PCV Valve (Positive Crankcase Ventilation)

Some cars have a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system and the main component is the PCV valve. Inside the engine(crankcase) byproducts and gases are released and it creates pressure, this is why its sealed in order to prevent gases from escaping into the atmosphere. This is where the PCV system comes into play.When enough pressure is created, the gases are released via the PCV valve to be burned again.

The PCV Valve.

The PCV valve and hose.

When the PCV valve starts to fail, you may notice more white fumes coming out of your exhaust pipe.  Replacing the PCV is very simple and they are very cheap. The old valve is removed and replaced with the new valve. A PCV valve that is not working properly will steadily decrease your gas mileage and destroy the engine itself if it is neglected. PCV valves should be replaced or checked every 30,000 miles.

Oxygen Sensor

All cars now have oxygen sensors, newer cars are beginning to have AFR (air-fuel ratio) sensor. The oxygen sensors were created in order to reduce pollution and increase fuel economy in a car. Oxygen sensors are the most important sensors in your car, they reduce the pollution that is emitted from your vehicle. They ultimately tell your cars computer how much fuel to use and are always working to make your car as fuel efficient as possible while emitting less pollutants. It is one of the sensors that is often overlooked and not serviced. Depending on your car you may have 2 or more oxygen sensors in your car. They are located before and after the catalytic converter.  The oxygen sensors live in  a harsh environments, overtime they accumulate carbon soot, they will become "sluggish" which takes it longer to operate, and their performance will deteriorate.

Bottom view of the oxygen sensor before the catalytic converter.

Top view of the oxygen sensor before the catalytic converter .

Oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter.

For cars after the 1990's, the oxygen sensor needs to be replaced every 100,000-150,000 miles. Having this sensor ignored can lead to big $$$ problems and your car to run poorly. The problem may not be noticed at first because it is a gradual process.  It will have less power, hesitate, run rich(meaning it will use more fuel than necessary), will emit more pollutants and spend hundreds on related problems.  Replacing the oxygen sensor is relatively easy and costly job to do, but it will return your cars engine peak performance. If you plan on keeping your car for years, this is as good investment that can save big $$$ on the future, save you gas and your car will run smooth and efficient. You can expect to spend around $50-400 depending on the number of oxygen sensors your car has. You will also need an oxygen sensor removal tool. You can find a cheap oxygen sensor removal tool online. I will walk you through these steps if you are do-it-yourself person and feel comfortable working on your car. Depending on the location of your oxygen sensor this can be a difficult or easy job. You may have to remove other parts to reach the sensor or  you can have an easy reach. To avoid any complications, ask  the attendant if the sensor already comes with wires, otherwise you will spend more time cutting wires and guessing where each wire goes. Before you begin, it is important that the engine is cold otherwise you can burn yourself. Ive been burnt myself and its not pretty.

1. Buy the proper tools at your local auto store.
2. Disconnect the negative battery terminal in order to avoid any possible electric shocks.
3. Locate you oxygen sensor and use the special tool to remove it. It may be difficult to remove  the sensor, so it does require some elbow-grease (strength). If the sensor is "stuck" turn on the engine long enough to warm the surrounding area of the oxygen sensor in order for the metal to expand and loosen the threads.
3. Re-insert the new oxygen sensor and apply anti-seizing grease on the threads. Tighten the sensor all the way, but dot use excessive force to tighten it.
4. Reconnect the wires to their original socket.
5. Connect the negative battery terminal.

Oxygen can very pricy. To get the cheapest price I would recommend Amazon.com because they can offer you the lowest price for an oxygen sensor. I received both of my oxygen sensors for 100 US dollars. If I would have gone to my local auto store I would have spent around 170 US dollars. Good luck!

IAC (Idle Air Control)

The IAC (idle air control) is a little motor that regulates the air that is coming into the car. For example, the IAC is used when the car is in neutral, parking position or when you come to a stop. The IAC controls the rpm in your car by open or closing its valve, and it is controlled by the computer. The IAC valve over time gets dirty and will cause your car to run poorly. Possible symptoms of a bad IAC is irregular rpms, car stalling, and it will cause you to waste more gas than necessary. There are two ways to service the IAC, either clean it or replace it(if cleaning it doesn't work). The IAC is located outside the throttle  body.

IAC attached to the throttle body.

Cleaning the IAC is very simple job to do.
1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
2. Remove the air intake from the throttle body.
3. Disconnect the wire harness from the IAC.
4. Remove the IAC with a screwdriver.
5. Clean the metal tip of the IAC with a carb cleaner.
6. To re-assemble it follow the instructions in reverse.

If cleaning the IAC does not work, you may have a faulty IAC and you will need to replace it. If you had a dirty IAC and you've cleaned it, you will notice a difference in your car, it will run smoothly and save you money each time you come to a standstill! Having a clean IAC will help you maintain your cars mpg and will keep your car at its optimum, while a dirty IAC will decrease your gas mileage. If you liked what you read, please donate with a couple clicks on my ads and it will help me add valuable content to my site. Whats your cars idle speed?

Throttle Body

Top view of the throttle body with the air intake attached.

The throttle body is one of the most important components in a internal combustion engine. All cars with fuel injectors have a throttle body. The job of the throttle is to regulate the amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber. The throttle body is controlled by your foot, each time you press on the accelerator you "pump" in air into the combustion chamber where it is ignited by the spark plugs.

The throttle body with the air intake removed.

The throttle body has a plate that over time will accumulate oil, gum and varnish. A dirty throttle body will cause rough starting, rough idling, loss of power, and hesitation. I will show you how you can easily service this part and immediately notice a better throttle response. Cleaning the throttle is a simple 30 min job anybody can do, You will need a screwdriver or a 10mm socket, a throttle body  or carb cleaner, rags  and  a toothbrush(optional). Some throttle bodies may need a special cleaner because of the special coating it has, it has one it will have a  warning label, Ford usually has a warning label on their throttle bodies.

The opened throttle body.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Remove the air intake from the throttle body.
2. Have someone press and hold the accelerator cable, or you can place anything heavy on the accelerator cable if you are working alone. For example: a dumbbell may work just fine.
3. Spray inside the throttle body, don't be afraid to get it soaked.
4. Clean inside with a rag. You may use a toothbrush to deep clean. Just don't loose it inside!
5. Try to clean everywhere you can inside and leave it as clean possible.
6. You will have to let the throttle body air dry or other wise you may have a hard time starting the engine.
If you experience a hard start, this is perfectly normal, the engine may run rough at first but that is the cleaner being burnt off.
7. Reattach the air intake and reattach the negative terminal of the battery. I asked you to take off the battery terminal because the ECU (computer) needs to be reset in order for it to react to the changes.


Depending on how dirty your throttle body is, you might see a night and day difference in your car or you may not feel anything at all if its already clean. Throttle body cleaning is a service that is required over time and can be costly. You can do this for the price of 5 dollars and 30 minutes of your time. Keep those plates clean! If you're comfortable with your mechanical skills you can take this further and take apart the throttle body assembly and get better access in those hard to reach places.  A new gasket may be needed if the throttle body is removed.

Mass Air Flow (MAF)

The Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) in a car responds to the amount of air flowing through the air intake. Most cars have this, others may have a Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP) sensor. The MAF sensor has a thin wire that gets hot and measures the amount of air flowing into the engine. The computer then reads this accurate data and makes decisions based on this data. Over time, the sensors can accumulate dirt and oils which can reduce its accuracy. It may cause the engine to have a rougher idle, a slower throttle response, and torque converter slips.

Buying a MAF cleaner can be bought at your local auto store for about 5 dollars. This is simple 10 minute job that anyone can do. Depending on your car you may need a 10mm. socket, a Philips screwdriver or a Flathead screwdriver to remove the air intake. The air intake is removed from the air filter box. Or the MAF can be pulled out depending how it was built in the system. The cleaner is simply sprayed on the hot wires and let to dry. To finish the job, just assemble everything the way it was.

Side view of the MAF sensor with the air intake removed.

The MAF sensor reads the temperature and the amount of air flowing in the air intake. A clean MAF sensor will keep your mpg at its optimum, while a dirty MAF sensor will decrease your gas mileage. The voltage readings from the MAF Sensor are the first to be calculated in the air/gas ratio. Once the data is registered the computer sets the parameters for the combustion process in order to achieve maximum efficiency therefore saving you money and gas. If you liked what you read, please feel free to look at my other articles that can help you gain knowledge, save money, maintain your cars performance, save gas, and pollute less CO2 in  our environment. A click on any ad will be greatly appreciated as I will look for advanced methods of  gas mileage increment,.

The Air Filter

This is the also one of the easiest jobs a person can do to their car. A car with a clean air filter is a happy car. Depending on the make your car you may need a screwdriver in order to open the air filter box.  A dirty air filter is restrictive and forces the car to use more fuel. A car needs a clean air filter in order to breathe clean air. 

K&N High Flow Air Filter

Depending on your budget you may need an paper air filter that can go for  15-50 dollars depending of the make your car or you can buy a K&N High Flow Air Filter and never have to worry about replacing another air filter. I chose to buy a K&N Filter because they stay for the life of your car and it sure beats having to buy more air filters. They claim to increase gas mileage and horsepower gains because it is less restrictive and allows more air flow into the engine. In my car I've noticed a 1 mpg increase, my accelerates faster and the exhaust sounds more "throaty". It is important for the car to receive the adequate of air in order to operate in normal conditions, check your air filters. If you hold the air filter next to the sun and you cannot see past it, then its time for a new air filter. Having a clean air filter will help the car perform better and protect it from harmful contaminants.

Tires

In my previous posts, I listed the factors that would increase or decrease your gas mileage. In this post you will learn how tires can affect your gas mileage. One of the first things that can be checked in 30 seconds, are your tires. Your tires are the only thing that come in contact with the ground. Having under-inflated tires will lower your gas mileage, it will cause your car to use power, waste more gas, have decreased stability at high speeds and not safe. Having properly inflated is safer and will save you gas. Let me give you an example, when a bike has under-inflated tires, it is harder to pedal and when the tires are inflated. its more easier to pedal. The same concept applies to your car. By inspecting your tires and having them properly inflated you are saving money.

My aerodynamic rims.  ; )

Personally, I over-inflate my tires by 10-PSI. It creates less rolling resistance but it also makes the car feel stiffer. I do not endorse over-inflating your tires because it can cause to tires to explode and void any warranties you may have for your tires. Do this at your risk, I am not responsible for anything that may result from having over-inflated tires. An increase of 5 psi, should not be considered as "bad".
The aerodynamics of the tires can be further increased  by having the wheel fully covered as shown in the picture. The last important thing is having tires with proper tire thread, they grip the road. A car that has no tire thread is dangerous because the tire may explode and they don't grip the road well. The expensive part is replacing all your tires. Whats your cars current PSI reading?

What will increase your mpg?

The following factors will improve your gas mileage.

                   

Increase MPG

1.  A properly maintained car.

2. Calm and consistent driving behaviors and habits.

3. A device that gives you feedback on your driving such as a ScanGaugeII.

4. Clean fuel injectors and fuel system.

5. A clean air filter.

6. Spark Plugs and spark plug wires.

7. Properly inflated tires and the tire thread.

8. Get the junk out of the trunk, the less weight in the car the better.

9. A clean throttle body.

10. A new fuel filter.

12. Clean ground wire terminals.

13. Driving the speed limit and maintaining constant speed.

14. Anticipating  the red or green lights ahead of time.

15. Coasting. This is your new best friend.

16. Proper engine oil weight.

17. Low rolling resistance tires.

18. A block heater (optional).

19. Driving without shoes. Professional NASCAR racers wear thin soles on their feet to feel the cars response more accurately, so their shifting times are more precise.

20. Not using the AC.

21. Keeping your windows closed.

22. Taking off your antenna(optional). It creates a slight aerodynamic resistance.

23. Regular PCV valve changes.

24. A Wholesale card, (cheaper gas prices).

25. Not driving is the best method to give you infinite mpg.
26. Clean EGR Valve.
27. Cold Air Intake* and Turbochargers*.
28. The closer your car is to the ground the more aerodynamic it is.
29. Slowing down immediately when a red light is seen, by the time you reach the stop the light will most likely change to green.* You will see many cars rush to a red light and suddenly brake.



* There is skeptism if an Cold Air Intake or a turbocharges would improve their mpg. Each car is different and reacts differently to upgrades. The automakers already tried to build the car to its maximum efficiently. If these upgrades are beneficial then why don't the cars they produce have cold air intakes and turbochargers? Some diesel cars actually benefit from having a turbocharger,

What will decrease your mpg?

I will make a list of the factors that will lower your gas mileage and make you spend more money.

1. A  car that is not well maintained.

2. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as jackrabbit start and hard braking.

3. Under inflated tires and also low tire thread. Your car will use more fuel to move forward.
4. A dirty fuel system and fuel injectors.

5. A dirty air filter.        

6. Old spark plugs... they can cause hard starts, hesitations, misfires and poor fuel economy.

7. Having junk in the trunk. :) Having unnecessary weight, your car uses more fuel to carry that extra weight.

8. A dirty throttle body, it can reduce throttle response, loss of power.

9. A poor ground wire system, they reduce electrical resistance which slightly reduces how well the engine runs.

10. Driving over the speed limit. Each 5mph over the speed limit can cost your more gas versus actually maintaining the speed limit.

11. Braking, each time you break you use fuel to stop the car.

12. Once you come at a standstill every car gets ZERO MPG (unless if you have a hybrid)! Waiting at red lights gets you ZERO mpg and is a complete waste of gas. The same gas your using to keep your engine running, you can use it to keep it moving.

13. Idling is one of the worst enemies of your mpg. More than 25 seconds of idling is just a waste of gas. Its more economical to just turn off the engine.

14. Drive-tru's. If you are going to buy fast food through a drive-thru, be prepared to waste more money on

your gas that is being wasted

 15. Antennas. It creates aerodynamic resistance.

 16. Using the AC.

17. Open windows at high speeds.

18. Driving in reverse.
19. Faulty PCV Valve.
20. Faulty E.G.R. Valve.
21. Jackrabbit starts
22.Lack  of maintenance
23. Braking.
24. Being at a standstill, every car gets 0 mpg when they are not moving.