The Shade?

Here's a quick tip you can use to save gas. Park in the shade. Gasoline evaporates very quickly, if you leave your car in the hot sun you can bet gas is escaping slowly. If you park your car in the shade, your car stays cools and so does your gas. Park your car in the shade whenever you can!

The Environment

You might ask yourself what does the environment have to do with mpg? Both may seen to have no relationship at all. By merely trying to increase your mpg, you are contributing less pollutants in the air. Each day we humans contribute to all forms of pollutants. By increasing our cars gas mileage you are SAVING money and the environment. Having a higher mpg means less emissions from cars, less dependence on foreign oil, and less visits to the dreadful gas stations.. We can all do our part to reduce our cars emissions one step at a time. If every person had a higher mpg, then there would be less air pollution being emitted into the air. Alone we are weak, but united we are strong.

Air?

How is air important to a cars gas mileage? In order or a car to create energy they need air, fuel and a spark. Using these three ingredients a car can create energy and move forward. In the combustion process a certain amount of air and fuel is needed, the ratio is 14.7 to 1. Meaning for every 14.7 of air the cars computer will use 1 of fuel. If a car uses less air it is considered to run rich and if it uses more air it runs lean. The ratio of this air/fuel ratio is very important in a cars performance. This is why every sensor that measures air needs to be clean in order for the car to run efficiently at its peak performance. I will show you the manner in which the air enters the air snorkel and out the muffler using pictures.

1. Air is first sucked in via the air snorkel.

2. Air is filtered in the air box.

3. The MAF sensor  measures how much air is available.

4. Air is taken to the air intake.

5. Throttle body measures the air coming in.

6. The measured air is taken into the intake manifold.

7. The air and the fuel is ignited by the spark plugs.

8. Excess gases that builds up in the engine

 is released via the PCV valve to be burned again.

9.  The exhaust is released via the exhaust manifold.

10. The exhaust readings are measured by the oxygen sensors.

11. The EGR Valve recirculates the excess exhaust to be burned again.

12. The exhaust travels via the exhaust system and through the catalytic converter.

13. The exhaust is released out  the muffler.

And that's how air comes in and out your car!

EGR Valve (Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve)

The EGR Valve (Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve) is a system that controls the cars emissions. Specifically, it reduces NOx emissions.The way it does this is by retrieving a specific amount of exhaust that is being release back into the intake manifold(combustion chamber). Furthermore, it allows for the fuel to be completely burned and for the car to efficiently. The EGR valve is one of the most common causes for emissions testing. The car will have a rough idle and poor acceleration when the EGR valve begins to fail.The EGR valve is not something to be replaced like an oil filter, but needs to checked when it starts to fail.

EGR Valve