| by: Gregory Ashton
Increases in the price of gas, accompany the
increase in the number of fuel-saving scams.
Continuous increase in the price of gas is common
news nowadays. This is accompanied by an upsurge in advertising
exposures for “gas saving” gadgets. These products attract potential
buyers searching for methods to maximize fuel efficiency.
There are important procedures car owners can take
in consideration to improve gas mileage. According to the Better
Business Bureau, the public should be critical in assessing products
that claim gas saving features for vehicle devices or additives for gas
and oil.
There are products that feature gas-saving
features that really work. In addition to that, consumers could be
facing a major engine trouble or a nullified creator’s warranty by
putting devices to the engine.
Consumers should be wary of these specific
advertising slogans: “20 percent fuel efficiency improvement”
A hundred or more devices that feature gas-saving
qualities are proven untrue by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Worse, there are so-called “gas-saving” devices that may cause a harmful
effect to a vehicle’s engine.
Another side effect is more smoke emissions.
Examples of these devices are Engine Modifiers, Additives, Fuel Line
Gadgets, Liquid Injection, Vapor and Air Release Devices and a lot more.
“Get an additional 4 miles for each gallon with
this product”
Consumer testimonials are common in fuel saving
ads. Assuming these testimonials are not made up, few consumers test the
fuel consumption of their vehicle before putting on the gadget.
Therefore, an objective comparison of the fuel consumption before and
after the product was added will not be attained.
“Federal Government Approved”
Keep in mind, a government agency never endorses
fuel saving devices. Although EPA has assessed potential gas savings but
first the product should be evaluated and tested.
The alternative in looking for gas-saving devices,
the BBB suggests that the public should take into consideration doing
more than one activity that can help conserve gas. The vital way to
begin is to concentrate on the gas pump. The consumer should buy only
gas as needed. Make sure to review the car manual to know the proper
level of octane of the car.
The following are practical tips to conserve gas:
Efficient driving
Just drive reasonably within the speed limit.
Remember that speeds of more than 60 miles per hour increase fuel
consumption.
Do not do sudden starts, accelerations and stops.
Acceleration should be done gradually. The gas pedal should not be
stepped on more than one fourth of the way down. This will allow the
engine to function most efficiently. Gas conservation could reach up to
5 percent if sudden stops, jerks and accelerations are avoided.
Make use of gears for overdrive and cruise control
as needed. Fuel efficiency is attained when moving on the highway.
Windows should be closed on highways. Windows that
are open can create air drag that can decrease the fuel consumption by
10%.
Rough roads should not be taken as much as
possible. Dirt, bumps, rough roads and gravels can cause 30% increase in
fuel consumption.
Take out unnecessary baggage. The trunk should be
kept clean, any gadget, tools or loads that are not needed should be
taken out. 100 pounds of extra baggage can affect fuel economy by two
percent.
The car should always be maintained. The engine
should be given a regular tune up, the tires should always have the
right air pressure and efficiently aligned, the oil should be changed
when needed and air filters replaced regularly. Clogged filters can
affect gas consumption adversely by up to ten percent.
Turn off the engine whenever there is an
opportunity. Idle engine wastes fuel. There are instances where the
engine could be turned off; stopping for gas, waiting for someone,
changing tire pressure, caught in traffic and a lot more.
Engine warm-up fuel conservation tips:
Lengthy warming up of the engine should be
avoided. 30 to 45 seconds should be enough time.
Check if the automatic check is removed after
warming up the engine. This is usually stuck which could usually cause
poor gas and air combination.
Do not rev the engine. This is usually done before
turning off the engine. This causes unnecessary fuel loss and also
washes the oil within the cylinder walls. As an effect, there is air
pressure loss and consequently fuel loss as well. |
