Six gas mileage myths

[Monseratto]

Watched a show in Discovery Turbo where fuel saving methods such us "Gas Saving Tyres", Special air Filter, cutting weight etc didn't improve the fuel economy of a car.

The federal government's fueleconomy.gov site (very useful to check cars' mpg) just published the "Top 10 Misconceptions About Fuel Economy."

Here are a few big myths:

•It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to let it idle.
People are really confused about this one and will leave a car idling for half an hour rather than turn it off and restart. Some kids I know started an anti-idling campaign in the suburbs and are shaming parents into shutting down their cars.

Idling uses a quarter- to a half-gallon of fuel in an hour (costing you one to two cents a minute). Unless you're stalled in traffic, turn off the car when stopped for more a few minutes.

•Vehicles need to be warmed up before they're driven.
Pshaw. That is a long-outdated notion. Today's cars are fine being driven off seconds after they're started.

•As a vehicle ages, its fuel economy decreases significantly.
Not true. As long as it's maintained, a 10- or 15-year-old car should have like-new mileage. The key thing is maintenance -- an out-of-tune car will definitely start to decline mileage-wise.

•Replacing your air filter helps your car run efficiently.
Another outdated claim, going back to the pre-1976 carburetor days. Modern fuel-injection engines don't get economy benefits from a clean air filter.

•After-market additives and devices can dramatically improve your fuel economy.
As readers of my story on The Blade recall, there's not much evidence that these "miracle products" do much more than drain your wallet. Both the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports have weighed in on this. There are no top-secret 100-mpg add-ons out there.

•Using premium fuel improves fuel economy.
You might as well write a check to BP if you believe this. Only use premium if your car specifies it.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_gr...age-myths.html

[vinj]

How did they do the test? When they did cutting weight was this removing the spare tire and some junk or a full-scale weight reduction?

[nic]

How did they do the test? When they did cutting weight was this removing the spare tire and some junk or a full-scale weight reduction?

They just removed minor stuff like the spare tire & some tools.

[aejhayl17]

lalo ako naguluhan.

mas matipid naman siguro patayin ang makina rather than mag-idle for ilang minutes. the engine wont use fuel if nakapatay ang makina. yari nga lang ang starter at battery pero di naman siguro. eto yung practice ko e. bawal mag-idle pagnakatambay or may hinihintay lang sa kotse. but in heavy traffic, it depends.

and about the clean air filter wont save fuel for efi? what? on my ZZ, i get 7-8km/l with a 1month uncleaned air filter, 2-4 full tanks, average of 42 liters. but if i washed it on a weekly or 2 basis, im getting 10km/l on the same circumstances/situation(same traffic condition, same light foot, same driving attittude) of the low FC. basta parang ganun.


labo naman.

[vinj]

lalo ako naguluhan.

mas matipid naman siguro patayin ang makina rather than mag-idle for ilang minutes. the engine wont use fuel if nakapatay ang makina. yari nga lang ang starter at battery pero di naman siguro. eto yung practice ko e. bawal mag-idle pagnakatambay or may hinihintay lang sa kotse. but in heavy traffic, it depends.

and about the clean air filter wont save fuel for efi? what? on my ZZ, i get 7-8km/l with a 1month uncleaned air filter, 2-4 full tanks, average of 42 liters. but if i washed it on a weekly or 2 basis, im getting 10km/l on the same circumstances/situation(same traffic condition, same light foot, same driving attittude) of the low FC. basta parang ganun.


labo naman.

Perhaps there's something else that needs to be checked on your ride. I also use a ZZ and my air filter is cleaned only every 10,000kms at the least (sometimes i reach 20,000kms without touching my air filter); no change in FC whatsoever (i get 10+ to 11km/L+). The only change i notice after cleaning my air filter is a more audible intake note/hiss.

Air flow is monitored by the MAF sensor so changes in atmospheric pressure, air flow, etc will be compensated to maintain the set a/f mix in your engine, thus it should not be much of a factor.

Unless the filter is dirty enough to grow tomatoes...

The battery life should not also be affected by the practice of turning off your engine and starting instead of idling; a properly working alternator will always charge it up as required.

Ditto on removing the minor stuff like the spare; its not much. But if you're talking of removing significant kilos then this would still make a difference in the daily grind where you have to accelerate and decelerate a lot more often, etc.

[aejhayl17]

Perhaps there's something else that needs to be checked on your ride. I also use a ZZ and my air filter is cleaned only every 10,000kms at the least (sometimes i reach 20,000kms without touching my air filter); no change in FC whatsoever (i get 10+ to 11km/L+). The only change i notice after cleaning my air filter is a more audible intake note/hiss.

Air flow is monitored by the MAF sensor so changes in atmospheric pressure, air flow, etc will be compensated to maintain the set a/f mix in your engine, thus it should not be much of a factor.

Unless the filter is dirty enough to grow tomatoes...

thanks sir vinj for the brief explanation, i forgot to mention that i have a cone-type air filter. its more audible if it is clean.