Idling

Idling is one of the worst enemies for a modern vehicle and it will cost you. Ever heard of having to warm up a car when its cold? That was true for carburetor engines, but not so true for modern fuel injected engines. Now fuel injected engines get hot pretty quickly and are ready to use seconds after a start-up. On a cold morning, you can let the engine idle for 30 seconds, any prolonged time is just a waste of gas. The best way to warm up the engine is to just drive it, this way it will get hotter quicker and the heat is distributed equally along the motor.

When coming to a stop, your car is getting  0 mpg, that's right ZERO!. Drive-trues are also gas wasters, its is better to go inside and order your food.  IF you're waiting in your car for more than a minute, turn the car off, its a waste of gas. In my quest to save money on my gas, I avoid drive-trues, unnecessary warm-ups when the engine is cold, I turn off the ignition when i stop on red lights and only if I know that I am going to be there for more than a minute. In other words, I anticipate how long I'm going to be at that stop and if its worth it to turn of the ignition. Turning off the car while coming to a stop is an advanced driving method. Turning off the car will disable your power steering, due so with caution and at your own risk. Saving gas even means turning off the car once in a while. How do it? Read the next post.

How do you drive?

In order to start saving gas you will need a  good foundation. A first foundation  is the vehicles current condition. A car that is well maintained is more reliable, efficient, and will have longevity. Every car has its own limits, but its the driver that sets those limits. To increase your  gas mileage will have to start practicing new behaviors starting when you turn on the car and turning it off. I am a hypermiler. A hypermiler is a person who uses driving techniques to maximize their gas mileage. I make it a habit, a consistent effort to hypermile each time I drive. Hypermiling pays for itself and it doesn't make me decide whether I should give my arm or my leg at the gas station. Every time the car comes to a complete stop whether it is in "Neutral" or "Park", your car is getting 0 mpg. Idling is not good for the engines because the heat is not circulated properly, so it will build hot spots. Newer engines don't require to be warmed up, 10 seconds at most is good enough. The car will warm up faster if it is driven because the heat is circulated and not isolated. Here are some quick tips.

1. If you come to a red light, place the gear on neutral instead of Drive. The car uses more energy in the drive position and power is lost by having the car stopped.
2. If you are going to wait for more than 30 sec. turn off the car.
3. Do not wait to warm up the engine, fuel injected cars will warm faster if it is driven.
4. Go easy on the pedal.
5. Avoid braking. Using the brakes wastes fuel. Obviously you will have to brake at certain moments, many people use their brakes more than they have to.

Oil

Every car out there has its recommended oil weight by the manufacturer. The grade of the oil can make a difference in how the engine runs. If the oil is too thin then it may cause the valves to work harder to give the same amount of power. The valves may move faster but there is no engine response which can cause lagging.  In addition if the oil is too thick then your engine may have a difficult time moving the valves. Having the proper grade oil may change the way your engine performs and ensuring its longevity. Not only does a car need its proper oil grade, it needs to have it oil filter replaced constantly and consistently. The oil filters trap the particles that may harm the engine.  The precise oil-grade your car needs depends on its mileage, altitude, temperatures, the ways its driven, the engines condition, and the cleanliness of interior components. If the engine is not clean it can lead to engine failure, sludge will begin to form and prevent the engine from working properly. My cars recommended oil grade is "5-30", given the condition the engine is it may reach its peak performance with let's say a "10-30". The "10-30" may be a little thicker but it is recommended for my car because it is an older-mileage car. Having the oil changed regularly will prolong the longevity of the engines life.

Spark Plugs

 Spark plugs in a car are one of the things that give life to your engine. These devices ignite the pre-mixed air and fuel to cause a combustion. Its this combustion that moves your engine forward. Depending on the car you have, the access to the spark plugs may be easy or difficult to reach. Replacing the spark plug can be easy depending on their location. Replacing the old spark plugs can tell you many things about your engine. A spark plug can be fouled, burnt, rusted, have deposits or be normal.

1. To start off, the negative battery terminal is the first to be removed, you don't want to be electrocuted.
2. Next the spark plug wires are removed from each slot (be careful not to get them mixed) using a spark plug tool.
3. The new spark plugs are then replaced, the spark plug wires are placed in their corresponding slot. 4. The negative battery terminal is then reconnected.

Depending on the condition of the spark plug, replacing a spark plug will give a stronger spark, increased efficiency, better fuel economy and more power. On the plus side  they do not have to be removed so often like a oil filter but are a bit pricey if you're looking quality. Please click on my ads to help me add more content for my readers.