Cars • economics24.com

August 16, 2008

Increase Fuel Economy By Facing Your Number One Gas Consuming Enemy: Idling!

Filed under: Cars — Tags: Air Conditioning, Best Gas Mileage, Blowing Gas, Burning Fuel, Environmental Problem, Gas Emissions, Gas Money, Golden Rule, Hummer, Hypermilers, Increase Fuel Economy, Mileage, Miles Per Gallon, Myth, Pun, Tellers, Ten Seconds, Waiting In Line, Waster, Zero Miles — admin @ 7:19 pm

Scott Siegel asked:

At over $4.00 per gallon, every drop of fuel is precious, or so I thought until I see people leave their cars idling while they run back into their house to get something they forgot. I see people idling their cars to keep cool in the air conditioning while waiting for their spouse to come out of the store. I see cars idling waiting in line at McDonald’s, I see them idling waiting at the auto tellers and I see them idling waiting to pick up their kids from school.

Those people must not only have a lot of money to burn (pun intended) but they seem to have no regard for any type of conservation or any regard for the environment. There is no faster way to waste gas, money and clean air than idling your car.

Everyone wants to get the best gas mileage from their vehicle. It is even fashionable to compare gas mileage such that the person with the highest fuel economy numbers is the “winner”. Then why do so many seem to ignore fuel economy by sitting in a car going nowhere with the motor running? Whether you drive a Hummer or a Honda, the biggest single gas waster is idling your car.

When you are idling you are burning fuel and your car is not moving. That means you are getting zero miles per gallon during that time. You are also blowing gas emissions into the atmosphere and adding to the world environmental problem.

There used to be a myth, that some still adhere to, that starting a car uses up a lot more fuel than idling for a while. If you idle for less than 10 seconds that may be the case but if you are idling for more than 10 seconds, you are using significantly more gas than you would use by turning your car off and starting it up when you were ready to drive.

Ten seconds is the golden rule. More than ten seconds of idling means turn your car off. Now, I am not advocating that you turn your car off at red lights, although some hypermilers do, but I urge you eliminate idling as much as you can.

There are many opportunities to cut down on the amount of time you idle your car. First and foremost stop using drive through anything. Don’t use the drive through at McDonald’s. That cheap burger could be costing you a lot more than you think when you add in the cost of the gas you are wasting in that drive through line. Don’t use the drive up auto teller. Think how much that free checking is really costing you as you burn gas waiting for the teller to process your transaction.

Whenever you can park your car and turn it off rather than sit idling and burning gas, do it. Not only will walking into the bank save gas, you will get a little more exercise too! Increase your fuel economy, save yourself some money and help save the planet all at the same time by doing something as simple as reducing the amount of time your car is idling. You will feel good about it!

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Cold Temperatures Lower Your Fuel Economy

Filed under: Cars — Tags: Brakes, Car Parts, Cold Temperatures, Cold Weather, Engine Oil, Fuel Economy, Fuel Mileage, Gas Mileage, Issues With Regard, Joints, Mileage, Precipitation, Steering Mechanisms, Suspension Systems, Transmission Power, Wheel, Wheel Bearings, Wheels, Winter Conditions — admin @ 8:04 am

Scott Siegel asked:

Winter conditions put a tremendous strain on your car and on your driving. Winter also puts a strain on your fuel economy. In order to prevent a decrease in your fuel economy you need to be aware of some specific issues with regard to your car and your driving in the winter.

One of the two main characteristics of winter, cold temperatures, create conditions that lower your fuel economy. A car that is cold uses more fuel to start up than a warm car. The colder the car the more fuel it uses when it starts.

In cold weather, the engine of your car is harder to start. The oil in your car is thicker when it is cold and thus requires more energy to get it flowing. All the parts that are lubricated by this thicker oil require more energy to move them. More energy means that it will take more fuel to move the parts. Your engine will use more fuel to run until it warms up.

Cold temperatures also effect other parts of your car. The bearings, joints, transmission, power assisted brakes, and steering mechanisms will all require more energy to move them when they are cold. These mechanisms all depend on some fluids to operate. Like the engine oil these fluids will be thicker in cold weather and will require more energy to move them. Again that translates into more gas.

Other parts of your car will be stiff and may be frozen. Moisture in the air can condense and freeze on many car parts. Water from precipitation or from the road may have frozen on to part of the car. It will take more energy to move these parts. Wheel bearings, suspension systems and wheels themselves are some of the parts effected. The same applies, more energy needed to move these parts translates into more fuel burned and lower gas mileage.

Since your engine needs to overcome some temperature issues to lubricate itself in the cold you do need to give it a little longer to idle after starting than you would in the summer. But, I have to stress this, it only needs about 30 seconds of idling, no more. That little extra idling does affect your gas mileage.

Some things you can do to mitigate the affects of cold on gas mileage are: Park your car in a heated garage if available. Even a non heated garage may be warmer than leaving your car outside. It may be time to get rid of all the boxes in your garage and make room for your car.

Make sure you are using an oil that is recommended for your car in cold temperatures. The proper oil will flow better in cold weather thus reducing the amount of energy needed to start and run a cold engine.

In extreme cold climates an engine block heater will help keep the engine and oil warm thus avoiding a complete cold start. You will need a way to plug it in and keep it plugged in until you are ready to drive.

Don’t wast fuel warming your car when you start it. You only need about 30 seconds of idling to make sure the oil is flowing sufficiently in the engine. Excessive idling beyond 30 seconds will rob you of gas mileage faster than anything else. Let the car continue to warm up as you are driving.

Although winter and the cold temperatures that it brings can greatly reduce fuel economy you can minimize it’s affect. If you follow the simple steps outlined you can keep your gas mileage up at the level it should be.

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Why It Is Crucial To Your Fuel Economy To Maintain Your Tires Properly

Filed under: Cars — Tags: Air Pressure, Cold Temperatures, Culprit, Gas Mileage, Inflated Tires, Magnitude, Many People, Mileage, Poor Fuel Economy, Proper Tire Inflation, Psi, Recommended Pressure, Resistance, Slush, Tire Gauge, Tire Rotation Pattern, Tires, Wheels, Winter Time, Winter Tires — admin @ 5:32 am

Gregg Hall asked:

Many people do not realize how important it is to take proper care of their tires for better fuel economy. Caring for your tires is important to prolong the life of the tires but it is also a crucial factor in fuel economy. Keeping your tires rotated, inflated to the right PSI and having the wheels properly aligned and balanced can drastically increase your gas mileage.

Proper tire inflation is a major culprit in poor fuel economy. If you are like most drivers you probably don’t fully recognize the magnitude of how improperly inflated tires can adversely affect fuel economy. If your tires are under inflated it causes them to be softer and can lessen your gas mileage by as much as four percent if you are running ten pounds under, on the other hand if your tires are inflated properly it can increase your gas mileage by over three percent.

When tires are kept at their recommended air pressure it not only gives you a better ride and superior handling but also allows for optimum gas mileage. You should keep the tires inflated at the recommended pressure that is indicated on the driver’s side door. If there is a range instead of a certain number you should inflate the tires to the higher number to maximize your gas mileage. It is also important to be sure that they are inflated evenly.

In the winter your tires need even more attention because they will lose a pound of pressure for every ten degrees that the temperature drops. The air pressure in your tires goes down in cold temperatures and this just adds to the resistance that is caused by slush and snow. You should check your tires more frequently in the winter time and be sure that all of your tires are inflated equally. Be sure to have your own tire gauge because many times those at service stations are inaccurate.

You should also rotate your tires to be sure that the wear is distributed evenly over all of your tires. You can find the tire rotation pattern in the owner’s manual for your automobile and you should do this a couple of times a year. You also should be aware that the types of tires used affect gas mileage as well.

When it is time to replace one of your tires you should look at your owner’s manual to see the tires recommended for your vehicle. If you have a local tire service person that you trust you can ask them for recommendations as well. Look for tires with low rolling resistance.

Wheel alignment is another crucial aspect that should not be overlooked. If your wheels are improperly aligned they can cause unnecessary friction which also cuts fuel economy as well as the life of the tires.

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Fuel Economy Car Becomes a Important Role

Filed under: Cars — Tags: Automaker, Balancer Shaft, Car Production, Carmakers, Cylinder Gasoline, Domestic Competition, Economy Car, Economy Vehicle, Faw Group Corp, Fuel Economy, Gasoline Engine, Global Auto Industry, Head Of A Pin, Indian Car Market, North China, Shockwaves, Stroke Engine, Tata Motors, Tiny Music, Xiali — admin @ 4:57 am

Angulo Fu asked:

World’s Cheapest Car is Unveiled

After months of rumors and tantalizing leaks, Indian automaker Tata Motors has finally unveiled the Tata Nano — its already legendary $2,500 (1-lakh) car.

The words “Tata Nano” have nothing to do with tiny music players, but the car going by that name’s price and size are still nearly small enough to dance on the head of a pin.

As expected, the car that Tata claims will change the face of not only the Indian car market, but the global auto industry will be a four door, five seat hatch, powered by a 30 HP Bosch 624 cc four stroke engine mounted out back and mated to a CVT. That makes the Nano the first time a 2-cylinder gasoline engine will be used in a car with a single balancer shaft. The Nano’s also expected to get 54 US miles per gallon.

Background

Petrol price have successfully hit record levels after oil reached the $100 a barrel mark, sending financial shockwaves through world markets. Fuel economy is at the top of the list of factors shoppers consider when looking at a new vehicle. In face of this situation, more and more manufacturers began to focus on the fuel economy vehicle.

China’s Car Manufacturers

Actually, China’s car manufacturers are paying gigantic effort on the fuel economy vehicle and have got very big accomplishment.

China’s auto giant FAW has become involved in economy car production once it has controlling shares in Tianjin Automotive Xiali Co. (TAIC), the country’s major economy car producer. TAIC, which is based in the port city of Tianjin, north China, is capable of producing 230,000 cars, 270,000 engines and 10,000 large tractors annually, while FAW manufactured and sold about 1430,000 cars last year.

In 2007, China FAW Group Corp became the country’s first automaker to operate a plant in Mexico, as increasing domestic competition causes Chinese carmakers to seek sales in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. FAW’s Mexican plant is set to open in 2010 with a capacity of 100,000 fuel economy cars a year, according to the statement. Sales of imported cars had begun last year.

Chery, China’s largest independent carmaker and is specialized in fuel economy vehicle, expects to export 110,000 vehicles this year, predominately to the Middle East and Russia, Zhang Lin, general manager of Chery International, a division of the Wuhu-based automaker, said on November 15. The company will also build cars for Chrysler LLC.

Geely, the largest private car manufacturer in China, enter into South Africa is another milestone in her history. As the first overseas joint venture South Africa of Geely International, Geely SA will import and distribute Geely cars in South Africa. The first model will be introduced into SA is Geely CK, a kind of fuel economy cars.

Auto Car Trade Shows

Here are several famous Chinese auto car trade shows as follows:

China International Automobile Manufacturing Exposition

36,000 sqm of exhibition area will be available, and you will be exposed to:

- Over 800 exhibitors;

- Businesses from over 30 countries and regions;

- Over 8,000 business decision makers from 20 countries including the US, Asia and European participants;

- More than 20 high-level summits and procurement information release conferences will be held.

Auto Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition

China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition started in 2003, which was positioned at “High Quality, Internationalization and Comprehensiveness”. On the basis of major support from Guangzhou Municipal Government, China’s 1/3 car consumer market, powerful car developing industry and the one of the best exhibition hall in Asia, it has become one of China’s famous automobile exhibitions after four years’ operation.

The 8th Dalian International Auto & Parts Exhibition

Dalian International Automotive Industry Exhibition is one of the exhibitions planned, initiated and fostered by Dalian People’s Government. Through this exhibition, Dalian People’s Government intends to build a free-trade, logistics and sales center of automobiles and to attract more auto projects and to provide an extensive market for the automotive and auto parts merchants from home and abroad.

China Leading B2B Marketplace

Made-in-China.com is a leading internet-based directory of China products & China Suppliers. Its rich resources have made it the best online platform for international trade between global buyers & China Suppliers.

Every day, Millions of global buyers find the most complete, high-quality, reliable and updated resources of China products and their suppliers through Made-in-China.com.

Fuel Economy Vehicle -Double-Edged Sword?

One aspect, the fuel economy car can cut down the fuel gas contamination and restrain oil price from going up. Besides, appearance of the fuel economy car makes the possession of a car become a reality for many families.

Another aspect, the trend would aggravate the urban traffic.

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August 15, 2008

Get More Mpg for Your Car With Simple Devices That Improve Fuel Economy

Filed under: Cars — Tags: Air Fuel Mixture, Cars Trucks, Fuel Crisis, Fuel Economy, Gadgets Gizmos, Hybrid Cars, Intake Manifold, Latest Gadgets, Life Thanks, Liquid Mixture, Lookout, Mixe, Myths, New Car, New Lease, Old Bangers, Ridiculous Claims, Scams, Shams, Suvs — admin @ 3:04 am

mike legg asked:

Let’s face it the way things are going it doesn’t look like the price of fuel is going to drop anytime soon. In fact it looks like things are going to get a lot worse. With this in mind many drivers are on the lookout for devices that improve fuel economy and help them get more MPG for their vehicles (whether that be cars, trucks or SUVs).
For those who can afford it, trading in their existing vehicle for a more fuel efficient model,( as most newer vehicles get more MPG than an older one would) or one of the new Hybrid cars seems to be the way to go. However the majority of us, who’s budget doesn’t stretch to a new car will have to rely on devices that improve fuel economy to get more MPG from their old bangers.
During this fuel crisis (as in any crisis) you will get people coming up with scams and schemes to relieve you of your hard earned cash. Scams claiming to have the latest gadgets that will get you the highest MPG from any car or vehicle. Sadly most of these gadgets are shams or myths, some of which have been around for years and are just now popping up again with a new lease of life thanks to the internet.
However along with the more ridiculous claims of gadgets, gizmos, and devices that improve fuel economy, there are some that just may work. Listed below are some of the more promising ones. Now I’m not claiming that these will get more MPG for your car or improve your fuel economy in any significant way, but after reading up on them, they at least seem more practical than most that I have come across.
Devices that improve fuel economy.
1) Carburettor Mixture Enhancers. This is a device that is installed between the intake manifold and your carburettor, and is supposed to improve the process of vaporising the air/fuel mixture before being burned in the engine.2) Liquid Mixture Enhancers. These work on a similar principle of the Carburettor Mixture Enhancers but are in liquid form and mixed with your regular fuel.3) Killer Wires. These are used in replacement of your ordinary spark plugs and are claimed to improve the spark by creating magnetic fields and so improve combustion.4) Fuel Additives. Such as xylene which is added to your fuel tank along with your regular fuel to give you better fuel economy and get more MPG.5) Water to Energy Converters. These are small Hydrogen Generators for cars and use electrolysis to produce Hydrogen Oxygen Gas which is mixed with your regular fuel mixture and results in a more efficient burning fuel.
These are just 5 of the devices that improve fuel economy and help you get more MPG. There are hundreds if not thousands more out there. As I mentioned before a lot of these are just scams and not all of them are going to work, but these 5 at least sound practical, and anything that could get more MPG for your car has got to be worth a try.

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