Increasing Gas Prices Require Gas Guzzlers Remake

by Anthony Fontanelle

Increasing gas prices have pushed some auto shoppers to purchase small fuel-efficient cars. This is to circumvent the irritating cost and as well as the eco-stigma attached to gas guzzlers. But according to critics in the industry, the best solution that automakers could give shoppers is a remake of these vehicles.

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A Great Fuel Saver
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Last year, the $3 a gallon price of gasoline has caused the decline in the sport utility, truck, and other huge vehicle segments. To win back shoppers, automakers have relied on the use of new auto technology to improve fuel economy. Advances in technology have paved the way for gasoline-electric hybrids, cleaner-burning diesel engines, special lightweight parts and innovative power-steering pumps.

The use of turbochargers is one of the fuel-saving measures resorted to by automakers. Turbochargers are smaller engines equipped with weight-saving electronics that produce more power. Unlike the previously used mechanical systems, the technology in turbochargers use light materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, and plastics.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz and Jeep units recently started selling diesel versions of their sport utilities. The Ford Motor Co. has announced its plan to offer diesel power in its full-size pickups and SUVs in 2008 or so. And General Motors Corp. is using smaller engines in one line of SUVs and hybrid power in another. Even Porsche AG, a renowned sports car builder, recently announced that it will build a hybrid version of its speedy Cayenne SUV and it is planned for sale by 2010.

Shoppers shift toward small, efficient cars have caused the dramatic decline in huge vehicles sales. As a fact, sales of the Chevrolet Tahoe, a large SUV with seats for seven passengers, reached a peak of 209,767 vehicles in 2002 but have generally slipped since then and totaled 161,491 in 2006.

When GM redesigned the Tahoe along with sibling GMC Yukon for the 2006 model year, one purpose was to boost fuel economy. Safety-wise, it was equipped with a Chevrolet Tahoe air bag kit and other innovative system. But the most noteworthy feature is its EPA fuel economy rating of 15 mpg in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway, compared with the 15/19 mpg rating of the previous version. The new Tahoe SUV produces 320 horsepower, up from the previous 295.

But in a reporter's test drive, the already modest increase in efficiency on paper was barely noticeable on the road, wrote Jonathan Welsh of The Wall Street Journal. A hybrid version of the Tahoe, to be rolled out late this year, is expected to deliver fuel economy consistently better than 20 mpg. Chevrolet has not named a price for the hybrid Tahoe but said that the SUV will cost less than the top-of-the-line Tahoe LTZ model, which this year costs about $47,000.

"Chevrolet points to small details that contributed to its hybrid Tahoe's improved fuel economy. They include lighter parts, like a hood and rear hatch and drive shaft made of aluminum instead of steel. Its wheels are lighter and more aerodynamic, and the company even changed the seats, making them noticeably thinner, to save weight," Welsh observed.

It is not clear whether the improvements in gas mileage will win over customers. While most of the cars in development do not have prices yet, hybrids tend to carry higher price tags, and drivers cannot always reap fuel savings without altering their driving techniques, for instance, by accelerating gradually from a full stop, said David Healy, an analyst with Burnham Securities.

Diesel-powered vehicles tend to feel more familiar to most drivers and make it easier to realize better fuel economy. "In the long term, I think diesels have a better shot at winning over consumers," Healy concluded.
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A Great Fuel Saver
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About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Save $100 to $200 in Gas

How to Save $100 to $200 in Gas Just by Checking Your Tires. by Scott Siegel


Keeping your tires at the recommended PSI (Pounds per square inch) can save you 4% on your annual gas costs. That could save the average family between $100 and $200 dollars per year. Here is how you determine and maintain the correct tire pressure.

The correct tire pressure is different from car to car and from tire to tire. The correct or manufacturer recommended pressure for the tires on personal vehicles can be from 20 psi to over 50 psi.

The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the information placard. This placard is normally located on the edge of one of the doors, the inside post of one of vehicle's doors or inside the glove compartment, trunk, or fuel door. Your owner's manual should include the correct tire pressure or direct you to the placard's location on your vehicle.

A Great Fuel Saver

The pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum tire pressure - or the tire pressure that is required to carry the maximum load of the tire. It is not the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, which is a common misconception.

Once you know the correct tire pressure, you need to measure the tire pressure on all tires to ensure they are inflated correctly. The correct way to determine tire pressure:

To correctly measure and guarantee the proper tire pressure:

Step 1:

Make sure you have a tire pressure gauge. There are many kinds. You do not need an expensive one. A gauge with a dial is easier to read than the pop up kind.

Step 2:

Check the tire air pressure informational sticker or the car operating manual to determine the manufacturer suggested pressure for your tires. Once you have that information you can proceed with the actual measurement.

Step 3:

A tire that is hot, or has just been driven on will have a higher air pressure than that same tire when it is cold. A cold tire is one that has not been driven for at least 3 hours or has been driven 1 mile or less. Air pressure should only be measured when tires are cold. If you measure warm tires your results will be faulty.

Step 4:

Press the pressure gauge onto the valve after removing the valve cap. Be sure the gauge is lined up with the valve properly and press hard so that the pressure gauge seals tightly on the valve. If you hear the whoosh of air escaping disengage the pressure meter from the valve and reseat it.You should not hear any air movement if you have the gauge properly seated. When it is seated correctly you can take the reading on the gauge.

Step 5:

If needed, inflate the tire to achieve recommended air pressure. If you put too much air in you can release air by pushing on the stem at the inside center of the valve. Re- measure the pressure to make sure it is correct and adjust the air again if needed. Keep repeating this cycle of adding or subtracting air and remeasuring until the desired pressure is reached.

Step 6:

Follow this same procedure for the other three tires.

It is recommended that you check your tire pressure at least once per month. Air can and will leach from a tire over time. Heat and use will affect the rate at which a tire loses air. Checking once a month will assure that you are maintaining the correct pressure all year round.

This is one of the easiest ways to save $100 to $200 dollars of gas costs. Just follow this advice and you will have more money in your pocket.


About the Author
Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider information on saving gas and dollars at the pump. Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Fuel Saver --Where did my Carburetor go ?

Fuel Saver --Where did my Carburetor go ? by Bud W


Where did my Carburetor go ? The carburetor is part of the engine that blends air and fuel for internal combustion engines which is a great fuel saver. The carburetor had jets and metering rods allowing adjustments for tuning the engine and getting the best fuel savings. They are still used today but mostly on motors other then automobile. Like motorcycles, airplanes, lawnmowers, tractors, weed eaters, jet skis, snow blowers and boat motors and older cars. The sidedraft carbs replaced the downdraft one because of engine design and operation. The carburetor was invented by Donat Banki and Janos Csonka in 1893 and was improved over the years and then finally replaced sometime at the end of the 1970s with fuel injection. There were several types of carburetors, there were one barrels, then 2 and 4 barrel carbs. Some hotrods would supped up to 3 two barrel carbs and some with 2 four barrel carburetors. There were different carburetors made for different uses like some were up drafted, some the air entered below the carburetor and exits thorough the top, which kept the automobile from flooding, and increasing fuel savings. Carburetors were used in the past on cars and trucks, but were replaced with fuel ejection systems. This, in my option, was a big mistake and a scam on the population. The carburetor was much more fuel efficient then today's fuel injection systems. Almost anyone could repair or replace a carburetor, but today it takes a trained Tec. to change a fuel ejection system at great expense to the owner. Also anyone could adjust the fuel mixture on a carburetor making the engine run lean saving fuel. There were many claims of getting anywhere between 40 and 100 miles to the gallon with some of these carburetors, so it was not advantageous for the big oil companies which in those days encouraged people to use more fuel. If you are my age you will remember all those commercials about putting a tiger in you tank. Today it is put every thing you earned this week in your tank. You notice they don't have to spend all those advertising dollars anymore to sell you fuel. They are saving millions on advertising and more millions from the outrageous prices they are charging at the pumps. Fuel mileage never increased to the better after switching to fuel ejectors from the carburetor either. My small pickup truck still only gets 15 miles to the gallon and is a six cylinder. I had a 48 ford pickup truck with a flat head 8 cylinder engine that got just as good mileage. I sold that truck with over 100,000 miles on it and it still ran great. The cost for a fuel ejection system is much more expensive then a carburetor and adds a lot more cost to the price of an automobile. Even if fuel injection saved fuel the money you are suppose to have saved in fuel savings is lost on the cost of the vehicle. The end result is no monetary savings for the consumer at all. So let us give them the benefit of the doubt and say that fuel injection is a fuel saver but the cost of the system is still too high compared to the carburetor. So how else can we save fuel? There are products out there that are good fuel savers like Ultimate-me2, which can be found at http://www.ecosavesfuel.com. This product allows you to save at least 13% or more on the total cost of gasoline and diesel fuel by adding a small amount to your fuel system. There are many other benefits from these types of products that save fuel. They clean your engine while giving you more horsepower, and because the fuel burns more efficient it reduces the emission going into or air giving us a cleaner environment. It is my belief that had auto companies kept the carburetor system in place that we would see a lot more fuel savings with these new additives that are on the market today. You may ask on what is my option based. Well let me say that I am using Ultimate-me2 in my lawn mower and am getting a 50% increase of use with a gallon of fuel with the lawn mower using a carbonator. The bottom line is the carburetor was and still is a great energy fuel saver. http//www.ecosavesfuel.com

Gas Additives Do They Work

Gas Additives Do They Work
By: Ken Flegel

After doing a lot of extensive research on gas saving devices,
being advertised we have proven to ourselves which ones actually
work and which ones do not work and can actually damage your
vehicle.

After evaluating and testing more than 50 alleged gas- saving
devices, we have found that only a few improve mileage.

The products that are on the market today consist of air-bleed
devices, vapor-bleed devices, liquid injection devices, ignition
devices, fuel line devices, mixture enhancers, internal engine
modification devices, magnets, fuels and fuel additives, oils
and oil additives, and driving habit modifiers. Where as we
could not test all of them we did find that some are much better
then others, I would personally not use anything that modifies
the engine. Also a lot of the liquid additives are hard to
measure and messy to use. I personally like anything that comes
in a pill form, no muss no fuss. I am not here to per mote any
particular product to you only to give my personal opinion on
our own independent tests.

The EPA evaluates or tests products to determine whether their
use will result in any measurable improvement to fuel economy.
Always make sure the product you are using is EPA registered.

Many of the products have testimonials by satisfied customers. I
find the best testimonial there is will be your own. For me I
have to prove it to myself.

When doing these tests you must be consistent in your driving,
the way you drive your car and the condition of your car is
going to make a difference in the results you get.

One more very important factor If you have already purchased a
gas-saving product and you are not satisfied, contact the
manufacturer and ask for a refund. An honest company offers a
money-back guarantee.

I hope this information has been helpful and if you would like
a more in depth report please contact.

Save Money On Gas

Ken Flegel (306) 545-4535 or (306) 501-7424

E-mail kenflegel@sasktel.net

www.savingbundlesongas.com

About the author:
Ken Flegel works as a certified electronic technician , part
time mechanic, and purchaser for the local school board. One of
his responsibilities is the purchasing of the fuel for all the
board's vehicles therefore giving him extensive knowledge in
fuel quality, condition, and price.


Better Gas Mileage

Save Gas With A Electric Bike

Save Gas With A Electric Bike or even a Folding Bike



With the high cost of gas you might consider purchasing an Electric Bike or maybe even regular old Folding Bike. The cost to run either a far less of the conventional transportation methods. With most cars averaging only 15 to 28 miles per gallon you can't loose with by using an Electric bicycle or Folding bicycle.

For a review of the best Electric bikes and Folding bikes

For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car

For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car
by: Ken Reno

In today's world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil.

This is the main reason why oil prices continues to escalate in the market area. On a global basis, this high-pricing of oil is considered as a worldwide dilemma.

Hence, in order to cut down extra cost in gas or fuel consumption and have a better gas mileage, it is a must for every driver to understand and employ the different ways on how to maximize their fuel consumption with a lower cost so as to achieve a better gas mileage. Here's how:

1. Check your filter.

One of the most important factors that affects your chance of getting a Better Gas Mileage is your car's air filter. In order to have a better gas mileage, it is important to know and maintain you car's performance by checking on its air filters. Clean air filters gives the machine's performance a considerable boost enabling it to travel farther with a lesser fuel consumption and a better gas mileage.

2. Inspect your tires regularly.

Tires in good condition can also contribute to a better gas mileage. The tires condition directly affects your car's gas mileage when the tire is "under-inflated". It tends to make your car run relatively slower than its usual pace but increases your probability of getting a better gas mileage.

3. Remove excess weight.

Based on the common belief of many, light cars do travel faster. And so, in order to have a Better Gas Mileage, be sure to always check on things in your compartment that are no longer needed.

4. Change oil regularly.

It is very important to have a regular oil change. Usually, a car has to exert more effort if it has to wrestle with a dirty oil, thus, it consumes more gas. So, a regular oil change will enable you car to run smoothly and, therefore, acquire a better gas mileage.

5. Check your carburetor.

Carburetors can also affect your car's fuel consumption simply because car's exert more effort when grappling with a dirty carburetor. In this instance, your car is consuming more gas than you can imagine. And so, it's better to have a cleaner carburetor in order to have a better gas mileage.

6. Cut air conditioner usage.

Air conditioners can also increase fuel consumption and lessen the possibility of getting a better gas mileage because it uses extra strength to power up the compressor that boost the air conditioner's performance. If this is the case, then it will be impossible for you to have a better gas mileage. So, in order to cut down additional fuel consumption, do not use air conditioner especially when you are driving in a highway. After all, natural air is still the best for your health.

7. Slow down.

Do you believe in the old saying, "Slowly but surely?" It is highly applicable to driving. Normally, when you drive faster, you tend to put more stress on the gas pedals, right? And because you increase your speed by hitting hard on your gas pedals, you are also increasing your car's consumption on fuel. In doing so, you will have a difficulty in achieving a better gas mileage.

All of these conservation tips boils down to one common point, the better car you have and the slower you drive your car, the Better Gas Mileage you have.

About The Author


Ken Reno is the owner of http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com

the309er@yahoo.com



Save On Gas
Better Gas Mileage

Save Money On Gas

Save Money on Gas
By Nicole Soltau

Gas prices have soared to unimaginable heights of late. Since most of us are not likely to turn to bikes or horse-drawn buggies we will have to learn to get the most from our gas dollars. Try a few of the following tips to make your gas go farther.

• Combine trips. With your errand list in hand try to visit as many places as possible in one trip.

• Make sure that you tires are properly inflated. Read through the owner’s manual for specific information on proper pressure for your car.

• Change your air filter regularly. Clogged air filters can rob you of precious gas mileage and add as much as ten percent to your transportation budget.

• Notice how your mileage relates to your fuel gauge. If you seem to go through a tank of gas too quickly in relation to miles traveled consider trying another brand or grade; an oil change or a tune-up.

• Check out sites such as www.gasbuddy.com to learn about cheap gas deals in your area. Many local news stations also feature “cheap gas,” or other sites with similar information.

• Avoid excessive accelerating, braking and idling. Experts agree that gas mileage is significantly decreased as speeds increase. Save gas and money by driving the speed limit and never any faster than 60 miles per hour. Rather than let your car sit running for several minutes, turn it off, you’ll use less gas.

• Map out your trip before you hit the road. Taking the scenic route can be great, but not when you are counting your gas dollars, Choose a service such as www.mapquest.com to help you find the shortest, most direct way to get to your destination.

Save Money on Gas

• If you are in the market for a car, check out sites like the automotive consumer guide or www.fuelecomony.gov for information on cars with the best and worst mileage before you buy.

• Monitor air conditioning usage. At speeds lower than 40 miles per hour, it can be more fuel efficient to roll down your windows.

• Empty your trunk. Heavy loads weigh down your car and reduce your gas mileage.

• Fuel up after sundown, you’ll get more gas for your dollar. Gas expands with heat and compresses with cold air.

• Consider car pooling. Car pooling is not a very attractive option for many of us as it limits our flexibility and privacy. Still for some, it can be a great option. And when we understand that car pooling can save hundreds of dollars annually and is kind to our environment, many more may be willing to give it a try.

We love our cars but gas prices have lately damped our affair a bit. Spend less on gas and enjoy your car more with a few tips that make every trip a little cheaper.

A particular credit union in Miami Florida gave away prepaid gas cards as a part of their refinance promotion. Check with your local credit union for similar offers.

Nicole Soltau is the President and Founder of http://CreditUnionRate.com
The Leading Credit Union Directory
Search, Find, Join.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Soltau

Save Money on Gas