How to boost fuel economy of you car when the fuel prices are going up?
Posted by admin in Finance Friday, 9 September 2011 13:45 11 Comments
Even if I use premium oil for my car Lexus ES300, I want to know how can I boost my car’s fuel economy?
Posted by admin in Finance Friday, 9 September 2011 13:45 11 Comments
Even if I use premium oil for my car Lexus ES300, I want to know how can I boost my car’s fuel economy?
Tuneup by Lexus and tires inflated hi but not too hi.
Drive conservatively.
i dont know!
same answer for last 100 years,,,keep it tuned up,,keep proper air in tires and drive easy,,oil isnt gona make a difference you can see
Maintain correct tire pressure, be regular with oil changes, change air filter every 12000 miles, get rid of excess weight (like a full trunk), accelerate slowly. Those are probably the best ways to get the most out of a gallon of gas.
Obviously the car needs to be in top running condition so make sure it is properly tuned up, the filters are all clean and the tires are properly inflated at all times.
The best way to increase fuel economy is to change your driving habits. Drive super conservatively, don’t jump on the gas or hit the brakes hard and don’t speed. Take your time, you’ll get there.
Premium doesn’t have more “power” or “Efficiency” than lower grades of gas. It just spontaniously combusts at higher temperatures. (IE, it reduces engine ping where it is an issue.)
Make sure your tires are running at full pressure, and your engine is in top working order. Go light on the brakes, and coast when you can. Try to keep your revs under 2500rpm. You might want to read up on hypermiling.
Pedro nailed it for you. Just follow his advice and you’ll do fine. He’s 100% correct.
Or slow down to the speed limit. Or place a 2 x 4 block of wood under the gas pedal. But all that won’t significantly reduce fuel consumption. The engine size makes it an excellent git gone machine, but its just too big for good mileage. Either trade for something smaller or a hybrid or an alternative fuel like CNG.
Depending on where you live, CNG (compressed natural gas) is the best thing going. In my area it is equivalent to $1.40 per gallon. I’ve heard 65 cents in Utah. There are several conversion kits available. Google CNG kits and read up on whether it might be right for your needs. Conversion on a Lexus ES300 would not be the cheapest, which is around $1800.
If you vehicle is properly maintained and in good running order the ONLY way to increase fuel economy is to change YOU, not the car. “Premium” oil certainly isn’t going to do anything. The car is going to get whatever mileage it gets. It is up to the driver to maximize that, which almost nobody does.
I have always been an efficient driver. My car only gets driven to and from work and almost never anything else so it is very easy for me to accurately track fuel economy. My car was rated by the EPA when new at 22 city, 29 highway for a combined 24 mpg. I used to consistently get 25 to 26.5 mpg in mixed driving. Then about 5 months ago I became hyper efficient in my driving style. Now I never get less than 29 mpg in mixed driving and recently saw as high as 33 mpg. I did that by changing me. It takes a lot of attention and concentration but hey, what else are you gonna do in the car anyway? Put on makeup while texting and eating breakfast all at the same time?
Rule #1. Brakes convert money into heat, so don’t use them. Yes you have to stop sometime but just about everyone uses their brakes way too much and every time you do you are turning speed (created by burning gasoline which cost you money) into wasted heat energy. If you look far enough ahead and pace yourself properly you will be amazed how little you need to use the brakes. And you will also use less throttle and thus burn less fuel.
Rule #2. Sitting idle gets you 0 mpg. Minimize the amount of time you do that by following Rule #1 and avoiding drive-thru’s and other time and gas-wasting stops where you leave the engine running. On a recent errand I had to pass through 16 metered intersections. I hit 15 or those 16 lights when they were green. If you watch 3, 4 or even 5 lights ahead you can pace yourself so you almost never get caught at a red. And you will keep passing the fools who keep taking off at the green only to be caught at the next red light, over and over again. Constantly moving is much more efficient than constantly starting and stopping. This also works in heavy traffic. If you watch the cars to the horizon instead of just the one immediately ahead of you and give yourself some room even in heavy traffic you can avoid using your brakes frequently.
There’s more, but that is enough for now.
Using synthetic oil might marginally improve your fuel economy when the engine is cold, but not enough to justify the price. There are no contraptions you can buy that will improve your fuel economy either, despite any claims you might read. Every time fuel prices go up, scams proliferate. Consumer Reports just did an article on this:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/car-maintenance/gassaving-devices-904/overview/index.htm
You would need a subscription to read it, but the bottom line is that they cost money and don’t work at all. Tested items include the “Fuel Genie,” the infamous “Tornado,” and the “Platinum Gas Saver.” More information on fuel saving scams can be had at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/reports.htm
If you want to save on gas, the common sense things apply:
Let up on the gas. Avoid jackrabbit starts, and stay within the speed limit. Don’t use premium gas unless your owner’s manual recommends it for your car. Avoid unnecessary trips. Drive off-peak hours when possible. A car stuck in traffic gets 0 MPG.
Keep your tires inflated to recommended pressure (don’t overinflate them, this is dangerous). Shut off the engine when you’re not going to move for a while, e.g., when you’re waiting to pick someone up at the train station. CR recommends turning off the ignition if you’re going to wait more than 30 seconds, although you should not do this in traffic. Find alternate transportation when possible. Walk or bike when you don’t really need your car.
I am a commuter and got a bi-fuel CNG car conversion. I save hundred of dollars per month. I couldnt find reliable info until I saw http://www.skycng.com. They don’t sell anything. Just good info from other people who converted.