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9.11 TIPS ON SAVING GASOLINE; AUTOMOBILE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
By
Don Patten
Don
Patten is a leading expert in automotive education. His text book Automotive Service
Basics published by Prentice Hall is used in automotive instruction courses world
wide.
There
is only so much conservation built into a vehicle. The weight of the vehicle, whether it
is a 2 or 4 wheel drive, the size of the tires, the engine size, and even how much you
weigh all affect the miles per gallon equation. What we need to concentrate on in this
article is how to get all the miles per gallon your vehicle is capable of producing.
Trying to go further than this is like trying to change a pig into a poodle. Here are ten
rules which will give you a start in reducing fuel consumption?
==
1. Make sure a clean air filter is in place at all times. A dirty filter reduces the
amount of air that can enter the engine and makes the fuel mixture richer (more fuel to
air) than it needs to be.
==
2. Be sure all the computer sensors are working properly. There are a lot of sensors on
the engine and many of them are there to help the computer determine the fuel needs of the
engine. If they have stopped working or are working poorly, then the wrong message gets to
the computer and it may hold the injectors on longer than they should be. If this happens
you will see a large increase in gasoline consumption. How do you check the sensors? Have
a qualified technician put his hand held computer into your computer system and get a
complete readout of what is working right and what needs attention.
==
3. Tune up the engine when either mileage or time determines that it should be necessary.
Change: bad spark plug wires, distributor caps, coils, injectors, fuel filters, fuel
pressure regulators, vacuum lines, PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valves. Some
engines have more than one coil. A six cylinder engine of this kind will have three coils,
one for every two cylinders. One bad coil can shut down two cylinders. Imagine how your
fuel consumption will increase if two cylinders are not pulling their load!
==
4. Service all the things that roll or cause the wheels to roll or stop. Inflate your
tires to the correct pressure. Soft tires increase resistance to movement and reduce gas
mileage. Dragging brakes do the same thing. Misaligned tires can be a real economy buster.
Have the wheels checked and aligned at least once a year. If the caster, camber, and toe
adjustments are not right, your tires will wear out faster and it will take more gasoline
to run your car down the road.
==
5. Use the correct lubrication products in every part of your automobile and adjust these
for weather conditions. Use multi viscosity oils and those marked "energy saving." Use
lighter oils like a 5W-20 in the winter. Grease the suspension system. It takes more power
from the power steering system to turn a steering system that has not been serviced. Dirty
fluids in transmissions and differentials cause sticking servos and worn friction plates.
This means the transmission may not shift up when it should or slip. A dirty automatic
transmission filter can cause the bands and clutches to starve for hydraulic fluid and
cause slipping and internal wear. Don't forget to replace the oil filter on a regular
schedule.
==
6. Keep the entire fuel system in good working order. Look for gasoline leaks and repair
them immediately. A leaking gasoline tank or fuel line will surely reduce your miles per
gallon as the gasoline drips out. Replace the gasoline filter on a regular schedule. Be
sure the gasoline cap seals properly. If the gasoline tank has a rubber coupling between
the filler neck and the tank be sure it is not rotten or the clamps loose. Tighten all
fittings. Consider getting a locking gasoline cap or putting a device in the filler neck
to prevent gasoline theft.
==
7. Use the air conditioner less. It takes about five horsepower to run the air
conditioner full time. At night it is not as critical to use the air conditioner as it
would be on at 95 degrees in the middle of the day.
==
8. Replace vacuum lines and keep the engine cooling system in good working order. An
engine that is running hot will consume more gasoline and bad vacuum lines will cause the
engine to run rough at idle.
==
9. How you leave a stop light, how fast you drive, how many times you have to stop and go
will all effect fuel economy. Drive like you have an egg under your foot. Back off the
throttle sooner at lights. Set the cruise control at a lower speed. The further you have
to press the throttle, the more fuel will be used.
==
10. Reduce the weight. Find ways to travel lighter. Carry less tools and baggage. It is
simple. The more weight in the vehicle, the more fuel it will take to get where you are
going. Less gasoline in the tank means less weight going down the road. Let the gasoline
get lower before a refill and go to 3/4 a tank rather than a full tank. Some people never
let the tank get below 1/2 which means they always have to transport more weight than
those who let the tank get down to 1/4.
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