Filed under: Gas Saving Tips
You want the best bang for your buck when it comes to capitalizing your fuel usage and that is why you purchased a hybrid. But did you know that you can likely achieve even greater fuel conservation with this vehicle? Your hybrid is a complex, efficient machine. There are several ways that you can use its efficiency to your advantage. Read on for four ideas on maximizing your hybrid’s fuel usage:
1. Proper treatment and maintenance of your hybrid’s engine – This idea sounds easy enough. Heck, it is common sense that every car owner, regardless of whether it is a gas or hybrid vehicle, should follow. Besides, you can reduce pollution released in the environment by properly maintaining your car. Change the oil regularly as well as the air filters. If the oil becomes dirty, it could clog up your air filter. By the same token, if the air filter is clogged, it cannot protect your engine from contaminants. Check the spark plugs to ensure the contacts are still good and firing correctly. Consider a tune-up every so often when you feel that your vehicle is not running at 100 percent.
Don’t forget that a hybrid car has another power source to draw from. If you have an electric motor that can run from a battery, you don’t have to always rely on the gasoline engine. Turn off the gas engine every once in a while to conserve on gasoline. In fact, during those wait times in your car, whether it is in a traffic jam, stop light or railroad crossing, turn off the gasoline engine and allow the battery power to operation by itself every so often.
2. Regularly check your hybrid’s tires – First of all, many people know that tires with the proper air pressure will ensure the best mileage possible. The manual for hybrid vehicles typically lists a minimum and maximum level of air pressure for the tires. Invest in a tire gauge. By under-inflating or over-inflating the tires, you stand the risk of wear and tear on the tires, which can eat up your gas mileage. Make sure you do anything you can to keep the tires inflated properly. Check for leaks or sharp objects possibly stuck in the tire. The best rule of thumb would be to check the air pressure in your tires the same time every week.
Choose a tire that withstands the toughest of terrains. A hybrid vehicle needs a tire with great traction. And since regular gas-powered cars lose some fuel economy due to the drag that tires can produce, hybrids often need a special, stronger tire inflated to a bit more than the normal air pressure in order to provide a smoother ride which causes less drag and improves the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
3. Practice being efficient about your hybrid vehicle’s usage – Why bother with a number of short trips and errands? Plan your days and combine all of your trips together. Not only will this be a time saver for you but also a saver in gasoline as well. When you run a number of errands in as many days, you are likely starting your engine from a cold stage. This cold start eats up a lot more gasoline than if you combined all your errand-running into one day.
Take control of your air conditioning in your hybrid as well. When it is hot outside and you run the AC in your car, this uses up extra gas. The hybrid vehicle has ventilation, which allows air to flow through and circulate. Once your hybrid car cools, be sure to modify the settings and even switch off the air conditioner once the desired temperature is reached.
4. Keep your speed under control – Many people tend to have a lead foot and breeze at least five or ten miles per hour above the speed limit. It is this lead foot syndrome that can negatively impact your hybrid’s fuel consumption. It has to do with aerodynamics. Sometimes, the faster you drive a car, the more drag it has. This translates to the faster the speed; the faster your fuel is consumed. Lighten the lead foot and you will realize a bit more fuel efficiency in your hybrid.
The hybrid car is making strides in the vehicle market. However, it also takes responsible ownership and care in order to fully realize all of the benefits that a hybrid can provide its owner.
www.juicedhybrid.com
September 11, 2009
Most of us assume that some things are givens when it comes to environment-friendly transportation choices. Among those assumptions: Taking the subway is better than driving an SUV, riding a train tops hopping on a plane, and a hybrid car is much preferred over a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.
But that’s not always true.
Environmental engineers Mikhail Chester and Arpad Horvath of the University of California found that instead of taking a train into the city from suburbia, there are times when “people would be better off traveling through town in a gas-guzzling, high emission SUV. Ouch!
But it gets even worse: Taking the commuter train across Boston results in higher greenhouse gas emissions than traveling the same distance in a jumbo jet, says New Scientist.
How could that possibly be?
Part of it comes down to how the power that fuels the transportation is generated. Boston’s electric commuter trains use electricity that comes mostly from burning fossil fuels.
“Including these additional sources of pollution more than doubles the greenhouse gas emissions of train travel. The emissions generated by car travel increase by nearly one third when manufacturing and infrastructure are taken into account. In comparison to cars on roads and trains on tracks, air travel requires little infrastructure. As a result, full life-cycle emissions are between 10 and 20 per cent higher than ‘tailpipe’ emissions.
Occupancy also matters when it comes to measuring greenness – almost-empty buses at off-peak hours were less efficient than even SUVs and pickup trucks.
This way of measuring the environmental impact of transportation should be taken into account when planning new initiatives, say the researchers.
Of course, none of this is to deny the long list of benefits of buying a hybrid vehicle (or even taking the train or bus). But it does point out the complexity of many environmental issues.
June 11, 2009
On June 9, 2009 the House approved the Cash for Clunkers Bill with a vote of 298 to 119. The passing of this bill means that consumers may receive a voucher for up to $4,500 from the government in return for their fuel thirsty cars. The voucher will be good towards the purchase of a newer, more fuel-efficient car of the consumer’s choice. Car owners will qualify to receive a $3,500 voucher if their current vehicle gets less than 18 mpg, and they purchase a new car that gets at least 22 miles per gallon in it’s place. They could, instead, receive up to $4,500 if their newly purchased car gets at least 10 mpg more than their old vehicle.
In the Cash for Clunkers program, the government will essentially buy gas-guzzling cars and trucks from their drivers in order for them to purchase newer more fuel-efficient cars, stimulating our struggling auto industry. It is estimated that the program could lead to 1.3 million new-vehicle purchases.
Funding for this bill will be derived from the already existing $787 billion dollar stimulus package plan. Furthermore, the effects Cash for Clunkers program is expected to be grandiose as it will create job opportunities and will also put more hybrid and eco-friendly cars on the road. Lastly, it will help in minimizing the amount of cars that contribute to global pollution in the atmosphere.
June 10, 2009
One of the most cost effective ways to improve performance and fuel economy is to improve engine airflow. You may not have put much thought into your vehicle’s air filter, but actually air filters can make a tremendous difference in the life and general performance of any hybrid car or truck.
Air Filters are an essential component of the air intake system and tasked with trapping any dirt or debris from entering the engine. Dirt can cause a great deal of damage. Stock or OEM air filters are made of cotton, paper, or gauze and are considered low technology. Though they stop around 99% of particles out these filters do not maximize fuel economy or performance.
K&N filters are some of the most popular performance air filters we sell for around $40 to $50 dollars. They allow for more air flow while still providing better filtration than an original equipment or OEM filter. Increased air flow means increase horsepower and acceleration. Since your engine will be operating more efficiently there will also be fuel economy gains.
K&N filters are also washable and reusable and can go up to 50,000 miles before they need cleaning. Stock paper air filters need to changed about every 8000 miles and ultimately cost you more in the long run in replacement cost and fuel economy losses. The environment will thank you for using a reusable air filter as you can prevent used paper air filters from piling up in land fills. K&N filters come with a one million mile warranty and last the life of your vehicle.
Changing air filters is very easy to accomplish. The air filter is not held in place by any clamps or screws. Simply open the case, remove the actual air filter and place the new air filter in the space where the old air filter was housed.
The benefits and cost savings of using a reusable performance air filter are clear.
priusaccessories
June 4, 2009
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