Saturday, August 7, 2010

Save the fuel cost

Simple, routine vehicle maintenance and smart driving habits can help you save hundreds of ringgit in fuel costs a year.
SO fuel prices have gone up. Granted, it’s not that much and there is no reason to hit the panic button, but you’re definitely going to feel the pinch, even if it’s a small one.
To recap, last week the Government announced the increase in the price of RON95 petrol by five sen per litre to RM1.85, while RON97 will no longer be subsidised.
The price of diesel rose by five sen to RM1.75 per litre.
What this means is that if you are used to topping up your tank with a certain amount of money before, you’d realise now that the fuel gauge won’t be as high as where it used to be and driving to the pump is going to become a wee bit more frequent.
However, there are steps that you as a driver can take to help mitigate this. Simple, routine vehicle maintenance and smart driving habits can help you save hundreds of ringgit in fuel costs a year.
Don’t drive aggressively

According to a study by Natural Resources Canada, frequent “jackrabbit” starts (that is, fast acceleration of a motor vehicle from a stationary position) and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by almost 40% and only reduces travel time by a mere 4%.
“The ideal way is to accelerate slowly and smoothly and then get into high gear as quickly as possible,” says Simon Lam of Used Autos Sdn Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur-based used-car dealer.
According to Lam, in normal city driving, about 50% of the energy needed to power a car, is used during vehicle acceleration. “If you notice you’re slamming on the brakes hard and often, then it’s a sign that you’re wasting fuel unnecessarily,” says Lam.

According to eartheasy.com, increasing your highway cruising speed from 90 kmh to 120 kmh can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%. One can improve gas mileage by 10% to 15% by driving at around 90 kmh.
Alternatively, you can opt for cruise control if your car has it, says Lam. “This is especially good for long trips. Not only will it reduce your urge to speed, you’ll also feel less tired after the journey.”
Keep tyres properly inflated
Under-inflated tyres create added rolling resistance and can increase fuel consumption by as much as 6%, says Klang Valley-based tyre agent Vincent Pang.
“Check your tyre pressure regularly and make sure to inflate them as recommended by the manufacturer. It’s not difficult to do and doesn’t cost you anything. Looking after your tyres not only helps you to reduce fuel consumption, it promotes better vehicle handling and tyre life,” he adds.
But, apart from taking care of your tyres, keeping your entire car in good working condition also ensures that it is running at optimum levels and peak efficiency.
Use air-cond sparingly
Okay, we all know how unkind the Malaysian heat can be, but a two-minute trip to the mamak stall or post office without air-conditioning won’t kill you.
According to eartheasy.com, using a vehicle’s air-conditioner on a hot day can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10% in city driving.
At low speeds, opening the window helps to save fuel consumption by reducing air-condition usage.

However, at high speeds, driving with the air-cond on is more fuel-efficient than the wind resistance caused by having the windows and sunroof open, it says.
Travel light
The more weight you carry, the more fuel you use, says Kuala Lumpur-based mechanical engineer Peter Lau. “Your car is a means for transportation, not a mobile storage facility. Keep heavy items like tools, sports equipment or other items at home when you don’t need them,” he advises.
Lau adds that vehicle add-ons, such as roof racks or even spoilers, can add to wind-drag and reduce fuel efficiency.
“Remove items such as roof and bike racks when not in use. If you have to use them, load them in such a way that any sort of drag or resistance can be minimised while driving.”
Source http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/24/business/6711583&sec=business

How to save fuel by modifying your car

How to Save Fuel by Modifying Your Car
By: Thomas Yoon
In my previous articles, I have discussed many ways to save fuel for your vehicle. Some of these are:
1. Adopting good driving habits like observing speed limits, reducing braking, gradual acceleration, reducing excessive weights, avoiding idling time, using cruise speed control high gears.
2. Maintaining your car in peak condition, having correct timing, clean air filters, spark plugs, correct tire pressures and proper lubrication.
3. Planning your trips, carpooling, avoiding traffic jams, driving smaller vehicles, choosing more efficient cars.
By following some of the items listed above, you should be able to get a very good performance from the fuel you fill up into your tank.
Nowadays, vehicles are built to be very efficient. However, if you have an older car model, you still might be able to improve its efficiency further. You can install or modify the existing system to improve its performance.
There are lots of devices in the open market that can help you improve fuel economy. However, keep in mind that many of these devices are advertising hypes and might even perform very poorly in actual conditions.

Electronic Ignition System
If you have an old vehicle that still runs on a contact breaker system, fitting an electronic ignition system into the vehicle can improve the fuel economy indirectly.
Although not strictly a fuel saving device, an electronic ignition device keeps the vehicle in tune with minimal maintenance. This ensures that the combustion remains efficient longer than with a contact breaker system. The resulting consistent burning of fuel results in better fuel savings.

Fuel Catalysts
Fuel catalysts are chemicals, substances or compound that you can simply drop into the fuel tank or install somewhere between the fuel tank and the engine.
They are supposed to accelerate a chemical reaction, but they remain unchanged during the process.
When a catalyst is installed in the fuel system, it speeds up the combustion process, making it more complete. In this way, all the energy of combustion is released for driving the engine instead of having some of it exhausted.
Installation of the catalyst is a one-off affair. You should be able to recover what you have spent on the catalyst from the fuel savings in a short time. Usually the catalysts can be used for the entire life of the vehicle. They can even be transferred from one vehicle to another.
The most frequently used fuel catalysts are made of compounds of tin and other precious metals. The actual ingredients are a result of research, and are closely guarded secrets of the manufacturers.
Manufacturers claim that adding these catalysts will produce smoother engine operation, cleaner exhaust emissions and achieve fuel savings up to 8%.

Free-flow Air Filters
These filters do not by themselves save fuel. However, they provide better filtration for the air. This can result in better combustion and reduced engine wear.

Tire Inflation
When you fill up the tire with compressed air, the oxygen in the air can permeate through the walls and deteriorate the rubber materials of the tire, corrode the rims and cause the inflation pressure to reduce over time.
As you know, under-inflated tires is one of the factors that can cause poor fuel efficiencies.
By using nitrogen gas to fill up the tires you will have less deterioration of the tires. Tires will last longer, run cooler, and the rims will not be corroded. Your tire threads will last longer and replacement costs go down.

Other Products
There are other fuel and lubricating oil additives that claim to lower engine friction and improve combustion. Some of them are worth trying but some are duds.
When trying them out, do be careful that they do not destroy the catalytic converter or render your new vehicle warranty void.
Source http://www.free-engineering.com/tm-55modifycar.htm

How to save fuel by modifying your car

How to Save Fuel by Modifying Your Car
By: Thomas Yoon
In my previous articles, I have discussed many ways to save fuel for your vehicle. Some of these are:
1. Adopting good driving habits like observing speed limits, reducing braking, gradual acceleration, reducing excessive weights, avoiding idling time, using cruise speed control high gears.
2. Maintaining your car in peak condition, having correct timing, clean air filters, spark plugs, correct tire pressures and proper lubrication.
3. Planning your trips, carpooling, avoiding traffic jams, driving smaller vehicles, choosing more efficient cars.
By following some of the items listed above, you should be able to get a very good performance from the fuel you fill up into your tank.
Nowadays, vehicles are built to be very efficient. However, if you have an older car model, you still might be able to improve its efficiency further. You can install or modify the existing system to improve its performance.
There are lots of devices in the open market that can help you improve fuel economy. However, keep in mind that many of these devices are advertising hypes and might even perform very poorly in actual conditions.
Electronic Ignition System
If you have an old vehicle that still runs on a contact breaker system, fitting an electronic ignition system into the vehicle can improve the fuel economy indirectly.
Although not strictly a fuel saving device, an electronic ignition device keeps the vehicle in tune with minimal maintenance. This ensures that the combustion remains efficient longer than with a contact breaker system. The resulting consistent burning of fuel results in better fuel savings.
Fuel Catalysts
Fuel catalysts are chemicals, substances or compound that you can simply drop into the fuel tank or install somewhere between the fuel tank and the engine.
They are supposed to accelerate a chemical reaction, but they remain unchanged during the process.
When a catalyst is installed in the fuel system, it speeds up the combustion process, making it more complete. In this way, all the energy of combustion is released for driving the engine instead of having some of it exhausted.
Installation of the catalyst is a one-off affair. You should be able to recover what you have spent on the catalyst from the fuel savings in a short time. Usually the catalysts can be used for the entire life of the vehicle. They can even be transferred from one vehicle to another.
The most frequently used fuel catalysts are made of compounds of tin and other precious metals. The actual ingredients are a result of research, and are closely guarded secrets of the manufacturers.
Manufacturers claim that adding these catalysts will produce smoother engine operation, cleaner exhaust emissions and achieve fuel savings up to 8%.
Free-flow Air Filters
These filters do not by themselves save fuel. However, they provide better filtration for the air. This can result in better combustion and reduced engine wear.
Tire Inflation
When you fill up the tire with compressed air, the oxygen in the air can permeate through the walls and deteriorate the rubber materials of the tire, corrode the rims and cause the inflation pressure to reduce over time.
As you know, under-inflated tires is one of the factors that can cause poor fuel efficiencies.
By using nitrogen gas to fill up the tires you will have less deterioration of the tires. Tires will last longer, run cooler, and the rims will not be corroded. Your tire threads will last longer and replacement costs go down.
Other Products
There are other fuel and lubricating oil additives that claim to lower engine friction and improve combustion. Some of them are worth trying but some are duds.
When trying them out, do be careful that they do not destroy the catalytic converter or render your new vehicle warranty void.
Source http://www.free-engineering.com/tm-55modifycar.htm

Another tips for fuel saving

1. Slow down - just follow the speed limit
2. Check your tire pressure - at least once a month, in cool condition.
3. accelerate moderately
4. turn off air conditioner - (only applicable at night)
5. keep the original - don’t upgrade your car with fancy rim or tyre
6. reduce your car weight
7. downsize - use a smaller car (CLK? Cute Little Kancil.)
8. Don’t drive - those without driving license don’t spend much on fuel
9. Avoid extremely high speeds
10. Don’t brake hard
11. Keep windows closed at high speed (of course with air-con on)
12. Service vehicle regularly
13. Maintaining a constant speed
14. Avoid long idles - turn it off if it is going to be idle for more than 1 minute
15. Warming up engine is not necessary
16. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up
17. Buy fuel during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is the best.
18. Use credit card with fuel rebate
19. Never fill gas tank past the first “click” of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.
20. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save fuel.
21. Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you’re on it.
22. Avoid rough roads whenever possible - dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your fuel mileage.
23. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, straighter.
24. Place gear into neutral position when waiting at traffic light
25. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear
26. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment.
27. Set air conditioners to auto if available
28. Car pools reduce travel monotony and fuel expense
29. Do whatever possible online, by phone etc such as banking, document delivery, shopping etc
30. when filling up, don’t squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the fastest mode
31. Fill up when your tank is half full
32. Sometime it is worth to pay the toll
33. Look further to anticipate obstacle - don’t tailgate
34. Park at shaded car park - save your air-con
35. No unnecessary external accessories
36. Monitor your odometer or tripmeter
37. Use K-link fuel saver? If it really works, you don’t have to advertise it in this desperate situation.
38. Plan ahead by combining your errands into one trip
39. Plan your trips so you go out during less-congested times of day.
40. Work from home
41. Take public transportation (I am just kidding)
42. Cycling to work - it might be better than taking the public transportation
43. Use NGV - read this real experience by Fathersez
44. When going downhill, ease your throttle down and work with gravity to build up speed.
45. Move nearer to your work place
46. Use cruise control only on flat road
47. When there is a timer on traffic light showing “99? seconds and stays still, off your engine.
48. Scrap your car if all the above fail.
Source http://www.pjnet.com.my/ftopict-20337-.html

How to save fuel

Whether you drive a two-seat hybrid or a three-ton SUV, chances are you can squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of fuel -- and at today's gas prices, an improvement of just one or two miles per gallon (MPG) can really add up. These ten fuel saving tips have served me well over the years, and they can help you improve your car's fuel economy and take some of the sting out of high fuel prices. Most of these tips will give you a very slight increase in MPG -- but use several together and the gas mileage improvements will really add up.

1. Slow down
One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer. (Just be sure you keep to the right, so you won't impede the less-enlightened.)

2. Check your tire pressure
Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of crummy MPG. Tires lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. Buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. Be sure to check them when they are cold, since driving the car warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on the data plate in the driver's door jamb.

3. Check your air filter
A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; remove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can't see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar "permanent" filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filters, plus they're better for the environment.

4. Accelerate with care
Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster -- but that doesn't mean you should crawl away from every light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel.

5. Hang with the trucks
Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel (and aggravation).

6. Get back to nature
Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof. If I'm going someplace where arriving sweaty and smelly could be a problem, I bring an extra shirt and leave early so I'll have time for a quick change.

7. Back off the bling
New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tires on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tire in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.

8. Clean out your car
If you're the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car cleanliness -- and I definitely fall into that category -- periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. It doesn't take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff, and the more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns.

9. Downsize
If you're shopping for a new car, it's time to re-evaluate how much car you really need. Smaller cars are inherently more fuel-efficient, and today's small cars are roomier than ever -- one of my favorite subcompacts, the Nissan Versa, has so much interior room that the EPA classifies it as a mid-size. Worried about crash protection? The automakers are designing their small cars to survive crashes with bigger vehicles, and safety features like side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are becoming commonplace in smaller cars.

10. Don't drive
Not a popular thing to say on a car site, I know, but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you'll save gas. Take the train, carpool, and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?"
Source http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/tp/ag_top_fuelsave.htm