Tag Archive for: fuel

Driving More Efficiently to Improve Fuel Economy/ Estimated Gas Savings

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The US government has a website dedicated to helping you use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way we can all relate to, no matter what kind of vehicle we drive. Here’s an example:
Having your engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you’re paying one-fifty for a litre of gas in Delavan, you could save six cents a litre.

Dollars Per Gallon:              $3.00  $3.50  $4.00
Tune Up 4%                          0.12    0.14    0.16

Replace Oxygen Sensor

Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve by up to forty percent. That’s a whooping savings per litre. Chances are that if your oxygen sensor is kaput your check engine light will come on. Now, there’s any number of things that could cause your check engine light to come on besides oxygen sensor problems. But if it’s on, it’s to get it checked out as soon as you can. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic.

Dollars Per Gallon                          $3.00   $3.50   $4.00
Faulty O2 Oxygen Sensor 40%       1.20     1.40     1.60

Inflate Your Tires

Here’s an easy one: Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. That could save you three percent or eleven cents a gallon. Even a little drop in pressure will cost you at the pump so check your vehicle tires every week.

Your vehicle manufacturer has recommended a specific weight of motor oil. The recommendation is based on your vehicle engine design and will give you the best protection. Using a heavier weight could cost one to two percent in reduced fuel economy, or up to seven cents a gallon.

MotorWeek’s John Davis and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Brian West discuss ways to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. Topics include driving style, vehicle maintenance, and special tips for advanced vehicles and technologies.

How To Save On Gas

Our gas mileage tips can help you reduce the amount of gas you use. If you are already following these tips, you are probably getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver. Here are some free gas saving tips from Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan: These can add up to quite a bit per litre.

Don’t drive aggressively
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Driver feedback devices can help you drive more efficiently. A recent study suggests that they can help the average driver improve fuel economy by about 3% and that those using them to save fuel can improve gas mileage by about 10%. That’s like saving about $0.06 to $0.22 per gallon.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5%–33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.11–$0.71/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit:7%–14%*
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15–$0.30/gallon*
* Average savings, assuming drivers are willing to slow down 5 to 10 mph and fuel costs $2.15 per gallon.

Avoid Hauling Cargo on Your Roof
Hauling cargo on your roof increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and lowers fuel economy. A large, blunt roof-top cargo box, for example, can reduce fuel economy by around 2% to 8% in city driving, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10% to 25% at Interstate speeds (65 mph to 75 mph).4 Rear-mount cargo boxes or trays reduce fuel economy by much less—only 1% or 2% in city driving and 1% to 5% on the highway. If you need to use an external cargo container, removing it when it’s not in use will save fuel and money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 2%–17%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04–$0.37/gallon

Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by about 1%.5 The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1%/100 lbs.
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle.

Fuel Cost Savings: $0.01-$0.02/min

Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.15/gallon.

Find Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Learn about alternative fuel vehicles:

Alternative and Advanced Fuel Locator

Visit the alternative fueling station locator to:

  • Search for alternative fueling stations near you.
  • Map a route that includes alternative fueling stations along the way.

Auto Maintenance Basics: Forced Induction

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Advanced Auto Clinic Auto Maintenance Basics: Forced Induction

 

Most Delavan motorists associate turbochargers and superchargers with hot rods and racing. However, the number of everyday cars and trucks coming to Darien from the factory with chargers is growing every year. Here’s why:

 

You need three elements for combustion: fuel, oxygen, and ignition (spark plug in gasoline engines and compression in diesels). Superchargers and turbochargers deal with the oxygen part of the formula. In the normally aspirated engines Delavan drivers are familiar with, air is just drawn in from the outside by vacuum pressure created as the engine runs. Turbochargers and superchargers compress the air that goes into the engine’s combustion chamber, forcing in more oxygen. This forced charge of air allows an engine to make more power than a similarly sized normally aspirated engine.

So today we have small 4-cylinder turbocharged engines on Delavan expressways making more power than a full-sized V8 did twenty years ago and getting far better MPG. And the power on charged six and eight cylinder engines is through the roof.

In addition to power and fuel economy, charged engines deliver essential benefits for Delavan motorists at higher altitudes. As the air thins with an increase in elevation, there is less oxygen available to burn in the engine resulting in a significant power loss. Charging forces more air and oxygen into the engine, preserving much of the power at altitude. Turbochargers use exhaust from the engine to spin an impeller that compresses the air sent to the engine. Because there is a short time between when you step on the accelerator and the time the exhaust pressure builds up enough to spin the turbo up to speed, there is a short lag in power. To combat this “turbo lagâ €, some automobile manufacturers use two turbos: a small one that quickly spins up when engine speed is low and a larger one for when the engine is running fast. Others use a variable vane technology in the impeller to accomplish the same thing.

Superchargers are driven by a belt connected to the engine’s crankshaft.

There is no lag because charging starts immediately (it doesn’t have to wait for exhaust pressure). Superchargers are less efficient for Delavan drivers because they require engine power to run the compressor whereas turbochargers are powered by an exhaust. In both types, the air heats up as it is compressed. In some engines it is necessary to cool the air before it goes into the engine. In those engines, the air passes through what is called an intercooler to bring its temperature down to the proper range. An intercooler is like a small radiator and may be cooled by air flow or by liquid coolant.

Delavan owners of superchargers and turbochargers should always use the fuel grade recommended by their vehicle manufacturer. This is important in charged engines because of the extra pressure as the fuel and air is compressed. Using fuel with too low of an octane rating could lead to premature detonation which can cause pricey damage.

Generally speaking, turbochargers and superchargers do not require regular maintenance. But they do wear like any other part in your vehicle and will eventually need repair or replacement. All of your vital regular vehicle maintenance should be done on schedule – things like oil changes and transmission service and so on. Talk with your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic tech about any concerns you have and about the next services your vehicle needs.

 

Advanced Auto Clinic

1101 Ann Street, Delavan, WI 53115

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan WI (53115) we install quality NAPA
replacement parts. Give us a call at 262.728.2944. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.