Maximize Your Fuel Efficience

Written by Andrea Susan Glass


Continued from page 1
Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly-Replacing a clogged air filter could improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10%. Additionally, it will protect your engine from impurities. Change this more often if you live in a dusty climate, drive on dirt or gravel roads or if you drive off-road for fun. Keep Tires Properly Inflated-Your gas mileage can increase by about 3.3% if you keep tires inflated to their proper pressure. It takes more effort and gas forrepparttar engine to propel an underinflated tire than a correctly inflated one-which provide less road-resistance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Beware over-inflation, though, which can lead to handling problems and uneven tire wear. Check tire pressure on a regular basis, looking for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure if there is a sharp change in temperature, as cold weather decreases air pressure inrepparttar 102769 tires. Userepparttar 102770 Recommended Grade of Motor Oil-Fuel efficiency can improve by 1-2% if you userepparttar 102771 manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Also, if you change your own oil, look for motor oil rated as "Energy Conserving" to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives. Check Which Gas to Use-Chooserepparttar 102772 correct octane gas for your car by checking your owner's manual. It's not necessary to buyrepparttar 102773 "super" high-octane gas unless your car manufacturer recommends it or your engine knocks without it. While you won't do harm torepparttar 102774 engine, you will be paying more than you need to, since premium (highest octane) gas sells for an average of 17 cents more per gallon than regular gas. Only about 6% of cars sold inrepparttar 102775 U.S. need premium gas, according torepparttar 102776 AAA. Also, avoid topping off your gas tank, since in warmer weather, fuel expansion can cause an overflow and you'll be wasting precious fuel. You want to be a fuel saver-not a fuel waster! Planning & Combining Trips: Combining errands to do together and in similar areas saves time and money. Several short trips starting from a cold engine can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip that coversrepparttar 102777 same distance whenrepparttar 102778 engine is warmed up. With a little advance planning, you can avoid high traffic areas, road construction, retracing your route and ultimately reducerepparttar 102779 distance you travel while running errands. You'll not only save on fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

Commuting: If you can alternate your work hours to avoid rush hour, you'll spend less time sitting in traffic and burn up less fuel. For stop and go traffic, drive your best gas mileage car if you own more than one vehicle. Contemplate telecommuting (working from home) when your job permits. If you can, participate in carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if you take turns sharing driving with others.

Traveling: A roof rack or carrier affords additional cargo space and helps out when you have a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack decreases fuel efficiency by 5%. Reducerepparttar 102780 wind resistance and increase your fuel efficiency by putting objects insiderepparttar 102781 trunk when possible. Also, remove any unnecessary items, especially heavy ones, as an extra 100 lbs. inrepparttar 102782 trunk reduces a car's fuel efficiency by about 1 to 2%.

© 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited withoutrepparttar 102783 consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."



Andrea Susan Glass, founder of WritersWay and All About Hybrid Cars, helps clients reach their writing and marketing goals with effective articles, press releases, newsletters, Web site copy, eBooks and books. An award-winning author for "Street Smart Secrets to Auto Care You Can Trust," she has written books, eBooks and articles on subjects ranging from animals and auto repair to singles and spirituality.


Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Written by Andrea Susan Glass


Continued from page 1

Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly The refuelling andrepparttar starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, whilerepparttar 102768 driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however,repparttar 102769 size ofrepparttar 102770 units continues to decrease with research and testing Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to berepparttar 102771 most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits. They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader inrepparttar 102772 development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some ofrepparttar 102773 most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:

Ethanol Propane Natural gas Biodiesel Electricity Hydrogen At this point, it's anyone's guess whatrepparttar 102774 future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.

© 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited withoutrepparttar 102775 consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."



Andrea Susan Glass, founder of WritersWay and All About Hybrid Cars, helps clients reach their writing and marketing goals with effective articles, press releases, newsletters, Web site copy, eBooks and books. An award-winning author for "Street Smart Secrets to Auto Care You Can Trust," she has written books, eBooks and articles on subjects ranging from animals and auto repair to singles and spirituality.


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