19. January 2009 by admin.

Posted in Blogroll | 11 Comments »

19. January 2009 by admin.

At FirstChoiceAutoFinder It has become ever apparent that gas prices have gotten out of hand. The time of the guzzling SUV’s are behind us as production of the Hummer, Tahoe, and Suburban have come to an all time low. Gas prices have truly hit a sore spot in the average Canadian’s wallet. Now, as Canadians, we frown upon our once beloved cars and view at them as a vacuum that is sucking our savings dry because of their poor gas mileage. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There are some things we can do to combat rising gas prices, and increase our fuel economy, such as hypermiling, auto advertising, using gas saving devices, and performing basic car maintenance www.asapautofinder.com.

The first thing you may be asking yourself is, “What is hypermiling”? Hypermiling, is a term that describes a type of driver what utilizes special driving techniques in an effort to maximize and increase fuel efficiency. Hypermiling can be divided in two classes: beginners and advanced. Most people/drivers will fall into the beginner category therefore we will stress some of the basic techniques of hypermiling. One key aspect of becoming a hyper miler is car maintenance; key areas include maintaining high tire pressure, tire balance, wheel alignment engine oil with low-kinematics viscosity/ low “weight” motor oil. Pay close attention to your engine control module & sensors for proper engine operation especially the oxygen sensor. Safety is never to be neglected, one area most people / drivers neglect is their headlights, especially if they have become cloudy or foggy, they will greatly affect visibility at night and become an eye sore on an otherwise great looking vehicle. A headlight cleaner or a headlight restoration kit (like the one available online by The Headlight Solution at www.headlightsolution.net can clean and restore those cloudy, foggy headlights like new.

Another factor in increasing gas mileage is by simply minimizing mass by either driving a lighter weight vehicle and/or reducing extra weight such as luggage, tools, equipment, and even the spare tire if you have roadside assistance might be considered. Maintaining an efficient speed, while cruising with no stops, at minimal throttle in highest gear, is also very important in fuel efficiency. In general, good fuel economy is achieved/maximized when acceleration and braking are minimized, so the key is to be aware of your surroundings, and anticipate what is happening ahead in order to maximize coasting time. According to a the Government study, just by getting your engine tuned properly can increase gas mileage by an average of 4.7%. The most important aspect is the oxygen sensor which greatly affects performance / fuel economy by as much as 40%. So check out that engine light. Make sure to keep tires inflated; the reasoning is because low tire pressure increases resistance therefore making your car work harder. Also, make sure to check your tire pressure monthly. A lot of people think that their car runs on just gas but in actuality a car needs gas and oxygen, that is why it is so important to check you air filter twice a year and replace it every 10,000-12,000 miles. The Energy Department has estimated that one could save as much as .22¢ a gallon just by replacing by replacing a dirty air filter. A lot of people think it is simply OK to put just any old motor oil into their vehicle engine, but in fact, it does matter, and can save you some money just by using the recommended engine oil for your vehicle. Stay on top of your car’s maintenance schedule shown in your owner’s manual to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. Lastly, remember the phase “Get the Junk out of the Trunk” by doing so you can save some money over the course of your gas tank. So get those Golf Clubs, Luggage, Newspapers, and Generators out of there and who know knows maybe you’ll find something you have been looking for a long time.

Some drivers have escaped the rising gas costs by transforming their vehicles. Not by altering their vehicle’s engine, but by altering the outside, by allowing businesses to advertise on their vehicles. Today auto advertising has become widely popular, and for today’s driver / owner it has also become a way of getting “free gas” so to speak. Gas is never free, but it is like driving your vehicle for free because these sponsors and or businesses are paying you to drive your vehicle to promote them. Therefore, you are in a way getting paid to drive your own car. Whether it may be a decal, a magnet, or even what is called and auto wrap. An auto wrap is a vinyl covering over your vehicle where they wrap part or the entire vehicle in an advertisement. How much money can you earn monthly depends in the sponsor, what type of advertising is on your vehicle, and how many miles you drive. To even be considered as a possible candidate one must drive at least 800 miles monthly, drive in, or through busy / congested cities or college campuses, and park in public places where the vehicle can easily be seen at all time. Getting auto advertising, an autowrap, or getting paid to drive is highly sought after, so companies that are providing these services have a long waiting list and are picking and choosing the best candidate based on new / old vehicles, driving distances and routes taken to maximize visibility and exposure.

The last advice we have to give concerning fuel economy and ways to save at the gas pump is by owning a gas saving device. But the question to ask is, “do they actually work?” and if so, “which ones?” Recently, Yahoo, conducted a study testing these devices and only recommended the digital fuel mizer as a gas saving device worth having. It is a simple electronic device that monitors and alerts if the driver is driving too aggressively either by accelerating too fast or braking too harshly. When driving the vehicle efficiently one will not hear the alert and the colored rising bar will stay dim. But the one true gas saving device that is proven and cost nothing is something most drivers already have and use. The device is known as your right foot; studies have shown you can get 35% better fuel mileage just by using your sacred right foot properly. By that note, you must lay off the pedal, accelerate more slowly, lift your foot when approaching a stop, coast more, and on the highway or whenever possible use your cruise control. If you have been accused of a having a lead foot trade it in because in these times of high gas prices the slower you go the more fuel efficient you’ll be on the highways.

So in short by way of hypermiling, auto advertising, using gas saving devices, and basic vehicle routine maintenance one can combat or even in some cases beat soaring gas prices. This article has been brought to you by The Headlight Solution, your answer to cloudy foggy headlights. We hope that by providing these tips the average Canadian can stretch their dollar during these tough times and continue to keep the roads safe. www.firstchoiceautofinder.com

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