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Thread ID: 89977 2008-05-18 21:02:00 6 gas-saving myths Trev (427) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
670508 2008-05-19 05:52:00 Well there ya go, I learnt something new! rob_on_guitar (4196)
670509 2008-05-19 05:57:00 There was some discussion here that some people thought that they used less liters per 100km using higher octane fuels but according to this article you won't .
:)

. . . and don't forget to mention the laws of thermodynamics too .

Delayed fuel flame-front propagation causes loss of power, excessive stoichiometric temperatures, shortened exhaust valve life, overheated catalytic converters, burned out oxygen sensors and loss of economy . .

BUT . . . . . . there's an "if" . . . . . IF the fuel really is of the octane that it purports to be . . . and that is the unknown for many people who absolutely, totally, inextricably KNOW that they get better mileage using a slower burning fuel in an engine not designed for it . . . when all they really should be doing is buying REAL gasoline .

Rotten gas at higher octane is almost as good as real gasoline at a lower octane level .

Thankfully, those types of people aren't very technically minded and they make those ludicrous statements that higher octane gets better mileage instead of using the lower-priced fuel . . . . . . and they are usually lurking on cooking or sewing sites and wouldn't dare come here where thinking people write and live .
SurferJoe46 (51)
670510 2008-05-19 05:58:00 But the jap cars are designed to run on 98 octane - wouldn't running them on any lower octane cause more engine wear? wratterus (105)
670511 2008-05-19 07:17:00 This MIGHT be true if you drive a pre-1964 vehicle .

After that date . . almost ALL vehicles have vapor recovery systems that guarantee that the vapors/fumes go into the engine to propel it via a purge system .

depending on year and system used, they can burn that vapor poorly . especially if its dumped in on the trailing throttle .


But the jap cars are designed to run on 98 octane - wouldn't running them on any lower octane cause more engine wear? wear . . . generally not . most newish ones will adjust themselves to suit the fuel . how well it runs on it depends entirly on the motor .

from article . . . . . .
#5 . To A/C or not A/C that depends a lot on type of aircon . basic cars often have basic aircon, on/off . more upmarket models have temp controled and econo control . eg turn off when get to required temp, some run aircon when going downhill and turn aircon off when you floor it .

#2 . Change your air filter can make a huge difference . the engine is an air pump, the easier for it to pump air through the less fuel its costs for it to do so . also check that they have changed it, a lot will just blow it out with air gun and charge you for a filter !

a few of my tips . . . . .

SLOW DOWN ! ! ! going by drivers recently fuel must be free .

engine mods . may be boyracer but good exhausts, intakes, intercoolers can reduce fuel usage . . . . . provided you keep off the throttle . . . . . . see above .
tweak'e (69)
670512 2008-05-19 08:13:00 Just use a manual car and idle in high gears, great gas savings right there for the morning/afternoon Auckland traffic. Deathwish (143)
670513 2008-05-19 08:31:00 a couple more tips.....

the old coast down the hill in neutral doesn't always saves you gas. a lot of modern cars will cut off the fuel while going downhill as long as the motor is doing enough rpm.

with auto gear boxes you can get lockup clutch mod kits which override the factory clutch lockup. that way you can cruise at lower rpm with the auto clutch locked which saves gas.

and one y a f a s should take note of......don't drive so close. more space between you and the vechile ahead means you can dampen out changes in spead. the less acceleration you do the less fuel you use.
tweak'e (69)
670514 2008-05-19 09:01:00 a couple more tips.....

the old coast down the hill in neutral doesn't always saves you gas. a lot of modern cars will cut off the fuel while going downhill as long as the motor is doing enough rpm.

with auto gear boxes you can get lockup clutch mod kits which override the factory clutch lockup. that way you can cruise at lower rpm with the auto clutch locked which saves gas.

and one y a f a s should take note of......don't drive so close. more space between you and the vechile ahead means you can dampen out changes in spead. the less acceleration you do the less fuel you use.

First suggestion, very true. Don't bother driving downhill in neutral, it is (potentially) a very dangerous practice and should be avoided -> what if you needed to swing out of the way all of a sudden? Also, what about the wear you put on your brakes to keep to the legal speed? Better just to stick to the gear that best holds that speed (without need for touching 'go-fast' pedal/hitting brakes). I think in a vehicle with EFI, it shouldn't make a difference (or not a very big one) whether you are in neutral or idling in the right gear to hold speed you need to, not unless you are using the accelerator.

As for the 2nd suggestion, thats awesome too! Something I've picked up over the year since doing more driving through traffic. Absolutely no use flooring it up to the guy ahead when all you're going to end up doing is hitting your brakes anyway (so wasting gas as well as wearing your brakes & even tyres for some). I see more people do this now, so theres huge gaps in between everyone. Unfortunately it doesn't do much for getting home earlier :sleep
Deathwish (143)
670515 2008-05-19 09:05:00 Surfer Joe you forget that in NZ there are no roads long enough or straight enough to be able to use cruise control (certainly not on the Mainland) Auckland, North Island might be different :horrified gary67 (56)
670516 2008-05-19 09:07:00 Urine.

Thats 2.
Metla (12)
670517 2008-05-19 09:41:00 I also heard the fuller your tank the better as the fumes evapourate quicker if there is more air/space in the tank....or something like that...

and that's the problem. Most people have only half baked and, "someone told me that" ideas. Find out the truth!
pine-o-cleen (2955)
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