article from www.Fueleconomy.gov
Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.31 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear.
Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
Use Overdrive Gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
OEM parts vs. Aftermarket parts
When you take your car to the dealership's service department for repairs, you know you're getting Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car parts. However, if you take your car to an independent shop, you'll most likely get aftermarket car parts. Is there anything wrong with that? Does a less expensive part mean a poorer-quality part? And in what situations should you use only OEM parts?
To answer these questions, we've created a list of pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision when choosing what parts go into your car. In this way, you can strike a balance between cost and quality.
Aftermarket PartsAn aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's maker. A number of companies make parts designed to function the same, or in some cases even better than the original.
PROS
Less expensive:
Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM:
More variety:
Better availability: You can walk into any gas station, auto parts store or local mechanic, and they're bound to have a part that fits your car. This gives you more options on where to take your car for service. There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts. Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies, like In some cases, you may end up with a better part than you started with. For example, when an automaker designs its brake pads, it has to strike a balance between cost, durability, noise levels and performance. If you want better performance and don't mind some extra brake noise (some brake pads squeak even though they are stopping the car effectively), an aftermarket pad may be your best choice. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than OEM parts; how much you save varies by brand.
Quality varies greatly:
Overwhelming selection: If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, the selection could be overwhelming, and there's some chance you may get a bad quality part. Even a part as simple as a spark plug can be made by dozens of different companies and comes in numerous variations. Consult your mechanic for advice or simply stick with the OEM part when the price difference isn't significant. The saying "you get what you pay for" rings true here. Some aftermarket parts are inferior because of the use of lower-quality materials. Stick with aftermarket brands you're familiar with or are recommended by a mechanic you trust, even if these parts cost a bit more.
PROS
Easier to choose your part:
Greater assurance of quality: The OEM part should work exactly as the one you are replacing. It is what the vehicle was manufactured with and provides a peace of mind in its familiarity and performance. If you go to the parts counter at a dealership and ask for any part, you'll usually get one type. You don't have to worry about assessing the quality of different brands and prices.
More expensive:
Need to be bought at the dealership: Even though there are other ways of buying OEM parts (eBay, online wholesalers), most people will go to a dealership to buy their car parts. You can request OEM parts from your local mechanic, but it may take longer to get your vehicle repaired since the parts must be ordered. OEM parts will usually cost more than an aftermarket part.
edmunds.com
To answer these questions, we've created a list of pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision when choosing what parts go into your car. In this way, you can strike a balance between cost and quality.
Aftermarket PartsAn aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's maker. A number of companies make parts designed to function the same, or in some cases even better than the original.
PROS
Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM:
More variety:
Better availability: You can walk into any gas station, auto parts store or local mechanic, and they're bound to have a part that fits your car. This gives you more options on where to take your car for service. There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts. Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies, like In some cases, you may end up with a better part than you started with. For example, when an automaker designs its brake pads, it has to strike a balance between cost, durability, noise levels and performance. If you want better performance and don't mind some extra brake noise (some brake pads squeak even though they are stopping the car effectively), an aftermarket pad may be your best choice. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than OEM parts; how much you save varies by brand.
Overwhelming selection: If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, the selection could be overwhelming, and there's some chance you may get a bad quality part. Even a part as simple as a spark plug can be made by dozens of different companies and comes in numerous variations. Consult your mechanic for advice or simply stick with the OEM part when the price difference isn't significant. The saying "you get what you pay for" rings true here. Some aftermarket parts are inferior because of the use of lower-quality materials. Stick with aftermarket brands you're familiar with or are recommended by a mechanic you trust, even if these parts cost a bit more.
PROS
Greater assurance of quality: The OEM part should work exactly as the one you are replacing. It is what the vehicle was manufactured with and provides a peace of mind in its familiarity and performance. If you go to the parts counter at a dealership and ask for any part, you'll usually get one type. You don't have to worry about assessing the quality of different brands and prices.
Need to be bought at the dealership: Even though there are other ways of buying OEM parts (eBay, online wholesalers), most people will go to a dealership to buy their car parts. You can request OEM parts from your local mechanic, but it may take longer to get your vehicle repaired since the parts must be ordered. OEM parts will usually cost more than an aftermarket part.
edmunds.com
Friday, January 6, 2012
Fuel Gauge reading empty when full
Happy New Year!
To start off this year's blogging I've chosen an issue we have dealt with a number of times...faulty fuel gauges. It has to be annoying to constantly gauge how much gas you have left in the tank...worrying that you might run out of gas at any moment. You finally get around to getting the issue looked at. Well it's not as simple as running the codes and telling you what failed. The technician has to drain the gas (you'll get it back), bring down the tank and test both fuel level sending units. That will cost you 2 hours diagnosis. One of the sensors can be replaced. That'll run you an additional few hundred dollars installed. The other cannot. You would have to purchase a new gas tank. I don't mean to end off in such a somber note but an informed customer is a happier customer.
To start off this year's blogging I've chosen an issue we have dealt with a number of times...faulty fuel gauges. It has to be annoying to constantly gauge how much gas you have left in the tank...worrying that you might run out of gas at any moment. You finally get around to getting the issue looked at. Well it's not as simple as running the codes and telling you what failed. The technician has to drain the gas (you'll get it back), bring down the tank and test both fuel level sending units. That will cost you 2 hours diagnosis. One of the sensors can be replaced. That'll run you an additional few hundred dollars installed. The other cannot. You would have to purchase a new gas tank. I don't mean to end off in such a somber note but an informed customer is a happier customer.
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