Putting all political posturing aside, it’s foolish to downplay the importance of proper tire pressure. Simply put, a properly inflated set of tires allow a vehicle to operate as it was designed. When one or more tires are under-inflated, performance is negatively effected; the vehicle’s ride and handling will suffer, along with its gas mileage.
The term “where the rubber meets the road” directly applies to this issue. A properly inflated tire provides the optimum contact patch (the section of rubber that touches the road surface). An under-inflated tire, on the other hand, has a larger contact patch with increased rolling resistance. More friction where the rubber meets the road means your engine has to work harder, thus lowering fuel efficiency.
Straight line friction’s just part of the equation. Poor handling is an even larger culprit. Continue reading →
If you’re out shopping for fuel efficient cars, you might be feeling just a little bit squeezed right about now. Too many auto dealers are doing what too many dealers do … charging what the market may bear by adding thousands of dollars to the sticker price of the most economical models. It might not be fair, but it’s a reality. Fuel efficient cars are flying off the lots and until the factories catch up with the change, price gouging can be expected.
The good news is that we have three decades of used fuel efficient vehicles to fall back on.
When looking back at the list of the most economical vehicles of the last 25 years, you’ll see three marquees show up with the greatest consistency: Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. While General Motors put in a fair showing in the past, it’s been more than five years since the demise of the Saturn SL and SC dropped GM out of the top ranks of cars rated at 40 miles per gallon (MPG) or higher. Continue reading →
While today’s hybrid gas mileage figures may seem impressive when compared to the majority of conventional vehicles on the market, there’s still a long way to go. This unfulfilled dream is clearly evident when studying the historical chart of hybrid gas mileage. The earliest models of the Honda Insight set the bar remarkably high (regardless of the change in the EPA’s testing procedures implemented in 2007); so high that they remain to be equaled by a production vehicle today.
Viewing the statistics, it’s easy to understand how the Insight hybrid achieved those remarkable gas mileage results. Weighing in at under a ton, Honda’s little spaceship had a big headstart, with a diminutive 1.0 liter three cylinder engine providing just enough oomph and efficiency to land the micro hybrid’s gas mileage in the stratosphere.
With the Insight put out to pasture after the 2006 model year, the Toyota Prius snatched the hybrid gas mileage crown, edging out the Honda Civic Hybrid. Continue reading →
Over the past months, I’ve used a Linear Logic ScanGaugeII in review cars lacking a built-in real-time fuel economy gauge. While I’ve achieved some pretty good results, there’s no magic to what I do … it’s simply a matter of driving conscientiously.
There’s little doubt that you can save a remarkable amount of fuel if you just put your mind to the task. Like so many things in life, if you don’t pay attention to the details, it will cost you …
It took me a little while to figure out which ScanGaugeII functions were most beneficial for improving gas mileage results. As of this writing, my favorite combination is the RPM (revolutions per minute), real-time MPG, TPS (throttle position sensor), and GPH (gallons per hour) read outs. Seeing these four gauges in one glance gives me the handle on how much fuel is running through the engine at any given moment.
Last week, I had the opportunity to put the ScanGaugeII to the test in my wife’s 2003 Honda Pilot, on a highway run to the airport and back.
The secret to improving your gas mileage can be found right in the mirror. If you want to cut your fuel costs, your vehicle doesn’t just need to be in tune … you need to be in tune with your vehicle.
The key to that quest is knowing how much fuel your engine is using in real-time. But here lies the dilemma … While some vehicles provide real-time fuel economy data via digital display, a great many do not. If your car lacks a real-time fuel economy gauge, all is not lost.
You just need to look to the after market.
My wife’s five year old Honda Pilot has 130,000 miles on the odometer, but it lacks a real-time fuel economy gauge. Now I’m not a hypermiler by any means, nor do I aspire to be, but I’ve been able to improve my gas mileage to the point where I can consistently score results of over 30 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway (in an 8-passenger SUV) by using an after market real-time display.
Linear-Logic’s ScanGaugeII is a simple plug-and-place device that provides a one-stop solution for drivers looking to uncork fuel economy data, as well as the stream of other valuable information hidden in a car’s computer (commonly referred to as the Engine Control Unit [or ECU]).
While the ScanGaugeII is a snap to use, you need to pay attention to the details. The inside cover of the device’s manual provides a strong proviso regarding the safe operation of the ScanGaugeII. In particular, you must take caution as where and how you mount the device. It’s imperative that the display is fastened safely in a spot within the line of sight yet free of obstruction, while routing the cable in a secure manner. Continue reading →
The good news is that we have three decades of used fuel efficient vehicles to fall back on.
