I’m sure you’ve heard the old story comes along about someone who invented a special carburetor. The story goes; the carburetor would allow any vehicle to get a hundred miles to the gallon.
As nice as thoughts of such a device might be, it is a myth. The reason why is that you have to have a certain amount of energy [fuel,] to move a given weight, at given speed, with based upon the engine that is in the vehicle. This is basic stuff, and you have to think both inside and outside the box to change your fuel economy.
In reality better fuel economy is a factor of many things. Cars are engineered with better and lighter engines, the vehicles are made with lighter materials, and cars are made “slippier” when they have less wind resistance.
When you’re considering the different things you can do to make your car more efficient, there are a few things that come to mind. When desired fuel mileage is not being obtained with a present vehicle, many times a new vehicle is considered as the only remedy. There are no changes that can be made to a vehicle to increase the mileage over that it was designed to deliver. The present vehicle can often deliver considerably better mileage than it currently does, however.
Other tips like keeping tires inflated, switching to an energy conserving engine oil and reducing unnecessary weight also help, but to a much smaller degree. Replacing a dirty air filter is always a good idea, but will not help mileage, just the longitivity of a fuel injected vehicle.
Another factor would be to change your driving style, don’t race, and don’t rest your foot on the brake. I hear a lot of people say that they’ll trade their vehicle in, thereby moving from a vehicle that gets 20 MPG to one that gets 30 MPG. Driving 12,000 miles per year and with fuel cost of $4.00 per gallon, the savings is $800.00 per year. Paying $25,000 plus for a new vehicle will require over 31 years to break even, so this factor should not come into play for buying another vehicle.
So if we’re agreed that if you’re driving a non-efficient vehicle, but buying a more fuel efficient vehicle is not the answer, what can you do?
This is where you think outside the box. What are the Japanese working on now? Hybrids. Some of the Hybrids are gas/electric, and one of the prototypes is a pure hydrogen vehicle. Either way you go, buying one of these vehicles would be TENS of thousands of dollar more than a conventional vehicle.
What if you convert YOUR vehicle, yes, that gas guzzler, into a hybrid? That would do three things.
One, maximize the fuel efficiency by using the tips I mentioned.
Two, the satisfaction of beating those guys that are holding the high cost of gas over our heads.
Three, the feeling of controlling Your car, Your expenses, because converting your car doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money.
I have a couple of links for you to check out, but please do what you can to reduce the cost of operating your vehicle. Taxes are going to be high over the next few years; I expect inflation to climb, so we have to do something to control our costs.
I do have ideas that are guaranteed to reduce people’s outlay, and I will be posting them as time goes on, but a lot of them won’t be fun. I know for me, I like this kind of car stuff. I hope you do too.
If you have any questions, please email me at my email, or check out my website
Have a great weekend.
Friday, April 23, 2010
What is the Government doing to our trucks
I read an article this morning on the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid truck that’s being offered now and being that this is the highest rated truck, (according to U S News), this is going to be a very popular purchase in the next year.
I like reading reviews of different vehicles, figuring that if I ever win the lottery I’ll be prepared!
I like trucks, so I read a number of reviews, and really couldn't find a bad one. Of course, the other full size, like the Ford and Dodge ram, they all came very highly rated too, so when I win the jackpot, I’ll get a couple.
After reading the article, a light bulb went off in my head. The numbers were not adding up. So I sat down, put pen to paper, this is what I came up with. I’m just going to focus on the difference in between the Hybrid, and the Standard vehicle.
This is what I learned:
The Hybrid vehicle is rated by the EPA to get 21 Miles per gallon and 22 on the Highway and the Standard Truck gets 14 in the city, and 19 on the highway.
Now you and I know that the normal driver won't get that, but that really doesn't matter, because I want to compare apples to apples. Is the extra gas mileage you getting with the Hybrid worth it?
Now the Hybrid has a 300 volt battery system that automatically shuts itself on and off. The gas motor kicks in when you get about 30 miles an hour or so. The Hybrid also has the feature that when you’re cruising at highway speeds, the hybrid will run on four cylinders, instead of eight.
Let's say that gas is 3 dollars a gallon, and going with the city mileage, as the hybrid excels there. That means that the Hybrid would get 545 miles per tank while the Standard truck would get 360 miles per tank. You would get an extra 185 miles per tank. You would pay an extra 39 dollars per tank at 3 dollars per gallon.
If you tank up once every two weeks, that would save you 85 dollars a month in gas, or just over 1,000 a year.
So the hybrid will save you money on your fuel, but is that a true savings.
Afraid not. The purchase price on the Hybrid is just over 36000, as a similar vehicle but not a hybrid is 18500. If you finance it, the monthly payment would be 692, versus 346 on the regular Silverado. You would pay an extra 346 dollars a MONTH!!! to save 85 a month!
Gas Prices would have to go over 10 dollars a gallon to break even, so the true savings would be in gas in the twelve to fifteen dollar a gallon range. Now this is not Ford's or Chevrolet's doing. The Federal Government has mandated that full size trucks now must fall under minimum mile per gallon guidelines. So right now, we have a choice, but in a couple of years, we'll be forced to pay more for less.
I hear you; you're saying I want both! I want to pay the lower price AND get good gas mileage. What are my choices?
If it be me, I'd go with the normal truck, and modify it for higher gas mileage. I would even go one better. Find a car or truck that’s a year or two old, that way you won’t have the massive depreciation on a new car purchase.
In doing my research I found a quiet industry in the Hydrogen Generators. Now there's a lot of information out there, both from believers and skeptics. Not only did I find out that this device does work, but that there's been people running this device for over five years with no ill effect.
Now this system works, and I also know that there's a lot of rumors out there about devices that work and those that don't.
There are clubs that have been established to help their members’ fine tune and tweak their devices.
I have a free offer for you. Check out this site, and if you like the concept, but also want check into it further, no problem. Just let me know, and I’ll send you the link where you can sign in free and read all of the comments and discussions on this device.
Mitch Champagne is an author of The Great Expulsion and a mortgage marketer. He can be reached at cajunwriter69@gmail.com
website: http://www.changing-water-2-gas.info/
My Blog: http://changingwater2gas.blogspot.com/
I like reading reviews of different vehicles, figuring that if I ever win the lottery I’ll be prepared!
I like trucks, so I read a number of reviews, and really couldn't find a bad one. Of course, the other full size, like the Ford and Dodge ram, they all came very highly rated too, so when I win the jackpot, I’ll get a couple.
After reading the article, a light bulb went off in my head. The numbers were not adding up. So I sat down, put pen to paper, this is what I came up with. I’m just going to focus on the difference in between the Hybrid, and the Standard vehicle.
This is what I learned:
The Hybrid vehicle is rated by the EPA to get 21 Miles per gallon and 22 on the Highway and the Standard Truck gets 14 in the city, and 19 on the highway.
Now you and I know that the normal driver won't get that, but that really doesn't matter, because I want to compare apples to apples. Is the extra gas mileage you getting with the Hybrid worth it?
Now the Hybrid has a 300 volt battery system that automatically shuts itself on and off. The gas motor kicks in when you get about 30 miles an hour or so. The Hybrid also has the feature that when you’re cruising at highway speeds, the hybrid will run on four cylinders, instead of eight.
Let's say that gas is 3 dollars a gallon, and going with the city mileage, as the hybrid excels there. That means that the Hybrid would get 545 miles per tank while the Standard truck would get 360 miles per tank. You would get an extra 185 miles per tank. You would pay an extra 39 dollars per tank at 3 dollars per gallon.
If you tank up once every two weeks, that would save you 85 dollars a month in gas, or just over 1,000 a year.
So the hybrid will save you money on your fuel, but is that a true savings.
Afraid not. The purchase price on the Hybrid is just over 36000, as a similar vehicle but not a hybrid is 18500. If you finance it, the monthly payment would be 692, versus 346 on the regular Silverado. You would pay an extra 346 dollars a MONTH!!! to save 85 a month!
Gas Prices would have to go over 10 dollars a gallon to break even, so the true savings would be in gas in the twelve to fifteen dollar a gallon range. Now this is not Ford's or Chevrolet's doing. The Federal Government has mandated that full size trucks now must fall under minimum mile per gallon guidelines. So right now, we have a choice, but in a couple of years, we'll be forced to pay more for less.
I hear you; you're saying I want both! I want to pay the lower price AND get good gas mileage. What are my choices?
If it be me, I'd go with the normal truck, and modify it for higher gas mileage. I would even go one better. Find a car or truck that’s a year or two old, that way you won’t have the massive depreciation on a new car purchase.
In doing my research I found a quiet industry in the Hydrogen Generators. Now there's a lot of information out there, both from believers and skeptics. Not only did I find out that this device does work, but that there's been people running this device for over five years with no ill effect.
Now this system works, and I also know that there's a lot of rumors out there about devices that work and those that don't.
There are clubs that have been established to help their members’ fine tune and tweak their devices.
I have a free offer for you. Check out this site, and if you like the concept, but also want check into it further, no problem. Just let me know, and I’ll send you the link where you can sign in free and read all of the comments and discussions on this device.
Mitch Champagne is an author of The Great Expulsion and a mortgage marketer. He can be reached at cajunwriter69@gmail.com
website: http://www.changing-water-2-gas.info/
My Blog: http://changingwater2gas.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Will Congress Outlaw Pickup Trucks?
Last week I heard on the news that the Federal Government has mandated to Auto manufacturers that the standards for gas mileage are going to be 35.5 for cars and trucks.
Now I drive a small truck, and that got me to thinking. I’d love to get that kind of mileage on mine. I drive a Dodge Dakota, you know the little brother of the big Dodge trucks.
Even though it’s not a full size truck, it does have a full size appetite, at least to me. I get fifteen to seventeen miles a gallon.
There are a number of reasons by trucks are not as gas efficient as a car. The first is that generally they have larger engines, so by default, they generally burn more gas. Also a larger engine is heavier, so that cuts the gas mileage down also.
The second is higher wind resistance. Cars today are much more aerodynamic than trucks, and you also have wind resistance if you have an uncovered bed. But even if you have a cover on the bed of the truck, your gas mileage will not be equal to a car.
The third is the difference in the rear end. No, not the driver, (even though that may be a possibility,) but trucks are designed not only as transportation; many people use them to pull trailers, boats, camper’s etc. Having a rear end designed for towing reducing fuel efficiency.
The last is that trucks are heavier than cars. Simple dynamics. It takes more energy to move a heavier weight.
Now to focus on normal trucks, like mine, or the ram, or the Ford 150, etc,
In 2012 the manufacturer has to have them get twenty five miles a gallon, but by 2016, they have to get 28.3.
What are they going to have to do to hit that mark?
I think that the makers are going to have to do the same things that they’re doing to cars.
The problem with that is, we don’t use our trucks like we use cars. Can you see a Prius towing a Boat? Or a Corolla pulling a 16 foot camper? No way.
I don’t think Congress gets it. How can you go against simple physics? It takes a lot of energy to pull these, and to do so that vehicle has to be designed to haul that pay load.
When the makers get to that point, will they simply stop producing these vehicles? Will you have to spend thousands of dollars in modifications to simply haul your boat or Jet Ski?
This will also mean reduction in recreational items like campers, boats, and travel trailers. Will this also affect the people that make the supporting item, like skis, life jackets, etc.
Over 8 million light trucks are made each year. (And I’m not talking about SUV’s. That’s a lot of damage this will do to our economy.
Now there are exemptions, such as farm use, etc. But for us guys that fall outside, they are screwing with our quality of life, aren’t they?
So they only option we will have is that we will NOT buy these abominations made to look like a honest hard working truck, and we’ll have to keep our faithful trucks for a lot longer than we normally have been.
Of course, that also means that we’ll be spending less, so we can focus more on the upkeep.
I have other blogs posted that has tips on how to extend the life of your vehicle, and that will be even more important for our trucks.
Also check out my blog that shows you how to use a HHO generator to increase your gas mileage 20 to 40 percent, and has the added benefit of reducing emissions that can fail your vehicle.
Guys, this bill has passed, and you need to let Congress know how damaging this can be.
Check out my website for more information on how to increase your gas mileage.
Now I drive a small truck, and that got me to thinking. I’d love to get that kind of mileage on mine. I drive a Dodge Dakota, you know the little brother of the big Dodge trucks.
Even though it’s not a full size truck, it does have a full size appetite, at least to me. I get fifteen to seventeen miles a gallon.
There are a number of reasons by trucks are not as gas efficient as a car. The first is that generally they have larger engines, so by default, they generally burn more gas. Also a larger engine is heavier, so that cuts the gas mileage down also.
The second is higher wind resistance. Cars today are much more aerodynamic than trucks, and you also have wind resistance if you have an uncovered bed. But even if you have a cover on the bed of the truck, your gas mileage will not be equal to a car.
The third is the difference in the rear end. No, not the driver, (even though that may be a possibility,) but trucks are designed not only as transportation; many people use them to pull trailers, boats, camper’s etc. Having a rear end designed for towing reducing fuel efficiency.
The last is that trucks are heavier than cars. Simple dynamics. It takes more energy to move a heavier weight.
Now to focus on normal trucks, like mine, or the ram, or the Ford 150, etc,
In 2012 the manufacturer has to have them get twenty five miles a gallon, but by 2016, they have to get 28.3.
What are they going to have to do to hit that mark?
I think that the makers are going to have to do the same things that they’re doing to cars.
The problem with that is, we don’t use our trucks like we use cars. Can you see a Prius towing a Boat? Or a Corolla pulling a 16 foot camper? No way.
I don’t think Congress gets it. How can you go against simple physics? It takes a lot of energy to pull these, and to do so that vehicle has to be designed to haul that pay load.
When the makers get to that point, will they simply stop producing these vehicles? Will you have to spend thousands of dollars in modifications to simply haul your boat or Jet Ski?
This will also mean reduction in recreational items like campers, boats, and travel trailers. Will this also affect the people that make the supporting item, like skis, life jackets, etc.
Over 8 million light trucks are made each year. (And I’m not talking about SUV’s. That’s a lot of damage this will do to our economy.
Now there are exemptions, such as farm use, etc. But for us guys that fall outside, they are screwing with our quality of life, aren’t they?
So they only option we will have is that we will NOT buy these abominations made to look like a honest hard working truck, and we’ll have to keep our faithful trucks for a lot longer than we normally have been.
Of course, that also means that we’ll be spending less, so we can focus more on the upkeep.
I have other blogs posted that has tips on how to extend the life of your vehicle, and that will be even more important for our trucks.
Also check out my blog that shows you how to use a HHO generator to increase your gas mileage 20 to 40 percent, and has the added benefit of reducing emissions that can fail your vehicle.
Guys, this bill has passed, and you need to let Congress know how damaging this can be.
Check out my website for more information on how to increase your gas mileage.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
7 WAYS TO SAVE GAS AND MONEY ON YOUR VEHICLE
As expensive as gasoline is now, and with no end in sight, we need to become serious in how to stretch a few more miles from every gallon. Some people may go with more fuel efficient vehicles, but when you consider the cost of fuel efficient vehicles, versus working with an older vehicle, it would be cost effective to extend the life of an older vehicle. Here are some inexpensive ways to save money on gasoline, and on vehicle upkeep.
The new car smell is nice, but you’ll spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle, and in today’s economy, it makes sense to be frugal.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED! Check your owner’s manual to see what the maximum is and keep your air pressure within 5 pounds of the recommended MAXIMUM pressure for good gas mileage, because the tire is flexing less. Also, by keeping your tires inflated close to the maximum, not only will your fuel mileage increase, you will also maximize your tire life, thereby saving your money. If the ride is too harsh, reduce the pressure in three pound increments, but realize you are giving up pleasure for mileage. By keeping the air pressure up, your tire versus the road will give you the minimum resistance, thus maximizing your results. Remember to check your air pressure with a good quality pressure gauge in the morning before driving.
2. Buy A GOOD QUALITY TIRE! It’s so hard to find a good quality tire nowadays. The tires that were good in past years may not the quality today. This is a personal preference, but I’ve found that the Michelin tire has a better life, and may be able to increase your gas mileage. Remember, the faster a tire wears out, the more expensive it is.
3. Wheel Alignments. Uneven wear on the tires can mean that either the tire is “out of round” which means the tire is defective, or that the steering is in need of an alignment. Nowadays, the technology allows all four wheels to be aligned, unlike the old days when only the front wheels were aligned. Symptoms are, uneven wear on a tire, the vehicle pulling, or the inside or outside of the tire wearing out. A vehicle that is out of alignment will cause the tires to drag, which uses more fuel to propel your vehicle. You’re spending more money to simply to wear out your tires.
4. CHANGE YOUR OIL Changing your oil when recommended will extend the life of your engine, but
the SYNTHETIC OILS HAVE the added advantage of extra fuel savings. By using the right VISCOSITY,
(Or thickness of the oil) means that you’re only using the right thickness for your vehicle. The thicker the oil, the less fuel efficient it is, and you may also be damaging your vehicle. The synthetic oils have the advantage
of being a slicker oil, which can add one to two miles per gallon.
5. USE THE SAME BRAND GASOLINE Use a good quality fuel, not an off brand, and use the same company. Also, if your vehicle asks for regular, use that. Many people use a higher grade of gasoline thinking that the higher octane will save them money. If your vehicle’s valves are not clattering, then the higher octane is a waste. UNLESS your mechanic specifically directs you to do so, then it is a waste of time.
6. WHEN CHANGING PARTS, STAY AWAY FROM THE DISCOUNT AUTO STORES. I’ve had the misfortune of having to change a starter three times that came from a discount store. The durability was not there. Get the Original Equipment whenever possible.
7. CONVERT YOUR VEHICLE TO A HYBRID Okay, this one is outside the lines, but knowing that the gas prices are NOT going to come down, you need to be aggressive on this. I’ve checked out a number of the modifications that are available, and I’m convinced that this can give you the greatest increase in the gas mileage. The cost to build one is pennies, versus the savings. I have the details and videos on my website, so after checking it out, get the plans and either install it yourself or get a competent mechanic and see about getting one installed.
By investing in a few dollars today, you’ll be able to enjoy these savings for years to come. A car is a depreciating asset, so by not spending money on a new car means you can take those savings and pay off debt, or save money for the future.
The new car smell is nice, but you’ll spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle, and in today’s economy, it makes sense to be frugal.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED! Check your owner’s manual to see what the maximum is and keep your air pressure within 5 pounds of the recommended MAXIMUM pressure for good gas mileage, because the tire is flexing less. Also, by keeping your tires inflated close to the maximum, not only will your fuel mileage increase, you will also maximize your tire life, thereby saving your money. If the ride is too harsh, reduce the pressure in three pound increments, but realize you are giving up pleasure for mileage. By keeping the air pressure up, your tire versus the road will give you the minimum resistance, thus maximizing your results. Remember to check your air pressure with a good quality pressure gauge in the morning before driving.
2. Buy A GOOD QUALITY TIRE! It’s so hard to find a good quality tire nowadays. The tires that were good in past years may not the quality today. This is a personal preference, but I’ve found that the Michelin tire has a better life, and may be able to increase your gas mileage. Remember, the faster a tire wears out, the more expensive it is.
3. Wheel Alignments. Uneven wear on the tires can mean that either the tire is “out of round” which means the tire is defective, or that the steering is in need of an alignment. Nowadays, the technology allows all four wheels to be aligned, unlike the old days when only the front wheels were aligned. Symptoms are, uneven wear on a tire, the vehicle pulling, or the inside or outside of the tire wearing out. A vehicle that is out of alignment will cause the tires to drag, which uses more fuel to propel your vehicle. You’re spending more money to simply to wear out your tires.
4. CHANGE YOUR OIL Changing your oil when recommended will extend the life of your engine, but
the SYNTHETIC OILS HAVE the added advantage of extra fuel savings. By using the right VISCOSITY,
(Or thickness of the oil) means that you’re only using the right thickness for your vehicle. The thicker the oil, the less fuel efficient it is, and you may also be damaging your vehicle. The synthetic oils have the advantage
of being a slicker oil, which can add one to two miles per gallon.
5. USE THE SAME BRAND GASOLINE Use a good quality fuel, not an off brand, and use the same company. Also, if your vehicle asks for regular, use that. Many people use a higher grade of gasoline thinking that the higher octane will save them money. If your vehicle’s valves are not clattering, then the higher octane is a waste. UNLESS your mechanic specifically directs you to do so, then it is a waste of time.
6. WHEN CHANGING PARTS, STAY AWAY FROM THE DISCOUNT AUTO STORES. I’ve had the misfortune of having to change a starter three times that came from a discount store. The durability was not there. Get the Original Equipment whenever possible.
7. CONVERT YOUR VEHICLE TO A HYBRID Okay, this one is outside the lines, but knowing that the gas prices are NOT going to come down, you need to be aggressive on this. I’ve checked out a number of the modifications that are available, and I’m convinced that this can give you the greatest increase in the gas mileage. The cost to build one is pennies, versus the savings. I have the details and videos on my website, so after checking it out, get the plans and either install it yourself or get a competent mechanic and see about getting one installed.
By investing in a few dollars today, you’ll be able to enjoy these savings for years to come. A car is a depreciating asset, so by not spending money on a new car means you can take those savings and pay off debt, or save money for the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)