As oil prices continue to rise, with no sign of a reduction anytime soon, more and more motorists are beginning to confront that most terrible of all questions: How am I going to afford to run my car in the future? The days of cheap gasoline are gone forever and we now need to think seriously about ways of mitigating our fuel consumption and the gas mileage devices that might just help. Obviously we need to keep our cars in tip-top running order. Even a set of old worn out spark plugs can cost you 5-7, tyres at too low a pressure 5. Add these together and it's clear that a well-maintained car should perform 14-18, and sometimes even more. What's more, these gas mileage devices can be built from a number of easily and cheaply (under $100) sourced parts and installed by anyone with minimal DIY capability. So how does it work? In a nutshell, it is a simple, high output electrolytic cell, the output of which (a hydrogen-oxygen complex known as Brown's gas) is fed into the inlet manifold of your car. They use electrical energy from the alternator that would otherwise go to waste because, in modern cars, the battery is kept well charged by the alternator within the first few miles of your journey. The secret of this system is that it runs alongside and complements the gasoline technology with which we are all so familiar. Are they effective? Well, several thousand of these systems have now been installed and as far as we know, no one has reported a complete failure to work. The reported performance does vary a lot, however, the minimum improvement in mpg that I havee seen is 6%, in a 200X Nissan Micra. There have been many claims of a doubling in miles per gallon, mostly in big-engined US-built autos. Probably a bit of over-exaggeration is creeping in here. Fifty percent is more likely. And are there any other benefits? The developers of this system claim that engines run much more cleanly because of the improved combustion that takes place within the engine. This is quite possible and could potentially lead to reduced servicing costs in the longer term. Are there any downsides? None as far as we can see. The developers maintain that it cannot invalidate the manufacturer's warranty on a new car and that the system can easily be removed if necessary with no damage to the car at all. At the current rate of development, it's going to be several years before a true, fully hydrogen powered car hits the road so, while we wait, it seems prudent to make use of this 'halfway' technology to save gas mileage. Actually, 'halfway' is doubly appropriate; if you could drive half as far again on each gallon of gas, try calculating how much money you'd save in a year. I bet it's at least ten times the cost of the guide and the gas mileage device parts combined.
There are tips and hidden secrets when it comes to improving the gas mileage of your vehicle. With these changing times and the skyrocketing fuel prices, it seems more important than ever to cut down on gas mileage. The most important piece of advice in these times is to cut down on driving. Unfortunately, the most important piece of advice ? and the most obvious ? doesn't seem to impress upon most people because people seem attached to driving, even if it's just a quick trip to the corner store three blocks away.
If driving less is something that you cannot fathom, you can practice a few other methods to cut down on gas mileage and save some money.
Keep Your Car Working Properly
One of the best ways to ensure that you are getting more bang for your buck in terms of gas mileage is to check your car frequently and make sure that it is working as it should be. Cars that are regularly checked and have regular oil changes usually manage more gas mileage because they are in sharper working order.
Serious maintenance problems that go unchecked, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can cost you lots of money in terms of wasted gas mileage and can impact your vehicle performance overall. Air filters and tire pressure is important too, as having proper air filters can save you up to 10% on your gas mileage and can impact the overall performance of your vehicle. Properly balanced tires with appropriate tire pressure can offer fuel economy benefits up to 3%.
Drive Properly
Driving properly is also an important component when it comes to saving money on gas. Observe the speed limit, as gas mileage actually decreases rapidly at higher speeds (above 60 miles per hour). Not only is observing the speed limit a safer way to drive, it can also save you up to 25% on your overall gas mileage.
Remove any excess weight in your vehicle to avoid putting extra strain on your engine and your fuel consumption. Having extra weight in your vehicle reduces your miles per gallon and, in turn, reducing your overall fuel economy. This weight aspect affects smaller vehicles more than it does larger vehicles.
Avoid idling for long periods of times, like in border line-ups and other places, as this is hard on the engine. Use cruise control and overdrive gears to reduce overall engine wear, too. This will help in saving gas mileage and will also cut down on the standard wear and tear on your vehicle.
Drive Less!
Most people don't like to hear about this particular way to save gas mileage, as society is largely addicted to their vehicles even for the smallest of trips. Carpooling, taking public transit, and combining trips into one larger trip are all effective and logical ways to reduce the overall gas mileage and save money in the long run. Instead of taking several trips during one day, try to combine all of your trips into one longer trip to save additional starts and stops of your engine. Your vehicle and your pocketbook will thank you!
Both John Richards & Levi Quinn are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
John Richards has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Yeast Infection and Pets. It's time to stop worrying about rising gas costs and actually do something about it.. John Richards's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
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