Gas Mileage Tip - Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper
pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all
four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.09/gallon
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.
Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the
recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and
Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.
posted by Dixie Tune Up @ 11:48 AM 0 comments
Gas Mileage Tip - Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air
filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save
gas, it will protect your engine.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.29/gallon
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.
Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the
recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and
Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.
posted by Dixie Tune Up @ 11:45 AM 0 comments
Gas Mileage Tip - Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an
average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as
much as 40 percent.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.12/gallon
This is how Dixie Caps can help to improve your fuel economy. Dixie Caps help keep your car, truck, mini
van, or SUV running smoothly. Dixie Caps Balance Injectors, Eliminate Lean Idle Misfire, provide Smoother
Idle, and Lower Emissions .
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.
Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the
recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and
Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.
posted by Dixie Tune Up @ 11:37 AM 0 comments
AAA Says Gas Prices Racing Higher as Demand, Oil Prices and Global
Tension Mount
Orlando, Fla. - 4/12/2006
Average gasoline prices are nearly 40 cents higher than one year ago today with self-serve, regular gasoline
now costing an average of $2.687 per gallon, AAA’s daily, online Fuel Gauge Report
(www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) shows.
AAA, the nation’s largest organization for motorists, said prices are being driven higher by increasing tension
between the United States and Iran, rising demand for gasoline in the United States and a domestic refining
industry that has been falling behind in rebuilding depleted gasoline inventories.
AAA said tensions between Iran and the United States are pushing oil prices higher, even as demand for
gasoline in the United States is continuing to rise by a slight 1.5 percent over last year. Adding more upward
pressure to pump prices are U.S. refineries that appear to be having a difficult time managing a switch from
fuel blended with MTBE to gasoline combined with ethanol. This is evidenced by several weeks of declines
in US gasoline inventories as reported by the US Department of Energy.
According to AAA, Hawaii has the highest average gas price in the nation at $2.969 per gallon. Washington,
D.C. and California have the next highest average prices at $2.866 per gallon and $2.86 per gallon;
respectively.
The lowest state-wide average gasoline price in the nation is in Utah at $2.339 per gallon. Wyoming has the
next lowest average price at $2.372 per gallon, and Idaho has the third lowest price at $2.382 per gallon.
Nationwide, the price of self-serve, mid-grade gasoline averages $2.853 per gallon, an increase from $2.506
per gallon in the middle of last month, and up from $2.416 one year ago. Self-serve premium averages
$2.995 per gallon, up from $2.597 per gallon one month ago, and up from $2.504 one year ago.
The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for AAA's mid-April survey for the last
five years are: 2005, $2.360; 2004, $1.78; 2003, $1.595; 2002, $1.411; and 2001, $1.587.
AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service, the nation's most
comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information. AAA purchases the data and makes it available free
on the Internet as a public service. Average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250
localities are available for all grades of gasoline, making the site the most current and complete public
source of fuel price information.
As the nation's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 49 million members
with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-forprofit, fully tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA
clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com.
###
posted by Dixie Tune Up @ 11:33 AM 0 comments
4/3/2006
FTC Consumer Alert - Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage
Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to maintain the one you have, you can take some
steps to get the best mileage out of your gas purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s
consumer protection agency, offers these tips to use fuel efficiently:
On the Road: Drive More Efficiently
• Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
• Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid
“jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
• Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you
anticipate a wait.
• Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip
covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
• Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when
you’re driving on a highway.
• Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel
economy by up to two percent.
• Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can
decrease fuel economy by five percent.
At the Garage: Maintain Your Car
• Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage
by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.
• Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
• Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.
Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute
contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
• Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten
percent.
At the Pump: Use the Octane Level You Need
• Your owner’s manual recommends the most effective octane level for your car. For most cars, the
recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer
recommends offers no benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of
money.
In Advertising: Check Out Claims About “Gas-Saving” Gadgets
• Be skeptical of claims for devices that will “boost your mileage by an extra 6 miles per gallon,” “improve
your fuel economy up to 26 percent,” or the like. EPA has tested over 100 supposed gas-saving devices —
including mixture “enhancers” and fuel line magnets — and found that very few provide any fuel economy
benefits. The devices that work provide only marginal improvements. Some “gas-saving” devices may
damage a car’s engine or increase exhaust emissions.
In the Showroom: Consider the Alternatives
• Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) operate on alternative fuels, such as methanol, ethanol, compressed
natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and others designated by the DOE. Using these alternative
fuels in vehicles may reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. FTC Rules require labels on all new
AFVs to give the vehicle’s estimated cruising range and general descriptive information. Find out how many
miles a new AFV travels on a tank or supply of fuel because, gallon for gallon, some don’t travel as far as
gasoline-powered vehicles.
• Hybrid Electric Vehicles offer another option for car buyers. According to DOE and EPA, these vehicles
combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to achieve different
objectives, such as improved fuel economy and increased power.
For more information on alternative fuel vehicles, call the DOE’s toll-free National Alternative Fuels Hotline,
1-800-423-1DOE, or visit DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center website at www.afdc.doe.gov. More
information about both hybrid-electric and alternative fuel vehicles is at www.fueleconomy.gov.
For more energy saving tips for cars, visit the DOE's website.
posted by Dixie Tune Up @ 6:27 PM 0 comments
Calculating your gas mileage (MPG) is easy with
just a few simple steps.
1) Start by filling your vehicle's gas tank completely and write down your odometer mileage reading.
2) The next time you re-fuel, write down the number of gallons of fuel it took to fill your gas tank comletely
along with your new odometer mileage reading.
3) Calculate your total miles driven by subtracting your first odometer mileage reading from your second
odometer mileage reading.
4) Divide the number of miles driven by the number of gallons it took to fill your tank and your result is your
car's gas mileage MPG. (total miles / gallons = MPG)
It's as simple as that! All you need is a notepad and calculator and you can even use your trip odometer to
save a step in calculating your total miles driven.
1) Buy your fuel in the early morning hours. Fuel is more condensed when cold
and you'll actually get more for your money. Stations have actually attempted to
put inline heaters on the pumps but they do little or nothing in the early morning
hours. These heaters also have the reverse affect whereas in warmer times of the
day they actually expand the fuel and you get "legally" ripped off at the pumps.
An important note: DO NOT TOP YOUR TANK TO THE BRIM!!! Doing so
sends excess fuel to the expansion canister in most cars, it floods the canister
and actually defeats the expansion factor and creates poor fuel mileage.
2) There are thousands of fuel additives available from under $1.00 to $30+ Use
these sparingly and without endorsing any particular brand, I myself use and
have used the .99 STP gas treatment for years. You only need to use it 3 - 4
times a year. I usually add prior to an oil change so my ride has a fresh start.
Fuel additives will clean everything from the tank forward and keep all fuel
related parts clean & functioning without "gumming" up. This keeps fuel &
repair costs down. Keep in mind more is NOT better. You'll only be wasting
your money & add more to your driving costs. You can also expect to beat
manufactures posted gas mileage ratings.
3) Avoid buying fuel when the "large tanker" is present. When he's filling their
tanks, he's stirring up the years of dirt, condensation & sludge in the bottoms of
the stations' tanks and guess where that goes? In your tank!
4) Avoid the cheapest & independent stations - they buy their fuel from
"supplier of the week". Cheap fuel usually translates to old, watered down or
below average fuel.
5) Make sure that the air filter in your vehicle is clean and replaced when used,
an engine that can breath better will run more efficiently. That also goes for the
fuel filter, spark plugs, and other related tune-up components. ie: distributor cap
and rotor, PCV valve, sensors, spark plug wires, breather element, ect.
6) Make sure that the tires on your vehicle are inflated to the proper level as
marked on the tires sidewall. Not enough air in your tires will create more drag
on your vehicle and make it work harder to propel your car, hence using more
fuel. Not only that, but you will be wearing the tires out prematurely. Over
inflating the tires is not good either. Tire pressure, one of the most overlooked
thoughts of 99% of car owners. It takes less time to check air pressure than it
does to brush your teeth!
7) Excessive stuff in your vehicle (especially in the truck) will lessen your fuel
mileage, because the car will have to work harder to carry the extra weight,
believe it or not some people carry 100+ pounds of 'junk, or extra stuff' in their
vehicles that is really not necessary to have all the time.
8) Make sure that your cars suspension is in good working condition. Like the
brakes, if they were hanging or binding, they could be holding back the engine,
worn suspension parts like tie-rods, ball-joints, shocks or struts, constant
velocity joints, drive shaft(s) can all cause conditions that can be related to lower
fuel mileage.
9) High octane gasoline doesn't necessarily mean better fuel economy. As a
matter a fact most vehicles now-a-days recommend using regular grade gas.
Most vehicles list in their manuals the octane requirements. Although a lot of
high performance "Fast Cool Cars" do require high octane fuel for better
performance.
10) Slamming on the gas or brake pedals wastes fuel. If you are planning a trip
wherever it be, try to plan on going the most direct route, and avoid congested
areas that require lots of stopping and starting. Using your cruise control if
equipped, will keep your car at a steady speed, cruise control helps save gas.
11) Speeding - Driving at 55 MPH will generate better gas mileage by 17% as
compared to driving 70 MPH, even at 65 MPH you'll still use 10% more.
12) Air Conditioning - If you have to park your car in the hot sun, then when
you first get in, roll down the windows to let a lot of the hot air escape, wait a
minute or two until you are driving down the road before turning on the AC. The
average air conditioning unit in a vehicle is about 10,000 BTU's, and uses
approximately 35 horsepower to run it. That 35 horsepower cost you in average
fuel mileage. Also when driving at highway speeds, 55+ mph you will actually
get less fuel mileage with the windows down as compared to them being up with
the AC on, because of the aerodynamic drag from having the windows down.
Roof racks, and luggage racks that are loaded down instead of having the items
inside the vehicle can cause a large aerodynamic drag and decrease fuel mileage
by up to 5%.
13) Prior Planning - If you are planning a vacation or trip, try to include plans to
your destination that will not require a lot of driving. Like a place that has lots of
attractions near each other, walking is good and healthy, or a place with good
public transportation.
14) Excessive Idling - Idling your vehicle gets zero miles per gallon. And cars
with larger engines burn more fuel then cars with smaller engines while idling.
15) Overdrive - If your vehicle is equipped with an overdrive gear, use it. The
overdrive gear will slow the engine down while maintaining the same speed,
and saving you fuel.
16) Motor Oil - You can improve your vehicles fuel mileage by using the
manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. An increase of 1-2% can be
expected.
17) Commuting - If you can avoid getting into rush hour traffic situations, then
avoid them so that you are not sitting in stop and go traffic where you will be
getting lower fuel mileage. If you own more then one vehicle, take the one that
gets the best fuel mileage whenever possible. Car pools and ride share can save
you 50% on your weekly gasoline bill, and lots of time many places have a
special lane that usually moves faster and is less congested for that going to
work, and going home commute. Try using public transportation when possible,
it's usually a lot more economical. Combine errands into one trip, rather then
making a few trips, a warm motor will get better mileage compared to a lot of
short cold trips to the store. Maybe stop at the store on the way home from work,
rather then going back out after getting home. Simple, but it could save you
mileage on your car, plus gasoline.
18) New Car Purchases - When comparing factors in your next car purchase,
consider the mileage that the vehicle gets. The comparison between a car that
gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG, is a difference in one year in fuel cost
of $550 considering that they both drive 15k miles per year. (and that's at a
$2.20 per gallon fuel cost, obviously more now.) In a four year period, you
would save $2,200.
In summary, driving should be enjoyable & fun, and not cost you an arm and a
leg. With a few minutes of dedication to your ride, it can make it fun and
affordable.