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.
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