Fuel Saving: Tips on Improving Fuel Economy

A fuel pump nozzle. How to save your car fuel?The fuel price has jump so high last year it until causes many other things to follow this trend. This has caused many of us to change our lifestyle especially in spending money. Fuel has sucks big portion of the income. What can we do to save on fuel?

Here are some ways to improve the fuel economy for vehicle:

Avoid Excessive Idling
If you are to wait for than a minute while you are not in traffic, stop the engine and start it again later. When warming up a cold engine, allow the engine to idle until the temperature gauge pointer comes up to the “C” position. In this position, the engine is sufficiently warm for starting off.

Avoid “Jackrabbit” Starts
Fast starts from lights or stop signs will consume fuel unnecessarily and shorten engine life. Start in a restrained manner.

Avoid Unnecessary Stops
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stopping. Try to maintain a slow steady speed whenever possible. Slowing down and then accelerating back to speed uses more fuel.

Keep a Steady Cruising Speed
Keep as constant a speed as road and traffic conditions will permit.

Keep Air Cleaner Clean
A dirty air cleaner will cause the carburetor to supply too much fuel to the engine. The result is waste of fuel due to incomplete fuel burning.

Keep Weight to a Minimum
The heavier the load, the more fuel the vehicle consumes. Take out any luggage or cargo when it is not necessary.

Keep Tire Pressure Correct
Underinflation can waste fuel due to increased running resistance of tires. Keep our tires inflated to the correct pressures shown on the label on the driver’s side of your car instrument panel.

These ways ensure fuel economy of your car or vehicle without having to spend your money.

10-05-2009 by Sorli

category: Auto Things, Money, Tips

Engine Hard to Start in the Morning? Check Your Car Battery

Spiderman walks to work and he is late.Spidey is walking because his car cannot be started. Photo by Eneas

Various technical factors to be the causes, but can be avoided through maintenance

ENGINE which operates smoothly, but suddenly difficult to be started on the next day definitely give problem for those using vehicles to go to office daily.

The difficulty will sure become more critical when the owner involved is already late to go to the office and then engine of the vehicle cannot be turn on.

Among usual damage causes which resulted engine difficult to be started in the morning is lack of electricity because of low battery, contact at its terminal or damaged battery, electrical network or starter switch does not work and damaged at the motor starter.

As concern vehicle owners, there are some measures that can be made to identify their vehicle problem especially involving battery.

The owners only need to press the horn and turn on the headlamps.

If there is no sound or it sound is slow, the condition is caused by weak battery or terminal contact does not work.

A car battery. The photo shows the battery terminals and water level lines.Then, check the terminal contact so that it is not covered by white sediment which results the battery does not working properly.

Usually, the sediment happens because of battery water drops and it can be dissipated by pouring hot water on the terminal.

Engine difficult to be started may also occur if the connection of the contact on the terminal is loose.

Loose means that it can be whip by hand and the way to overcome it is by tightening it again using a spanner.

If owner found the battery terminal is too hot especially when the key is turned for a few times, possibly there is imbalance on terminal contact from the battery.

As an early preparation, check the battery water frequently to ensure that its content is always enough; which is when the plates in it are submerged (for flooded cell type).

For those who use semi-permeable separators battery (have two flat lines printed), the water level of the battery must be in between the two lines.

Better, check the battery water content at petrol stations after refueling because it ease the owner to replace or refill the water using distilled water when there is sign the battery is not in good condition.

11-04-2009 by Sorli

category: Auto Things

The Difference between RON92, RON95, RON97 and RON99

Many said that RON92 oil is the older oil, only suitable for older cars or for cars that uses carburetor only. There are also some that said that RON92 oil will make the engine dirty and also said that that RON92 oil is less powerful compared to RON97 and RON99. Before you make any false assumptions, let us see what the real meaning of RON is.

RON stands for Research Octane Number. Octane number or octane rating refers to the gasoline ability to withstand auto ignition (knocking) inside the engine. Higher octane number refers to higher ability of the oil to fight auto ignition. In other words, it means that RON95 is harder to ignite compared to RON92.

Filling gasoline into a car.Different vehicles are designed to be use with different octane number of oil. Higher octane number oil is basically designed for high performance vehicles such as sport vehicle and racing vehicle. Why is that so? This is to avoid premature ignition of oil inside the engine because of auto ignition, which happens before the spark plug ignite the fuel. This phenomenon is known as knocking. Knocking is not wanted because it reduces the performance of vehicle.

The right usage of octane number based on design and adjustment of engine will maximize the performance and effectiveness of the vehicle. Modern vehicles are equipped with knock sensor which enables it to adjust its combustion timing automatically according to the oil octane number to avoid knocking or premature ignition of oil.

Not all vehicles require high octane number petrol. You can check your vehicle fuel requirement inside the guide book of your vehicle or you can simply check the minimum Octane Rating at the back of the fuel lid cover of your vehicle. Most cars can still use RON92.

Higher RON number does not means that it is more powerful. It means that it is harder to ignite. It is also cost you more.

17-01-2009 by Sorli

category: Auto Insurance, Auto Things