Question about saving Gas

[zartgirl]

I have a question about saving gas in my car! My new job requires me to drive a lot, and the thought has come up to me that their must be something I can do to not use so much gas! Here is the problem... I am a single mom, and I don't work on cars, and well frankly I would not be able to build something to put on the car myself! My income will be going up, so buying something and having someone install it... is much more my speed!

I drive a little 2 door 1993 Grand Am 5 on the floor standard transmition, and I get pretty good gas mileage. I really love the little car, and am debating whether I should have it rebuilt (has about 130,000 miles on it, or go into debt for a newer car) personally I don't like debt! Not sure what I should do in that realm! I wish I could work on cars, but it just ain't going to happen!

So is there a way to increase my gas mileage on my little grand am? And do you have reccomendations as far as rebuilding it, or buying new? My thing with the gas is not as much the money that goes into the gas tank, although that does not help any either, but more so the whole political thing behind the price of the gas, and just the idea of using it... Don't know if that makes sense???

Thanks for any idea or help you can give me
Sallyjane

[dmparr]

well since your car is a 5 speed manual transmission then I would say the best thing you could do without modifing your car is to try the pulse and glid driving technique. I drive this way all the time and if done right nobody else on the road can tell that you are just coasting. I'll post a link that explains it and how to do it. Their is a lot of other info on this site that talks about ways to save on gas but most ppl start on the driving techniques.


Driving technique: exploring 'Pulse and Glide' - MetroMPG.com

[octavian]

I have a question about saving gas in my car! My new job requires me to drive a lot, and the thought has come up to me that their must be something I can do to not use so much gas! Here is the problem... I am a single mom, and I don't work on cars, and well frankly I would not be able to build something to put on the car myself! My income will be going up, so buying something and having someone install it... is much more my speed!

I drive a little 2 door 1993 Grand Am 5 on the floor standard transmition, and I get pretty good gas mileage. I really love the little car, and am debating whether I should have it rebuilt (has about 130,000 miles on it, or go into debt for a newer car) personally I don't like debt! Not sure what I should do in that realm! I wish I could work on cars, but it just ain't going to happen!

So is there a way to increase my gas mileage on my little grand am? And do you have reccomendations as far as rebuilding it, or buying new? My thing with the gas is not as much the money that goes into the gas tank, although that does not help any either, but more so the whole political thing behind the price of the gas, and just the idea of using it... Don't know if that makes sense???

Thanks for any idea or help you can give me
Sallyjane

hi there sallyjane,
by standard transimission do you mean manual?
if so it is possible to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30% by driving correctly.
for example did you know that when you are driving downhill and you foot is not on the gas pedal or brake the engine does not consume fuel? this is because the momentum of the wheel forces the pistons around (sounds like it's gonna hurt the engine but trust me it won't). if the speed is getting to high put it in a lower gear and let them do the work. it won't hurt the transmission and the brakes last considerably longer.
if you are driving on a road with low resistance ( no up-hill... just flat) you should have it in the highest gear possible.

these are just some simple tricks to lower fuel consumption without changing anything in the car... of course if you do the same while having an hho-booster aboard that would help even more.

PS: if everyone could use their brakes less (if it's not something in the way and you have to stop) we wouldn't have all these tailbacks clogging up the highways. look forward while driving and try to predict whats happening.

[WCastle]

zartgirl,

As far as getting better gas milage a few things will help you right off and should be done on ANY car anyway, and yes some are things you CAN do yourself without throwing away money to someone who is eager to take it from you (would be better spent at bulk foods.com or some other place to stock up on food/resources to protect your kids from the coming food shortage)

Check the air in your tires, the owners manual for your car has some generic info, but since the tires are made by a 3rd party company, check with the manufacturer of the tires for correct tire pressure.

Next is making sure all of the fluids and filters are clean/new, the owners manual is again your friend with all of the info you need.

There are several ways to adjust your habits of acceleration , timing your travel through stoplights, a few examples...

Try not to do "jackrabbit" starts, you know beat the other people to the next stoplight.

Make yourself aware that every time you push the accelerator pedal it is using more fuel, making yourself aware of the engine sounds when it is under strain - going up a hill, when it is "breathing easier" going down a hill, all come into play when you want your car to play nice at the pump.

These are some basic concepts you can do to get your car ready for the more elaborate modifications if you should choose to do any.

As far as "buying new" that depends on how well the car has been cared for, has it had regular oil changes, filters ?, does it have any strange rattles when starting? (a high milage engine may have a slight rattle) but one of long duration, or loud knocks could be more serious, you see those folks who have more experience in engines refer to the engine noises you hear when it starts in the morning with words like - rattle, knock, bang, ping, tick, foof, and all sorts of words to describe the sounds an engine makes.

It may sound amusing however it is quite helpful when describing what problem an engine may be having and how serious it is.

So be careful what you are paying for as there are many people who can still sleep after taking all of your money.

[muttdogg]

Better gas mileage

Hello Sallyjane.
One of the first tricks I learned is having your brake fluid changed every time you have your brakes re-done. Braking is more efficient when the lines are cleaned. Doesn't seem to have much effect on mileage, until you look at how much energy is wasted on braking. Also take your foot off the gas pedal as early as possible before a brake. If your engine can handle it, try skipping 2nd and 4th gears. They are much more for performance that efficiency. As you say a 5 speed Manual transmission, so that is what I'm dealing with. If it is a clutch, learn what speeds , or rpm, the transmission needs to shift at. Then when you get good at it, you will not even need the clutch, shift at the appropriate rpm, or speed. Stay away from down-shifting, as the wear and tear on the engine out weighs the cost of a new set of brakes. After you have slowed down, then make sure you down shift to the appropiate gear.
Also,I do not have the link, but try searching for hypermiling. They use drafting techniques, coasting down hill and the such.
Happy Motoring!
Dan

[ANTIQUER]

Hey Sallyjane.

What part of the country are you in? Maybe one of the members could help you with an HHO setup to give you more mpg.

Also, inflate your tires about 3-5 lbs. above normal. The harder they are the less friction and more mpg. Also if you get tires get them a little narrower. Same idea. Someone recently posted in the renewable energy section doing that on a truck gave them 20% better mpg.

Al

[wpage]

Try Acetone

Hey Sal,

Try adding some acetone to your fuel. Get the same product you are using for your nails. Acetone from Sallys beauty supply get the 1 gallon size...
Using something to add it without spilling on your cars...
(like a stainless steel turkey baster)
paint ...
add about 3 to 4 ounces each time you fill up the tank...
This will add 10% + to your mileage and clean up your injectors and fuel system.

W

[ANTIQUER]

Hey Sal,

Try adding some acetone to your fuel. Get the same product you are using for your nails. Acetone from Sallys beauty supply get the 1 gallon size...
Using something to add it without spilling on your cars...
(like a stainless steel turkey baster)
paint ...
add about 3 to 4 ounces each time you fill up the tank...
This will add 10% + to your mileage and clean up your injectors and fuel system.

W

Hey Woody;

Have to dis-agree with you on this. Acetone has a deteriorating effect on the gaskets in most fuel systems. Several members of a forum no longer on the web confirmed this after they tried it and had to re-build theirs.

Another problem (which you alluded to) is it will eat paint off if spilled on the car, so must be handled carefully. It is also extremely flammable. All in all better to avoid using it.

Al

[Tishatang]

Hi All
There is a lot of disinformation out there in regards to using acetone in fuel. It is better to go to the source. Here is a link to the man who has promoted the use of acetone for 50 years. It is a secret the oil companies don't want to know and do.

The following secrets are yours

If you can do all the things listed here, he claims you might double your mileage?

Chris

[Aaron]

mileage improvement

Hi Chris,

I've seen that page a few times but adding 1%+5%, etc... they don't all add up meaning you hit a brick wall on the oxygen sensor sabotaging the increase.

So even if you add many individual things that could add up to over 100%, the reality is that when combined, it will be a small percentage up to what the oxygen sensor and/or other limitations allow.

PIB (poly iso butylene) or butyl rubber is one of the additives "they" don't want you to know about far more than acetone, etc...

[ANTIQUER]

Hi All
There is a lot of disinformation out there in regards to using acetone in fuel. It is better to go to the source. Here is a link to the man who has promoted the use of acetone for 50 years. It is a secret the oil companies don't want to know and do.

The following secrets are yours

If you can do all the things listed here, he claims you might double your mileage?

Chris

Hey Chris;

If you believe that link I say go for it. However, he said nothing about damage to your fuel system. Yes, I know he says he has done it for 50 years, but I don't know him from Adam. As I said I know of people who obviously did not work for "big oil" who had their systems destroyed. Also, I have used it as a paint & lacquer remover. It breaks down latex or neoprene gloves after a while.

Further, I have run a gallon of xylene through my car in the ratio he suggests(several tankfuls). There was no increase in mpg. The isopropyl alcohol will improve mpg if you can get it in pure form; the stuff normally sold in stores is 7%-20% water and will block up your filter eventually.

Another side of this is cost of the additives. Acetone is about $12.00-$16.00 per gallon last I looked at Lowes. Add shipping if you get it from Sally's and maybe a hazardous frt. charge. So even if you want to try it I'm not sure you would save anything.

All things considered you could put in an HOD system for the same or less cost than implementing all his suggestions (I'm not including the oil & tranny stuff in that) and we know they work.

Maybe someone will buy Stan Meyer's stuff Sat. and Public Domain it; then we can forget everything else! Have a good weekend.

Al

[wpage]

Poly who

Hi Chris,

I've seen that page a few times but adding 1%+5%, etc... they don't all add up meaning you hit a brick wall on the oxygen sensor sabotaging the increase.

So even if you add many individual things that could add up to over 100%, the reality is that when combined, it will be a small percentage up to what the oxygen sensor and/or other limitations allow.

PIB (poly iso butylene) or butyl rubber is one of the additives "they" don't want you to know about far more than acetone, etc...

Aaron,

Can you be more specific about PIB?

Is it better than Acetone as a additive?

[Aaron]

pib

If acetone really eats gaskets, then it must be better. It was used back in the WWII I believe.

Anyway, it takes much less of it in fuel to get 10-20% increase in mileage. Not many people seem to know about it anymore as an additive.

You can probably find references online with pib and fuel mileage.

[wpage]

+ & -

There are nay Sayers to all things. Much of what we are doing here on the renewable energy section has been disputed as false by some.

Like all alternate solutions misinformation and legends are common. Lets work to find the truth on what works.

People have to read between the lines and make their own assessments here. If someone has hard data on claims I would love to see it. Actual findings on MPG.

Ethanol is proven to be problematic in terms of water attraction and damaging to fuel systems as well as wasting more energy than it produces. Yet we have it forced on us. By powers that be.

The jury is out on much of the research that is happening here with hydrogen cells, effie, 02 sensors, acetone, xylene, diesel, synthetic additives and other elements.

The question on saving energy with alternates remains. Lets keep thinking freely with solutions.


W

[Aaron]

50 extra miles on a tank with efie and battery coil

I filled my tank today and it took 9.601gallons. It went 351.35 miles on that much fuel, which is 36.6MPG about 85% city driving.

I removed fuel line magnets and have not used any additive for several tanks. When the last tank was at about 3/4 full, that is when I put on the battery coil tube and the EFIE circuit.

There is absolutely no doubt the mileage increased. This is about 50 miles more on a tank than normal.

When adding gas today, I added 1/2 oz of RXP Generation II and will see what the mileage is.