenever they can to help deal with the exorbitant gasoline prices in today’s world.

This summer gasoline prices hit record amounts. It was far too easy to spend over $100 each week on gas prices. That seriously hurts most people’s budgets. They simply cannot afford to pay those kinds of prices. With gas fluctuating up and down and no one safe from the price gouging, many people are turning to alternative fuels or learning how to rethink how they drive their vehicle. If you want to save money at the gas pump then you are going to have to do some research.

To find out more information about lowering your gas costs: “Click Here Now“

More and more often when people pull up to the gas pump to fill up their cars, they cringe at the total that racks up so quickly in this day and age of high gas prices. As a result, most everyone is looking to save money at the pumps and trying to get better mileage out of each gallon they buy. There are many articles and reports that talk about ways to increase gas mileage, but there is one form of saving on gas expenses that is overlooked frequently, and that is to take advantage of the discounts and rebates you can get when you use certain gasoline service station credit cards.

Fed up paying silly prices at your gasoline service station? Find out how to half your costs: “Click Here“

A gasoline credit card that is issued by one of the major gas station chains works just like any other credit card but the difference is that these cards are designed to encourage brand loyalty. In most cases, they can only be used at gas stations that are owned by the same chain and in the convenience stores that they operate. Gas and oil companies have been offering these types of credit cards for many decades and the primary reason was to encourage people to only buy their gasoline from that particular brand.

Several years ago, a couple of the gasoline service station companies added a new twist to their gasoline credit cards and started to offer rebates. This further encouraged people to stick to using one particular brand of gasoline so that they could rack up enough purchases to qualify for their rebate.

These days, almost all of the national brands of gas stations now offer a credit card that has some type of rewards program or rebate to their customers when they use them. With the high gasoline prices today, it makes even more sense to take some time to find out exactly what is being offered by each of these companies and determine which can provide the best benefit for you.

It can be a good idea to go ahead and apply for more than one gasoline service station brand of gas credit card. This way, consumers still have a choice and can check to see which gas station is offering the best gas prices at the pump, but they can still take advantage of the rewards that come with the card. At the same time, if you travel a lot, having two or three different gas cards is an even better idea because some brands of gas stations are not as prevalent in some areas as others.

Some of the gas credit cards that are issued by the gasoline companies will sweeten the deal for new customers and will offer a higher percentage of the purchase as a rebate during the first three to six months after opening a new account with them. After that initial period, the rebate percentage will drop, so it is a good idea to check and compare both the initial offering and the long term rebate plan in order to make the best decision.

If you want to save the maximum through these gasoline service station credit cards, then it is imperative that you pay the full balance every month and always pay the bill on time. If you end up carrying a balance, then you will be charged interest and it is likely that the interest charges will eat up any savings you might have enjoyed through the rebate program.

There is not too many places you can go to in the world today and not hear a discussion on the gasoline crisis that grips everyone. Gas prices are in a constant state of flux. People are spending more and more of their paychecks on filling the tank of their vehicle. There is not much you can do about the price of gas but there are ways you can change your life so that gas prices do not have such a stranglehold on your budget. By learning all you can about saving gas and alternative fuels you will be doing a great part.

If you want to learn how to cut down the amount you spend at the Gasoline Service Station: “Click Here Now“