How to Increase Fuel Economy

Beat high prices!

Hypermiling is the name of the game! Many methods exist which allow you to increase fuel economy of the vehicle you already own. Higher prices at the fuel pumps do not necessarily mean the end of the road for your favorite car, truck or SUV. Not everyone can afford to buy new hybrid vehicles, especially in today's economy. Regardless of fuel prices, you have no excuse not to try and get more for your dollar.

Things You'll Need:
* Car, Truck, SUV, Motorcycle, etc. 

1. Properly inflate the tires, possibly the simplest thing we can all do to increase fuel mileage. All tires have the recommended pressure listed right there on the sidewall. Referring to the door tag won't help you if you have custom or over sized tires. Look at it as if the tire knows best! Having the right tire pressure not only improves fuel mileage, it makes your vehicle safer on the road. Low pressure increases heat/friction which increases rolling resistance. This means that your vehicle has to use more gas to get there. Tires with low pressure will hydroplane easier than properly inflated tires. Over inflated tires run the risk of bursting and cause a wreck. Improper tire inflation also contributes to uneven tread wear. Adjust your tire pressure cold.

2. Close The Windows. Driving with the windows closed, even while running the air conditioning, increased fuel mileage. With the windows open, especially at highway speeds, the buffeting wind increases the drag coefficient. If you don't have A/C, open the vent system to fresh air, lower the temperature select to cold and crack a window or run the fan if you must.

3. Drive the posted speed limit! According to Government sponsored testing, every 5 miles per hour over 60 costs an additional .24 cents per gallon. Leave a little earlier, if that's what it takes.

4. Half tank minimum! As gasoline sloshes around in the tank, evaporation increases. Fuel acts as a coolant which keeps your electric fuel pump running at lower temperatures thus extending its service life. It will overheat and malfunction if you repeatedly wait until the gauge reads near Empty before filling up.

5. Lighten your Load by reducing the weight of your vehicle. If you have junk in the trunk, you are wasting gas! Take everything out and reconsider what you really need to haul around in your vehicle every day. Carry only what you must. Your engine works harder to get that extra weight up to speed. And, your brakes work harder to stop it.

6. Changing your attitude and behavior behind the wheel will also help to improve fuel efficiency. Jack rabbit starts & stopping in short distances waste fuel and increase wear and tear on your vehicle. Sitting at idle, you are getting 0 MPG! Instead of idling for long periods, stuck in a traffic jam or at a long light, turn your engine off. It takes much less fuel to restart the engine than you would otherwise waste. Slowing down ahead of time as you come up on a red light increases the possibility that it will turn green before you have to stop completely. If you drive a stick, shift to neutral as you slow for a light or coast down hill. Do not turn your engine off while in motion! Your steering wheel may lock and you will lose power steering or power brake assist.

7. Use fuel additives. Lucas Fuel Treatment can be mixed in both Gasoline and Diesel fuel, in either carbureted or fuel injected engines. It cleans the fuel system, while lubricating all moving parts. zMax, a micro-lubricant, also help to remove carbon deposits from valves and the combustion chamber. Use it every 6 Months or 6,000 miles, which ever comes first. The occasional bottle of Gumout or STP Fuel Treatment will help to improve fuel economy by keeping the fuel system clean. You could also mix two ounces of pure Acetone per 10 gallons of fuel, diluted with an ounce of upper cylinder lubricant, for some positive results. Read my article, "How to mix your own Fuel Additive."

8. Keep your engine tuned up! Typically, a tune up involves changing the spark plugs, cap & rotor, air / fuel and PCV filters. Many of today's newer vehicles have distributor-less ignition, meaning no cap or rotor to replace. Long gone are the days when setting the dwell and timing the engine were common practice. Computers monitor an array of sensors and make adjustments necessary to maintain a pre-set 14.7:1 fuel/air ratio. If your 'Service Engine,' or 'Check Engine' light comes on, an OBDI & II Code Reader can pinpoint the problem. Faulty sensors also waste fuel by causing computer controlled systems to improperly adjust the air/fuel mixture to compensate for false readings.

9. Change your oil. Whether single weight, multi-viscosity, mineral based, blended or pure synthetic, changing your oil regularly does more to prolong the life of your engine than anything else can! Many high performance automakers recommend Mobile 1. You might prefer Castrol. No matter what brand you use, follow the manufacturers recommendations for oil change intervals Up size your oil filter, as long as you have available clearance in the engine compartment. Match the plate number on the bottom of the filter recommended for your engine with others of the same diameter. Using a longer filter provides several benefits. More oil for lubrication. More filter element to remove contamination. More canister surface to dissipate heat. A properly lubricated engine saves fuel!

Tips
* Find the cheapest gas prices around, visit GasBuddy.com. Mobile version m.GasBuddy.com.
* Anything you can do and do right will save you money!
* Try a Performance Chip, & set it to Fuel Economy, if you can find one for your vehicle.

Copyright 03/20/2009 All Rights Reserved. Questions? Comments? Contact Me
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