Fråga bort! med Jeff Smith: Tips för Maxxing MPG med Fuel Mixing (2023)

FAQs

How do I get the maximum fuel efficiency of my car? ›

The answer, all too often, is no. Many so-called fuel-saving devices are simply well-packaged hoaxes that base their claims on questionable science and offer little or no change in a vehicle's performance. In some cases, these devices can actually hurt mileage and cause engine damage.

Pressing the accelerator pedal gently will help you save gas. Following this rule of thumb allows for more efficient driving. Aim to take about five seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 15 miles per hour from a stop. For a manual transmission, use a moderate throttle position and shift between 2000 and 2500 rpm.

Makes Your Car More Fuel-Efficient

If your transmission fails to work in harmony with your engine, your vehicle will likely consume more fuel than it normally does. Therefore, getting your transmission flushed can improve the fuel economy of your car and help you save money.

Transmission oil change on a regular basis helps your engine to run seamlessly and become more fuel-efficient. This results in lower fuel consumption for long-distance travel.

Reducing your speed by 5 to 10 mph can improve fuel economy by 7%–14%. Using cruise control on the highway can help drivers maintain a constant speed; vehicles use the most energy when accelerating.

Typically, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph. As well as fuel economy differing from vehicle to vehicle, it is also dependent on a number of other factors such as tyre pressure, presence of roof racks, and driving style – all of which are covered in this guide.

It's best to drive the speed limit and use cruise control when possible. Rapid acceleration and hard braking quickly eat up fuel, so avoid those actions whenever possible. When your tires are underinflated, fuel consumption can increase by as much as 3%.

Empty your trunk -- Driving around with your trunk full adds weight and reduces your fuel mileage. Travel light, each 50 lbs of added weight results in a 1% reduction in fuel economy. Keep your vehicle clean -- Dirt, mud, and bugs on the exterior of you vehicle creates drag that over long distances hurts your MPG.

EcoChip incorporates state-of-the-art technology that promises to improve the economy of your car's engine, without requiring any changes to your driving habits or vehicle. This innovative device plugs directly into the OBD2 connector of your car and helps reduce CO2 emissions while increasing fuel efficiency.

Do magnets improve fuel efficiency? ›

Magnets attached to a vehicle's fuel line have been claimed to improve fuel economy by aligning fuel molecules, but because motor fuels are non-polar, no such alignment or other magnetic effect on the fuel is possible. When tested, typical magnet devices have shown no effect on vehicle performance or economy.

Experts recommend accelerating quickly, but smoothly. Generally, fuel efficiency is maximized when acceleration and braking are minimized. So a fuel-efficient strategy is to anticipate what is happening ahead, and drive in such a way so as to minimize acceleration and braking, and maximize coasting time.

Diesel engines generally achieve greater fuel efficiency than petrol (gasoline) engines.

Among the given options, hydrogen is the fuel with highest calorific value of 150000 kJ/kg. Therefore, hydrogen is considered as the most efficient fuel.

If you drive manual, most manufacturers will recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you have automatic, you can typically boost that range up to 60,000 to 100,000 miles. There's no harm in changing your fluid early.

If your fluid has never been changed before, replacing it with new fluid can cause the transmission to start slipping, even if it wasn't slipping before. This is because the old fluid will contain clutch material from being in there over time and can actually be helping the transmission to still shift gears.

It's been said that a transmission flush is more effective than a change because: With a flush, all the old fluid is removed by a flush machine and replaced with new fluid, allowing for optimal transmission performance.

According to a number of consumer reports, as well as the FTC, the chance of a fuel additive improving a car's performance and increasing gas mileage is unlikely. Yes, a few products may have some impact, but the effects will be so minimal, most drivers will never notice a difference.

It All Comes Back to Dirty Fluid

Your engine might produce your vehicle's power, but your gearbox is responsible for getting that power to the wheels. If it's having to fight through hot, metallic sludge while constantly shifting at high RPMs, the laws of physics dictate your engine MPG suffer as a result.

Yes: The alternator, which is powered by the engine, is what provides energy to the air conditioner. The engine runs on fuel, meaning you are using up gas when you run the AC. With that said, enjoying a bit of cool air doesn't necessarily mean you're being inefficient.

What speed is best mileage on highways? ›

To optimise fuel economy, it is recommended to drive at a consistent speed within the sweet spot for your vehicle, typically between 80-90 km/h.

Cars use 50% of their energy overcoming aerodynamic drag. Reducing highway speed to 55 mph or less can improve fuel economy between six to eight miles per gallon.

Tire Size. Larger tires decrease your fuel economy because they are heavier, while smaller tires increase fuel efficiency. Bigger tires also have a higher rolling resistance than smaller tires which means they require more resistance and effort to get them rolling.

Platinum plugs deliver enhanced performance and fuel efficiency compared to copper plugs, but for a considerably cheaper price than iridium spark plugs. Much like iridium plugs, platinum spark plugs operate at a lower temperature than copper spark plugs. They can also last up to twice as long as basic copper plugs.

If spark plugs are misfiring or performing poorly, your gas mileage will be affected. Spark plugs are responsible for sparking engine combustion. They can't do that if they aren't working efficiently. Bad oxygen sensors and air filters can reduce gas mileage by as much as 20%!

Use the following rule to prevent running out of fuel: 1/3 going out, 1/3 coming back, 1/3 reserve. (Not counting the fuel reserve tank.) Make sure your passenger sits on the seat provided. Make sure you and your passenger are wearing PFDs.

Chevron. Of America's largest nationwide chains, Chevron scores the highest points in overall customer satisfaction. Its reach spans over 7,800 stores, and while some gas stations offer convenient food marts, one location in North Hollywood goes above and beyond gasoline.

How much do performance chips improve gas mileage? ›

Performance Chips

These chips can adjust the air/fuel ratio, ignition timing, and other engine parameters to optimize fuel economy. Some performance chips can increase gas mileage by up to 20%.

If seeking the Best Budget-Friendly Option, then choose ANCEL OBD2 Performance Chip. Apart from easy installation, it provides real-time monitoring over several vehicle sensors with its built-in scan tool. It troubleshoots and allows your vehicle for enhanced performance. Also, it comes with a 1 year warranty.

Benefits of a Performance Chip

This works for both gas and diesel engines. Performance chips will also improve the horsepower, as much as an additional 60 hp. If your vehicle is a bit sluggish on takeoff, a chip is going to improve acceleration. Potentially, the vehicle could end up with a faster top speed.

The notion of a motor driven by permanent magnets alone is therefore feasible and cannot be dismissed as defying conservation of energy. A permanent magnet motor would not produce energy and would not be a perpetual motion machine.

In the case of gas meters equipped with diaphragms, which parts are made of ferritic steel, not plastics or aluminum, putting a neodymium magnet against the gas meter disrupts a regular operation of its mechanism.

While steel is a common choice, other metals, such as brass, copper and aluminum can also be used to block or shield against magnetic fields, but they are not as effective as iron or steel. There are also specialized materials are specifically designed for magnetic shielding.

Lower octane gas burns quicker than higher octane, and so require less energy to ignite. However, this also means that lower octanes burn more quickly in high pressure environments, and can have a greater tendency to knock.

In terms of acceleration, torque plays a bigger role in how quickly your car accelerates. That's because the torque results from the force the pistons generate and at what speed. The quickest vehicles can generate high levels of this torque force at relatively low rpm. This allows the vehicle to accelerate quickly.

Lead additive is also an excellent solution for classic cars because it is cheap and low cost. If you have an older car, lead additives might be the best option. It is not toxic, doesn't need to be disposed of, doesn't leave any residue, and can be used in all weather conditions.

Generally, a four-cylinder engine offers better fuel economy than a six-cylinder. Its better fuel economy is mostly due to having less horsepower but also by being smaller and reducing the weight of your car. Add in turbocharging, and there's even more improvement in fuel efficiency and performance.

What makes an automatic car consume more fuel? ›

Your car AC extracts power from your car's engine only. Therefore the engine undergoes more pressure due to which it has to do more work and ultimately consume more fuel.

Probably the biggest secret to achieving high mpg is driving in the highest possible gear for your vehicle while keeping within the speed limit. The best advice in urban areas is to change up through the gears as quickly as you can with the lowest revs possible, probably at around 2000rpm.

Using a vehicle's air-conditioning system increases its fuel consumption more than any other auxiliary feature. An air-conditioning (a/c) system can increase fuel consumption by up to 20% because of the extra load on the engine.

Over speeding, Overloading, and Air Conditioning

Generally, in normal cars, speeds above 120 km/h result in fuel wastage. Similarly, overloading also puts undue pressure on the engine. In order to propel the added weight, the engine must work harder to produce more power; therefore, using more fuel in the process.

While vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 miles per hour (mph). For light-duty vehicles, for example, every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying $0.30 more per gallon of gas (based on the price of gas at $4.32 per gallon).

For better mileage you have to change gears in the middle rev range and this ranges from 1500 to 2000 RPM.

1.0-1.2 Litre Engines

You'll get a good fuel economy out of them, as the smaller capacity means less fuel is used. This is great if you mainly do a lot of stop/start driving, such as in a city where there are lots of traffic lights, or if you usually make short journeys.

Wondering what RPM should a car drive at when on a highway? There is no single RPM that is considered “normal” when cruising on a highway. To reduce wear and tear to the engine and ensure you get maximum fuel efficiency, it's best to stay in the 2000-3000 RPM range when driving on a highway at 60-70 mph.

What is the best fluid to stop transmission slipping? ›

Lucas Transmission Fix is a non-solvent formula that stops slip, hesitation, and rough shifting in worn transmissions. Completely eliminates most seal leaks. Use in any transmission for preventative maintenance. Use also in light duty manual transmissions to increase shifting ease and transmission life.

Since Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is 100% petroleum, it can safely blend with all other automotive lubricants including automatic transmission fluid, mineral oil, petroleum oils, and synthetic oils. As an added benefit, it can be used with every oil change and safely extends oil life 50% longer.

Lubegard 19610 Instant Shudder Fixx Friction Modifier is the number one transmission instant shudder eliminator used by more professional transmission technicians. This is a five time concentrated friction modifier formulated specifically for eliminating transmission shudder problems instantly.

Premium gas has a higher resistance to engine knock in luxury and performance vehicles with turbochargers or high-compression engines, so you can hit that horsepower smoothly. Additionally, premium gas can increase fuel efficiency, potentially bringing better gas mileage for longer while decreasing emissions.

Cold air intake - Cold air intakes will improve fuel efficiency, only to the extent that they are actually delivering colder air versus your stock intake. Air cleaners and filters - Air cleaners and filters generally don't produce much in the way of fuel economy.

Aside from mechanical issues, other factors can affect gas mileage. Miskelley says bad alignment, improperly inflated tires, poor tread and driving habits can make a difference in how far a gallon of gas goes. "Poorly maintained tires can cause your car to pull harder and do extra work to get going," says Miskelley.