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Gas costs are causing people to alter their vacation plans. My neighbor not too long ago packed up his SUV, drove 30 feet, and he and his family camped at the end of their driveway.

So like defensive driving can help you to avoid accidents on the roadway, today I want to offer you a couple of recommendations on how a little extra care here and there, when it comes to your automobile, can save you loads of cash, not simply on gas, but on repair bills as well!

Keeping your engine humming is big. If your automobile is emitting enough exhaust that it appears as if you are spraying for bug, this means less cash in your wallet. I realize it does not often fit easily into your routine, but changing filters and fluids as recommended, and following the service schedule outlined in your vehicle owner’s manual, should save you cash in the long run.

Regularly check your tires for correct inflation. Low air pressure causes your engine to work harder to drive the car. Keep those babies inflated properly, and you will save as you drive.

Aggressive driving, speeding, fast acceleration and heavy breaking, all squander gas. Pass the barf bag, please!  Use cruise control on open highways to keep your speed as constant as possible.  When you cruise sensibly, you benefit tremendously.

Fuel Economy Advantage: 5-33%

Fuel Savings: $0.16-$1.03/gallon

If 60 MPH is the speed limit, drive it.  Although every car reaches its optimum fuel economy at a different speed or range of speeds, gas mileage generally decreases quickly at speeds above 60 mph.  You can assume that each and every 5 mph you drive on top of 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.

Fuel Economy Advantage: 7-23%

Fuel Savings: $.22-$.72/gallon

I drove an old beater while going to college.  Nonetheless, I tried to stay positive.  Every time anything fell off, my miles per gallon increased!

Less weight means better mileage. An additional 100 pounds in your vehicle may reduce your MPG by up to 2%.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%/100 lbs

Gas Savings: $0.03-$0.06/gallon

Note: Gas savings estimates are based on the national average fuel cost of $3.13 per gallon as of Febryary 16, 2011.

Like wondering why new computer systems are obsolete before you can even get them out of the box, excessive idling will get you nowhere. Because an idling car will get 0 miles per gallon, shut off the engine whenever possible. Ten seconds is the golden rule. More than ten seconds of idling and you generate financial savings by turning your engine off. And bear in mind, today’s autos are designed to heat up fast. So after started, there’s no need to let them idle prior to putting the transmission in gear.

So take good care of your baby! Go the extra mile for it, and it should save you cash and run the added miles for you. And if all else fails, since kilometers are shorter than miles, to at least feel better about conserving fuel, consider changing your odometer setting to kilometers.

Until Next Time,
Eddie
ASenseOfHumorDriving.com 
7920 Glenview Drive
Richland Hills, TX 76180
817-577-8854

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In this article I’m going to discuss the properties of the diesel and gas engines, and compare them to each other. Specifically their usage in cars.

Looking at them from a distance both the gas and the diesel engine work in about the same way. Fuel manufactured from refined crude burns in the cylinder forcing the piston to move from the resulting pressure. The motion of the piston is transferred to the wheels through the crankshaft, the gearbox and through the transmission.

It’s when we look at the engines a little closer that we start to notice that there are differences. Difference in fuel economy, smell, vibration, expected age and price just to name a few.

The gas engine has an ignition system with high voltages, wiring and spark plugs. This is not needed in a diesel as it compresses the air n the cylinder until it’s hot enough to ignite the fuel when injected. In a gas engine the spark plug ignites the fuel/air mixture by sending a high voltage spark into it at the right time.

Another thing that separates the diesel from the gas engine is that gas engines adds the fuel vapor to the air in the intake manifold either through a carburetor or through fuel injection nozzles. The air/fuel mixture is then sucked into the cylinder to be burnt the next time the piston strikes.

The diesel on the other hand sucks clean air into the cylinder and then waits for the piston to compress the air as much as it will go. At this time when the air is compressed and hot enough to ignite the fuel, diesel is injected directly into the cylinder (or a small space connected to the cylinder) through high pressure nozzles. The fuel ignites instantly due to the high temperature in the cylinder.

The different fuel injection and combustion lets the diesel work more efficiently than a gasoline burner. That’s why a diesel has a better gas mileage than it’s gas powered counterpart.

This is not to say that a diesel is better. It’s different, it has drawbacks too. Diesel engines usually is harder to start in cold and freezing weather. If you remember it was compressed hot air that ignited the fuel. When it’s too cold outside the air will never become hot enough to ignite the fuel, and the engine won’t run.

To handle this diesels have something called glow plugs for handling cold start situations. Electrical power from the accumulator is used to preheat the glow plugs inside the cylinders before the engine is started. This way the hot glow plugs ignite the fuel when the air is not hot enough to do it. A couple of seconds after the engine has started it is usually hot enough to ignite the fuel without the help of the glow plugs and these are not used again until the next cold start.

This is one of the things that might bother you when having a diesel engine in the car. The glowing takes from a couple of second to half a minute and can easily lead to stress when in a hurry. You just have to wait until it’s ready or the car won’t start. On the other hand if the engine is well done the glowing does not take long and you soon get accustomed to it.

Lets for a second look at the practical differences between the diesel and the gas engine. The diesel engine is large and loud and it produces clouds of black strinking smoke when accelerating. It also has a sturdier construction due to the higher pressures it must handle and thus can often go twice as many miles as a gas engine during it’s lifetime. The sturdier construction also makes it more expensive when first bought.

The Gas Engine

• More quiet that the diesel
• Better acceleration and higher top speed
• Uses an Ignition System with Spark Plugs to Light The Fuel
• Adds fuel to the air before letting it into the cylinder
• Not as sturdy as a diesel. Lower price but breaks down faster
• Gas readily available everywhere
• MPG is low compared to a diesel

Features of The Diesel Engine

• The diesel engine is loud and has the sound of an agricultural machine or an 18 wheeler
• Slow acceleration (get one with turbo charger, that helps)
• Moderate top speeds but can easily reach the legal speed limit in most places
• Glow plugs helps ignite the fuel when the engine is really cold
• Lets clean air into the cylinder and injects the fuel later
• Engine is simple and robust. High price tag but can run many miles
• Emits black smoke when loading it (like a quick acceleration)
• Easy to convert to using Eco fuel oils
• Has a great gas mileage

If I where to give you advice on selecting either a gas or a diesel powered car I would tell you this: Get a diesel if you drive long trips and can live with the small nuisances of more noise and poor acceleration. Get a gas powered car if you drive less than average or if you just want the comfort at any price.

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The world of hybrid cars has a new king in the 2010 Toyota Prius. The Prius continually gets the best gas mileage of all hybrids today.The Prius gets a 1.the displacement is up 0.3 liters.5L.The new Prius has a larger engine, increased torque, and lower gearing that improve fuel economy.160-hp is what the new Prius is packing. 

The 2010 Toyota Prius should get right about 50 MPG; which is up 4 MPG from its predecessor.Frugal driving can net over 75 MPG!A lighter body translates to better fuel economy. Engine noise and vibration are reduced thanks to a stiffer chassis.

Toyota engineers have vastly sharpened the steering. The 2010 Prius is a great value considereing the features that come stack for this model year. A remote air conditioner, LED headlights, rearview camera system, and XM radio are all new accessories available on the new Prius.

The regenerative braking system that captures heat from braking and turns it into electricity to recharge the batteries has also been improved. Safety Standards are excellent on the new Prius. Safety components include anti-lock brakes, stability control, as well as traction, and seven surrounding airbags.

See the new Prius and a nice inventory of other hybrids at San Jose Toyota.  The Prius has been named top green car for the past few years.  And why shouldn’t it.  The Prius gets great gas mileage which saves gas, in turn putting less strain on the environment.  Not to mention is is a low emissions vehicle.  The PRius is an honored car that does a great job of keeping its resale value.  So if you cannot afford to buy a brand new 2010 Prius, go ahead and look for a nice used model.  You will pay less, get a capable car, and even get a used car warranty if you buy a certified Toyota hybrid.

See some great new Hyundai cars at Bakersfield Hyundai.