Archive for October, 2009

Posted on October 30, 2009 - by Richard

Selecting Performance Exhaust Systems

When selecting performance exhaust system, bear in mind the gas savings potentials! Is your engine due for exhaust system upgrade? Noticed any rust building up around your exhaust muffler and tailpipe? If you answer yes to both of these questions, then the time to replace your stock exhaust system with a performance exhaust system is now. You might end up paying more than the stock exhaust, but performance exhaust system just might be the last one you will ever need for your car or truck. Why? Well consider better engine exhaust breathing which can also improve your engine performance if done right but let me explain further below.

Selecting a performance exhaust system might just the remedy you need if you have these problems:

1.) Low catalytic converter (CAT) efficiency codes during engine scans.
2.) Muffler restrictions accompanied by long starts caused by high exhaust back pressure
3.) High gas consumption and premature CAT failures
4.) Downstream Oxygen sensor failures

Of course, nothing lasts forever, right? Well, when selecting performance exhaust systems that is right for your vehicle, you might get close to that. Consider this: one top manufacturer of catalytic back exhaust produces an exhaust system with a one million mile guarantee! How the heck can they do this? By using product components made from aircraft quality stainless steel and that’s how they do it. It is proven; the same steel used by aircraft industry goes into every Borla brand made  exhaust system to create a product that will last longer and durable. Other exhaust brands manufacturers have similar warranties, but Borla is an exception after intensive tests.

So when finally selecting performance exhaust system and using Borla exhaust system as your choice, how does it work? They do it by keeping the same emission components in place which do not interfere with the manufacturer’s fuel management system. Furthermore, Borla catalytic back system incorporates wider exhaust pipes and less restriction performance mufflers into your car which lowers the exhaust back pressure. Beside this, you have the side benefit of deeper, low tone noise produced by this exhaust system design. Because of these, your car’s engine becomes an air pump with catalytic back performance exhaust system that permits the engine to pump and distribute exhaust airflow with less interruption. In conclusion, more power is produced with an engine horsepower increase from 5 to 15 percent which are well within the range of possibility. Finally: you will experience a gain in fuel economy because the exhaust system allows your engine to breathe efficiently and make the engine ran cooler. Just remember to compensate the engine’s cooling system by allowing a bigger radiator installation if necessary.

So, what do you do when selecting performance exhaust system? No big deal really! If you are not intending to keep your car forever, remember the resale value of your vehicle will get higher with a performance exhaust system installed on your car. You will gain the advantage of more engine horsepower and improved fuel economy and still realized later that when it comes to selling your car, you know you will get a good value for it.

Thanks!

Posted on October 28, 2009 - by Richard

Know Your Vehicle Fuel Efficiency!

Do you Know your vehicle fuel efficiency? Not everyone buys their vehicles based on the vehicle fuel efficiency rating alone, but most would consider that it is one of the most important option. Again, it is much more than the technical specifications of the engine but the operating cost of the vehicle not to mention the over-all maintenance cost that will decide the vehicle fuel efficiency.

To know your vehicle fuel efficiency means asking the vehicle vendor: “What is the rated vehicle fuel efficiency?” If you do, they usually will pull out the vehicle’s book ratings and explain it to you. Better still, you can actually search it in Google so you can evaluate them at your leisure before making a buying decision. Everyone who drives a vehicle is bound to be concerned about getting a good fuel efficiency but in actual practice, does not do anything after buying the vehicle. People has the usual belief that it is the responsibility of the car makers or the mechanics to keep the car performing at its optimum efficiency. But little do they realize that there is a whole lot that they themselves can do to ensure their car get the best fuel efficiency.

If you drive on a very low gear for example when a higher gear would work just as well, it is natural that the fuel efficiency will decrease. If you follow the proper shifting of the tranny, it will go a long way in keeping the best vehicle fuel efficiency. Another example, you can drive carefully and in accordance with the service manual rated vehicle fuel efficiency but the vehicles manual exists for a reason. And it is to ensure that the gear changes and the driving speeds work in tandem to give your vehicle the maximum fuel efficiency.

Another way to know your vehicle fuel efficiency is to determine the application of air conditioning. The use of air conditioning in your vehicle only when it is absolutely critical. This way, not only can you make your vehicle drive longer on less fuel, but it can also ensures that the battery life is enhanced. There are other simple stuffs to know in your vehicle fuel efficiency. If you drive with your windows open for the purpose of ventilation rather than closing all windows and setting the air conditioning on full blast. It is a matter of saving money and making sense!

Still another overlooked way to know your vehicle fuel efficiency is the usage of vehicle tires. If the vehicle tires are not filled with enough air, the rolling tire friction levels increase dramatically. When this occurs, it takes more power for the engine to move the same distance than say, when the tires are filled to the optimum level and make the vehicle travel along smoother. Although these are clearly mentioned in the service manual, not many people follow it. If these simple instructions are followed, it will surely increase the vehicle fuel efficiency.

Thanks!

Posted on October 14, 2009 - by Richard

Fuel Saving Suggestion Tips

You need these fuel suggestion tips if you see gas stations and worried about affordability. There are many ways that gasoline prices have changed because of supply and demand for crude oil including market volatility which caused the oil prices to be unstable. On a positive note: Car manufacturers are doing their best to get better mileage for newer vehicles . Recent studies show that production vehicles coming out now is lighter by almost 1000 pounds but 2 times more powerful than their older counterparts in last 1-2 decades.

A leading US car maker revealed its formula to get more power without sacrificing engine performance by introducing advance fuel saving technology into their gas guzzler engine models. This includes such technology like Active Fuel Management which was recently developed in North America. It uses a cut off mechanism whereby some engine cylinders are killed electronically during highway driving or where demand for power is not needed. High fuel demand situation during stop lights is also another example of this technology. When applied, it you have 6 or 8 cylinder engines, only half of those cylinders when the fuel saving electronics are activated.

The introduction of higher gear ratio for transmission is another electronic breakthrough that was developed such as those employing 6 speed transmissions. The usual 4 or 5 gear shifts are increased to 6 shifts giving more gear selection which result in better gas mileage.

Another Fuel saving suggestion tips include using E85 ethanol fuel to improve gas emission and global warming. When applied to trucks under 1 ton, it seems to have a better future when used for construction, hauling and variety of engine loads. E85 fuel is 75% grain based fuel and 15% oil based fuel which is really a win win situation for both grain farmers and truck owners who demand bigger engines without sacrificing fuel cost. These type of engines are now available in North America and the main advantage is; this technology was developed and being manufactured here. Ultimately, it will promote fuel supply independence which coincides with the present 2009 Obama administration fuel conservation initiatives.

The desire to get the best high fuel mileage vehicle using hybrid technology has brought this fuel saving program into overdrive. Both Ford and GM are now coming out with dual fuel engines using electric generator and gasoline. Initially developed by Ford by their hybrid suvs, GM is coming out a better Chevy hybrid which is expected to compete aggressively with Japanese and European imports. If you are in the market for both bigger truck or compact car that both delivers power and fuel savings, a good look at our North American vehicles might be a good option for you. These fuel saving suggestion tips above is highly recommended if we want to preserve our car industry.

Thanks!

Posted on October 12, 2009 - by Richard

10 ways to save fuel with biodiesel

There are 10 ways to save fuel With biodiesel which everybody should know. With soaring gas prices increasing and growing environmental awareness, using alternate fuel such as biodiesel is a necessity. This alternative fuel is getting it’s share of popularity as a good choice because it is clean burning diesel fuel which made from 100% natural and renewable energy sources.

Below are 10 ways to save fuel with Biodiesel:

1.) Biodiesel can be used in backup generation systems in residential areas where diesel fumes are not welcome. This would be popular in hospitals, schools, and other facilities which could use a clean burning cheaper biodiesel fuel when compared to expensive conventional diesel fuel.

2) Biodiesel Car Rental companies When compared to hybrids, biodiesel technology is cheaper to operate. It has a comparable fuel savings but since it can be applied to diesel, has more power and torque. When used on rental cars, it get between 400 and 800 miles per tankful! A good option for fuel saving conscious customers.

3) Home heating fuel - There are lots of home being heated now by a combination of fossil fuel and biodiesel which can really strech those heating bills. On some oil-fired or boiler furnaces, a fuel called called Biodiesel (B20), is a fuel made of 80 percent traditional heating oil and 20 percent Biodiesel. Still, some other folks are getting their furnaces modified to be able to burn B100 biodiesel which is made entirely of vegetable oils that burns cleaner than conventional heating oil.

4.) Biodiesel is an effective oil spill cleaner: It is known for sometime to be environmentally hostile but who would have realized that it could use to clean up oil spills? Biodiesel has been verified as an excellent cleaning agent for shorelines contaminated with crude oil. Furthermore, it has been discovered to hasten the recovery of crude oil from sand columns found in the beach. It’s has been used in biosolvents used commercially in coagulating with crude oil and allowing it to be skimmed off the surface of water. This alone can give a huge savings for any localities involved in oil spills which can be costly to clean.

5.) Trucking Industry - More commercial truckers are switching from diesel fuel to Biodiesel fuel because not only it is clean burning fuel that helps the environment and reducing our dependency on foreign oil, it a sure way to money in fuel cost.

6) Agriculture Application: Not only farmers are producer of Biodiesel, but as a consumer: they use in tractors, reapers, tillers, pickers, conveyors, generators, pumps, and irrigation systems which all uses diesel fuel but now uses Biodiesel in their own equipments. This is a sure way to minimize our dependency in foreign oil and this comes from our agricultural production.

7) Biodiesel is a better lubricant than current low-sulfur petroleum and fuel injectors and other types of fuel pumps can rely on Biodiesel fuel for lubrication. With correct mixture of additives, the performance of the engine can also be enhanced which makes the engine lasts longer. Other biodiesel applications can be traced to it’s lubricating properties like those found on concrete forms and asphalt trucks.This same solvent property can make it a safe parts cleaner which prevents skin and eye irritations.

For Marine Vehicle applications - Commercial fleets such as marine ferries, recreational yachts, sailboats, and motor boats are ideal application of Biodiesel fuel. Just like in trucks, it can be used to save operating cost because it burns cleaner than regular diesel fuel.

9) A good Tax Incentive - To encourage production, the government offers tax incentives to anyone that produce and use Biodiesel fuel. This is another way for the government to reduce emission by funding the production of this biodiesel fuel. As a result, the Government is helping spread of lower greenhouse gas emissions.

10) Biodiesel is a good reducer air toxic and cancer causing compounds which reduces carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by up to 80%.

I am sure there are more than 10 ways to save fuel with biodiesel but it’s growing popularity is the proof of it’s viability.

Thanks!

Posted on October 11, 2009 - by Richard

Chemical Tune up for Car Engines

Do you know that chemical tune up for car engines improve your gas mileage significantly by 5 to 20 percent? And you do not have to alter your driving habits or install any extra accessory parts on your engine? How about if it were as easy to do? As a matter of fact this is true. For sometime, the big Oil companies have offered three or more different grades of gas octane like 87 regular, 89-90 premium and 91-94 super. These octane grades are basically based upon a 100 octane scale where the best burning and ideal fuel was propane called “clean burn fuel”. However this scale never consider into account the aromatic gasoline compounds and chemical derivatives which can actually excel the 100 octane mark, some of which can go as high as 115 to 130 octane rating. In essence, the objective really is to get the cleanest burning fuel possible, leaving less soots and carbon deposits in the combustion chamber and cylinder head valves. If possible, it must clean the injection system including the older cars with carburetors, prevent fouling the emissions systems and voiding the vehicle’s warranty which could lead in increased gas mileage and longer engine life.

When this chemical tune up for car engines actual performance is measured, study shows that this is not actually possible. Recent tests have shown that aromatic toluene, petroleum distillates, ether, alcohol (methyl alcohol), and acetone are supposed to do all of these but only to some degree. Too rich a fuel mixture can actually do the reverse effect. Obtaining the ideal mixture that was quickest to get and used was 1-2 ounces of acetone per tankful of fuel. This acetone can be found locally at a hardware or paint supply store near you. This test was confirmed on every engine from 4 to 8 cylinder gas engines upto those bigger Cummins engines for diesel applications. It was found out that the range in improvement of fuel efficiency increase between 5 to 20 percent having an average of 9 percent. It was discovered that if you add 3 or more ounces per tankful of fuel, the actual results were the same. It was basically worse when the there was no acetone added which made the fuel mixture was too rich.

During this chemical tune up for car engines were tested for fuel line components for chemical characteristics like resiliency, it was found that it did not have a caustic effect when compared to methyl alcohol which is commonly used as a racing fuel. However, acetone has an engraving effect on paint, plastics and headlight lenses. This is why acetone spills should be cleaned and wiped up immediately.

Finally when doing a chemical tune up for car engines, here is a quick formula to increase your fuel efficiency for upto 10 percent:

add acetone to your fuel every time you fill but limit it to about $0.50 per tank fill up.

This works to roughly about 1-2 ounces acetone per tank and your fuel mixture should be safe. Actually, the big Oil companies don’t want you to know this because it means you will save gas and of course less business for them. Remember that you may still void you engine warranty if your car is new and you should try it on older cars. In the final analysis, acetone or any chemical additive that improve your engine efficiency is always better for the environment because of less emission.

Thanks!

Richard