Gasoline For Me

What You Need To Know About The Honda Civic Hybrid

2006-09-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

Save Gas With A Hybrid: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
By: Lyn Davis

Starting at $22,150, the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid is a great choice for any car buyer who seeks a safe, attractive, environmentally-friendly vehicle at an affordable price. Honda retooled the Civic hybrid to make it even better than before. Standard features include an 8-valve 4-cylinder gasoline
engine, anti-lock brakes, front and side cushion airbags, a sleek, multi-tier panel and a top-notch audio system.

Like all hybrids, the 2006 Civic combines a gas engine, powerful battery and electric motor to achieve maximum mileage and reduced emissions. The 2006 Honda Civic hybrid can cruise using only its electric motor in particular driving conditions. This makes it a “full hybrid” vehicle. As far as gas mileage goes, the Civic hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. This is a slight improvement from the gas mileage of the 2005 model.

The 2006 Civic hybrid's electric motor produces 20 horsepower. The battery pack used for storing energy is 158 volts, increased from the previous year.

The 2006 Civic hybrid offers seating for five and is considered a compact sedan. Sleeker and more attractive than the 2005 Civic hybrid, the 2006 model is great for anyone seeking a sportier hybrid car.

As far as power goes, the combined gas engine and electric motor of the 2006 Civic hybrid produce 115 horsepower, an increase of 23 percent from the 2005 model.

If you think the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid might be the right car for you, the next step is finding a reputable dealership. You can search for dealerships in your area using the Yellow Pages or the Internet. It's a good idea to visit more than one dealership before deciding which one should have your
business. Make sure your salesperson is knowledgeable and friendly without being overly aggressive. And always take a test drive to make sure the vehicle you think you want to purchase feels right to you.

About the Author:

Lyn Davis is a freelance writer who specializes in consumer information. For more information visit Hybrid Cars

Read more articles by: Lyn Davis

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Why Are Gas Prices So High? How To Prepare For Increasing Gas Prices.

2006-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Why the Gas Price is Very High? What Can You Do About It?
By Entjik Jeffrie

The problem with the gas price today is linked to the economic laws. The first economic law is “prices double every 10 years” and the second law is “the law of supply and demand.”

10 years ago the average gas price was $1.50 and today the average gas price is $3.00. We don't have to be a genius to predict how much the gas price will be in 10 years $3.00 * 2 = $6 gallon, and in another 10 years, the gas price will be $3.00 * 2 = $12/gallon and so on.

So basically, if you can't find a job that pays you double in 10 years, you will be in a financial disaster because your expenses will be higher than your income.

So it is important to improve yourself, so you can double your income every 10 years. You get paid because of the information and the knowledge that you can contribute to your work place.

The supply and demand law, as long as you and I still drive our car and the car needs gas. There is nothing that the government can do to lower the gas price. If the supply is low and the demand is high, automatically the price will go up. If the supply is abundant and the demand is low, the price will go down.

Gas is one of the most demanding products out there, because if there is no gas, a lot of people won't be able to drive their car. A lot of businesses can't transport their products because their trucks can't run without gas. Many people decided to ride their bicycle and motorcycle to work because they just can't afford to buy the $3/gallon gas for their car.

Why does the food price go up too? Well when the cost of transporting the food from the food manufacture to the store is increased because of the price of gas, the food manufacture must increase the price of their product in order to maintain their profit margin.

What can you do about it? Well, you can get a second job to increase your income, or learn how to do a part time business to bring additional income. Learn to invest in yourself, keep your knowledge and information up-to-date, and learn more skills and get more information.

I hope this article helps to give you a little bit preparation for your future. Many people don't know this, and when they see prices doubled in 10 years, they are shocked and they are caught unprepared. The last thing that you want to do is panicking, because when you panic, your mind will be clouded and you can’t think straight.

When it comes to preparing your financial future, you can’t be lazy and be sitting around and wait for a miracle to come, because you are the only person who is responsible for your future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Entjik_Jeffrie

Explanation Of Gas Movement Throughout Your Car

2006-09-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

Where Does the Gas Go?
By James Monahan

We've seen too much misinformation regarding exhaust (read: that pipe that runs under your car which gives off or "exhausts" certain things) theory.

What kind of misinformation? For starters, there are a lot of people in the "bigger is better" camp. We're talking about exhaust pipe diameters.

Of course you've seen them quasi-race cars with the biggest exhaust systems making the most thundering noises while parking at your lot. For some, this is just way irritating while for others, well, they just have to put up or shut up.

So is bigger really better? To understand and to be able to take a side on this great debate, one must know what really happens and what purpose does the exhaust pipe serve.

Let's start from the beginning. What is an exhaust system? Silly question? Not hardly. Exhaust systems carry out several important functions. First of which is getting hot, noxious exhaust gasses from your engine.

These are placed away from the engine compartment. Basically it's the waste place of the car. It also significantly soothes noise output from the engine. And in the case of modern cars, reduce exhaust emissions.

So how the heck does the exhaust system work?

Here's a point by point, step by step travel of the exhaust in your car. This will give you an idea on what happens inside your car (just the exhaust side, though)

After your air/fuel mixture (or nitrous/fuel mixture) burns, you will obviously have some leftovers consisting of a few unburned hydrocarbons (fuel), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, phosphorus, and the occasional molecule of a heavy metal, such as lead or molybdenum.

These are all in gaseous form, and will be under a lot of pressure as the piston rushes them out of the cylinder and into the exhaust manifold or header It collects the exhaust gases from multiple cylinders into one pipe.

They will also be hotter. An exhaust manifold is usually made of cast iron, and its' primary purpose is to funnel several exhaust ports into one, so you don't need four exhaust pipes sticking out the back of your Civic.

Exhaust manifolds are usually pretty restrictive to the flow of exhaust gas. So therefore, they waste a lot of power because your pistons have to push on the exhaust gasses pretty hard to get them out.

So why does virtually every new automobile sold have exhaust manifolds? Because they are cheap to produce, and easy to install. Real cheap. Real easy.

The performance alternative to the exhaust manifold is a header. What's the difference?

Where a manifold usually has several holes converging into a common chamber to route all your gases, a header has precisely formed tubes that curve gently to join your exhaust ports to your exhaust pipe.

How does this help? First of all, as with any fluid, exhaust gases must be treated gently for maximum horsepower production (that's your engine's power) You don't want to just slam-bang exhaust gas from your engine into the exhaust system.

Nextly, exhaust gases exit from your manifold or header, travel through a bit of pipe, then end up in the catalytic converter, or "cat". The cat's main job is to help clean up some of the harmful chemicals from your exhaust gas so they don't end up in your lungs.

In most cars, they also do a great job of quieting things down and giving any exhaust system a deeper, mellow tone.

From the catalytic converter, the exhaust gasses go through a bit more pipe and then into a muffler, or system consisting of several mufflers and/or resonators.

Exhaust gases leave the engine under extremely high pressure. If we allowed exhaust gasses escape to the atmosphere directly from the exhaust port, you can well imagine how loud and cop-attracting the noise would be.

For the same reason gunshots are loud, engine exhaust is loud. Sure, it might be cool to drive around on the street with that testosterone producing, chest-thumping, 150 decibel roar coming from your car… for about 5.3 seconds. Even the gentleman's gentleman has got to use a muffler, or system of mufflers, on their exhaust.

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of target="_new" ExhaustSite.com and writes expert articles about exhausts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Monahan

How To Cut Your Gasoline Costs In Half

2006-09-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

How to Lower Your Gas Cost by 50% Starting Today!

By Ted Ljungqvist

How to lower your gasoline cost by 50%, thru a step-by-step method, starting today by spending only 1 hour a month.

Introduction

As gasoline prices continue to climb higher and higher, many people are beginning to look for ways to slash their fuel bills. While there have been many different ideas put forth; some are not suitable for all consumers due to the fact that they must commute to work; are financially unable to trade in their existing vehicle for a smaller automobile or various other reasons.

Therefore, it is important to understand that there are; in fact, ways that you can actually lower your gasoline costs without taking any drastic measures.

You can quite easily begin to lower the amount of money that you must spend on gasoline by learning how to maneuver your car in such a way that it actually uses less gasoline.

Throughout this book, I will discuss many different ways that you can begin to see real differences in the amount of money you spend on gasoline by maneuvering your car differently.

Before we begin to delve into the many different ways that you can begin to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy, it’s important to first discuss understand the basics of fuel economy.

This won’t be a long, complicated discourse on the detailed nature of vehicle engines, but it will give you a simple and clear way to understand how your vehicle achieves fuel economy and most importantly; how you can accurately calculate your vehicle’s fuel economy.

When working on increasing your vehicle’s fuel economy, it’s important to keep a running log of your car’s mileage per gallon so that you will immediately notice if there have been any changes. These changes can signal the fact that you car may need maintenance, which as we will discuss later on; can make a great difference in your fuel economy.

Most vehicles, at least the newer models, come with a handy little sticker when you make your purchase that will tell you what kind of fuel economy you can expect to receive on that vehicle. While this can be a handy gauge, it won’t tell you exactly what kind of fuel economy your vehicle is receiving five years down the road; even six months down the road. Once getting into the habit of recording their fuel economy based on actual facts, many people are often surprised at the difference between the fuel economy they’re supposed to get with their chosen vehicle and the fuel economy they’re actually receiving.

Fortunately, with a little knowledge; you can change that. It’s a good idea to keep a notebook or journal of some type in your vehicle, along with a pen or pencil, so that you can quickly jot down information about your fuel economy when you fill up your vehicle. Waiting until you get back to the office or home, and writing it down haphazardly on scraps of paper, doesn’t work well.

Get in the habit of doing it when you fill up and keeping the information in the same place and you’ll find that it’s much easier and quicker to handle.

Take a look at the below legend to understand how to quickly and easily calculate and record your fuel mileage.

Date: This is the date you buy gas. This will help you budget for gas by showing you how often you fill up the tank.

Odometer: In this column, record the car's odometer reading when you purchase gas.

Trip: One way to easily and quickly determine your fuel economy is to reset your trip meter to 0 each time you fill up your tank. This can help you to determine how far you travel between tanks of gas.

Gallons: This is the amount of gas required to refill the tank. When filling up your gas tank, always be sure to lock the gas pump handle and then allow it to shut off automatically. Never push it further by topping off the tank. This will help to ensure that you have a full tank of gas each time

MPG: This is the miles per gallon you get for a tank of gas.

Notes: This column is handy for making any notes about factors that might affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. If you needed to drive with snow tires this week; for example or if you took a trip onto particularly rough terrain. Make a note of anything that would explain any significant deviations in your vehicle’s fuel economy.

Here’s a quick way to determine your gas mileage. Simply divide the number of miles you have traveled since your last fill-up by the number of gallons recently purchased. In order to keep track of how many miles you’ve traveled since your last fill up, you may use one of two methods.

Either reset the trip meter to 0 after each fill-up or make a note of the odometer readings and calculate it that way. When recording your vehicle’s fuel economy, it’s important to begin with a full tank of gas. Go about your normal driving (keeping in mind the tips you’ll read later on!) and then fill up again when the tank is down to ¼ full. When it hits this mark, it’s time to find out exactly what kind of mileage you’re actually getting.

To calculate your gas mileage, divide the number of miles you drove by the gallons of gas used. Most often, you’re not going to come up with nice, even round numbers. You’ll normally have fractions; such as 265.3 miles and 14 gallons of gas.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to also keep a small calculator with your journal (unless you’re just really good at long division) so that you can make accurate calculations. Always make sure that you calculate correctly and don’t estimate or guesstimate.

Keep in mind that you can’t expect to receive the same gas mileage each and every time. Sometimes there will be factors you cannot control that will cause your gas mileage to fluctuate; but the point is that you should begin to see a definable pattern.

After you’ve been calculating your fuel economy for awhile, you’ll begin to see that pattern. The important thing here to understand is your average fuel economy. This, too, is very easy to calculate. Let’s suppose that your calculations for the past few weeks look something like this: 21, 19, 23, 27, 17, 26.

To find out the average fuel economy of your vehicle, simply total these numbers and then divide by the number of figures you are averaging. So, in this example; our average fuel economy would be 133 divided by 6; which would be 22.16 mpg.

Ted Ljungqvist
www.optimaldriving.com

I’m a resident of Sweden and a founder of the optimal driving concept.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Ljungqvist

If You Drive A Dodge, How To Improve Your Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Some Useful Tips for Improving Your Dodge's Fuel Economy
By Terry Brown

As global oil prices continue to rise meteorically to record levels, we have to find ways to improve our cars' fuel economy and save money. Especially now that drivers are doing a lot more traveling than ever, the importance of fuel economy cannot be over emphasized. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that vehicle miles traveled by the average American has increased by over 115%. This increase in miles traveled and the present dilemma of rising fuel prices means that we are spending more on our fuel than ever before. Thus, we have to find ways to save money on gas and improve fuel efficiency, especially if our vehicles are not really known for their excellent gas mileage.

There are many ways you can significantly improve the fuel economy of your vehicle. Managing your vehicle by minimizing operating costs on gas as well as minimizing emissions is our goal. Here are some helpful tips you can use to help you achieve a fuel-efficient and environmentally conscious vehicle. Start by determining your car's actual gas mileage or your car's miles per gallon. If your car has poor gas mileage then it is more important than ever to start improving your fuel economy. You can do this by changing your driving habits. Take your time and drive slower, instead of 60mph, try driving at 70mph. Although it may take you longer to reach your destination, what is important is you can save up to $5 in gas costs because of the reduction in speed. This is because aerodynamic drag increases as you drive faster and gas mileage deteriorates at speeds of over 60mph.

Regular maintenance is a very effective way to improve and keep up your car's fuel economy. The simple reason is that a poorly maintained car works harder; and a car that has to work harder will definitely use up more fuel. Thus, maintenance issues such as under inflated tires, dirty and clogged air filters, spark plugs and fuel injectors must be resolved. Make sure that your tires are inflated to their proper pressures. Tires that are in good condition and properly inflated provide less road resistance thus improving fuel. You should also check tire pressure regularly and look out for signs of uneven wear or gas leaks that could compromise your tire's performance.

Another excellent way to cut your fuel costs is by planning your vehicle use in such a way that you can combine, streamline and consolidate your trips and reduce unnecessary travel. You should also avoid excess idling, which is a waste of fuel. Stop your engine if you think your car will be idle for more than 30 seconds. You can also minimize air conditioning and use your car's flow-through ventilation. You should also check which gas you use, stick with the right octane gas indicated in your car's manual.

Have your Dodge regularly checked by your trusted auto mechanic. Give more attention to those auto parts that are connected to the fuel consumption of your car such as Dodge fuel tanks, Dodge catalytic converters, Dodge gas tanks, Dodge radiators and others. If your Dodge's parts are either defective or is not functioning properly then it is necessary and wise to replace these auto parts as soon as possible. You can save more money in the end by replacing dysfunctional parts and ensuring that everything in your car is in tiptop shape.

However, make sure that you purchase the best Dodge Parts only from a trusted and reliable auto parts store. Pick an auto parts supplier with an excellent reputation in the auto parts industry.

Inner Auto Parts is one of the many auto parts wholesalers today, but stands out from the rest because it is a reliable source of useful and relevant automotive information and a known expert in the field of auto parts. They now have an excellent auto parts store that offers top quality Dodge Parts including Dodge A/C Condensers, Dodge Lights, Dodge Weatherstripping, Dodge wheels and other major product categories. With excellent quality, replacement Dodge auto parts from Inner Auto Parts, you can be sure that your car is maintained in excellent condition thereby improving its fuel economy and helping you save money on gas.

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto related. He is currently employed as a market analyst by one of the top car parts company in the area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Brown

How Using The Internet Can Save You Gas

2006-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Stop Spending Your Money on Higher Gas Prices - Use the Internet
By Andrew Malek

Gasoline prices continue to rise, costing you money. At the risk of dating this article, previously unseen U.S. gas prices of over $3.00 are now common in some areas. I know those in Europe and elsewhere pay much more, but we can agree over the past year that many countries have recently seen huge spikes.

Rising gas prices affect all of us in some degree. Unless you walk, your cost of commuting to work increases. The prices of goods climb due to increased transportation costs. How can you decrease the impact on your pocketbook?

Luckily the Internet offers many different ways to help ease your burden. Note that many of these sites are geared towards the United States.

1. Search for Cheaper Gas Prices Online

Cheaper gasoline prices may be available but tough to find. Instead of driving from station to station checking for cheap prices or traveling 20 miles out of the way, try the following sites:

GasBuddy.com - http://www.gasbuddy.com/
GasPriceWatch.com - http://www.gaspricewatch.com/

Carefully read the times reported for the gasoline prices! The cost of gas can rise or fall sharply (though it tends to do more of the former) in the span of a few hours.

2. Use Mapping Services to Plan Your Trips More Wisely

It just makes sense that if you know where you're going and don't get lost, you'll require less gas getting there. Browse these websites to help you plan your journey; some even display satellite maps to further assist your travels:

Google Maps - http://maps.google.com/
MapQuest - http://www.mapquest.com/
MSN Maps and Directories - http://maps.msn.com/
Windows Live Local - http://local.live.com/

Though very helpful, use the above sites as a guide as 100% accuracy is never guaranteed.

3. Find Nearby Stores

Don't travel miles and miles out of the way and spend more money on gas to go somewhere when an equivalent store is just around the corner!

Google Maps - http://maps.google.com

For example, I can query "pizza 30338" to find several eating establishments in or nearby Dunwoody, GA.

InfoSpace - http://www.infospace.com/

Using InfoSpace's "Near an address" feature on their front page, enter in your street address and type of business, and find close-by businesses never previously noticed while on the road. This beats driving elsewhere and spending more money on gas!

4. Stay Out of Traffic

Tired of idling? We all want to arrive at our destinations sooner, avoiding gas-guzzling traffic jams. These websites provide traffic information, provided you live in supported metro areas:

MSN Autos Traffic Reports - http://autos.msn.com/everyday/trafficreport.aspx
Traffic.com - http://www.traffic.com/
Yahoo Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic - http://maps.yahoo.com/

Check your local department of transportation as it may display traffic information online. This can include cameras, incident information, and/or road closures. Perform a Google search similar to the following:

California dot
Tennessee dot
New York dot

5. Shop over the Internet with No Shipping Costs

When done properly, shopping online can save you money otherwise spent on gasoline. Many shops now offer free USA shipping (restrictions may apply) if you spend a certain amount of money, increasing your savings! Some online shopping sites with free shipping offers at the time this article was written (listed for informational purposes only) are:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/
Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Shoes.com - http://www.shoes.com/
Tower Records - http://www.towerrecords.com/
World of Watches - http://www.worldofwatches.com/
Zappos (shoes) - http://www.zappos.com/

MSN Shopping has a dedicated "Free Shipping Center" directory with even more businesses - http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctid=18

Though fuel prices rise, let the Internet help you cope. Compare gas prices online. Arrive at your destinations quicker and cheaper using on-line maps. Find nearby businesses with near-address searching, conserving gas. Shorten your commute time with online travel information. And, travel less often by taking advantage of online shopping with free shipping. Use these Internet techniques to stop spending your money on higher gas prices.

Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://malektips.com/. MalekTips offers over two thousand tips on saving time and money and getting more enjoyment out of your computer, digital camera, and the Internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Malek

What is A Plug In Hybrid Car

2006-09-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Benefits Of Driving A Plug In Hybrid Car
By Gregg Hall

Who would have thought we would have cars already that you plug in to recharge? The new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also called PHEVs come with an extra battery but you can also charge them by lugging them in to an electrical outlet. The ability to plug in is optional since the car also has a gas engine. There are many economic advantages of these types of hybrids over regular automobiles. You can use the plug-in hybrid regularly on short trips and due to the fact that the gas engine only kicks in when it absolutely has to the fuel efficiency is fantastic.

These plug-in hybrids look and operate like regular non-hybrid cars and get this, they can be plugged into a normal 120 volt outlet, so you can recharge it at home or at a parking garage that has electricity available. Most of these cars can travel up to 60 miles on just the charged battery, since this is well beyond the daily roundtrip for most Americans you could drive everyday and never have to use gas! Just keep some fuel in the tank in case you run out of juice. More than likely you could drive all month long and never have to fill your tank more than once as long as you keep the vehicle charged.

Since the plug-in hybrid vehicles use mainly electricity instead of gas they are better for the environment and have much better fuel economy. If you plug the car in every night you can lower harmful emissions by nearly half. This vehicle gives off no bad emissions at all when it is running on electricity only.

MSRP for plug-in hybrids are as much as twenty percent more than regular hybrid cars and the reason for this is primarily due to the requirement of a larger battery size. As the demand and sales for these vehicles increases you will actually see a reduction in price as it becomes cheaper to obtain the batteries because of the larger volume. Even with the higher prices you will save enough in fuel costs in most cases to make up for it if you drive on a daily basis for work or school.

According to studies done on product feasibility, it is believed that the plug-in hybrid will be extremely popular as it has been determined that people would generally prefer to charge the cars at home as opposed to having to go to gas stations for fuel. Still, at this point the Big Three of Detroit and other large automakers aren't showing any signs of exuberance over the vehicle and are instead focusing on regular hybrid cars.

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about cars and car polish at http://www.ultimatepolish.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Are Hybrid Sports Cars Possible

2006-09-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Get Ready For The Arrival Of Hybrid Sports Cars
By Gregg Hall

Now I can get excited about hybrid cars. The industry is finally thinking about the people that don't want to sacrifice performance for gas mileage. The Japanese as always it seems are leading the way in this new segment of the hybrid industry working on cars that feature lithium batteries and electric motors. Incredible as it may seem there is a report that there is at least one sports car under development that is capable of producing 470 horsepower!

Hydrogen fueled cars are also being developed as well and it seems that Mazda is putting a lot of research into this segment using its rotary engine. Mazda has been working on being able to produce a hydrogen burning car for years and hopefully they will be able to do it without giving up performance.

The hybrid that seems to have the most promise currently is from the Japanese automaker giant, Toyota. Their Priapus is a normal gas-electric hybrid that is capable of accelerating from zero to sixty in under 4 seconds which seems to be the equivalent of the 4 minute mile for performance cars. The car also still maintains decent fuel economy getting over thirty miles to the gallon. The 70k price tag will make it less than affordable for most and it will be tough to make up for it in gas savings. Personally for another 10k I would have to buy the new totally electric car coming out next summer from the new Tesla Motors that will give you a real opportunity to recoup the investment.

The hybrid industry isn't being dominated by just the Japanese; a couple of former designers from Jaguar are working on a V10 version of the hybrid that has even received grants from the government in England to help them bring the car to production.

Nations all over the world are instituting higher standards for fuel efficiency to try to force automakers into making cars with better fuel economy. With gas prices continuing to rise and the ever present instability in the Middle East you can expect to see more attention to be paid to hybrid research as well as other alternatives. On top of all of the savings we will begin to see some of the negative effects that gas burning cars have done to the economy.

With the recent trend to offer sports cars from the hybrid camps and the newly unveiled Tesla concept car being built by 2007 all fears that sports cars were headed the way of the designer are disappearing. We will see high performance sports cars that will offer the best performance imaginable along with great fuel economy or not using gas at all!

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more articles about cars and car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

The Advantages Of Driving A Hybrid Car

2006-09-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Benefits of Hybrid Automobiles
By David Maillie

High fuel prices and concerns over the environment have inspired more people than ever to go in search of alternative energy sources. The internal combustion engine is considered to be the biggest polluter on the planet. Hybrid automobiles have been gaining attention and popularity as a result of these concerns. Most manufacturers either currently offer these vehicles or are in the process of developing them.

There are two types of hybrids: series hybrids and parallel hybrids. The parallel kind has a fuel tank for the gas engine and batteries for the electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission and power the vehicle. The small gas engine runs the car and the electric motor comes on when needed to boost power. This is typically needed for increasing speed, merging and passing other vehicles. Honda currently uses this technology.

Series hybrids have a gas engine that powers the generator. The generator then charges the batteries and powers the electric motor. The gasoline engine doesn’t power the vehicle on its own. The electric motor runs all the time and the gas engine comes on only when needed. This vehicle gets better mileage around town, where the electric motor is doing most of the work. Ford and Toyota currently use this technology.

Hybrid cars get significantly better gas mileage than the traditional internal combustion engine. Most get between 20 and 30 miles per gallon more than standard automobiles. All hybrids shut off the gas engine automatically when the car is stopped. This saves fuel and is better for the environment. When you press the gas pedal, the engine turns back on automatically. The gas engine will also come on to start charging the batteries when they become low on power.

Because less gasoline is burned in these vehicles, there is less pollution causing emissions released into the atmosphere. In addition, there is a lower level of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Many scientists and environmentalists link carbon dioxide to global warming.

Parts of a Hybrid Vehicle:

o Gas engine: the engine is smaller and more energy efficient than engines in traditional vehicles.
o Fuel tank: the fuel tank is also smaller and holds less gasoline. Since these cars burn less, a smaller tank is plenty to power the vehicle.
o Electric Motor: the electric motor acts as both a motor and a generator. The motor takes energy from the batteries to power the car for acceleration. When you slow down, the energy is returned to the batteries, which are then automatically recharged.
o Batteries: a series of batteries store energy needed to power the electric motor.
o Transmission: in most hybrids, the transmission works to propel the car forward in a similar way as in traditional gasoline powered vehicles.

Hybrids recover energy from the electric motor to the battery. When you step on the brake, the energy from the motor is transmitted back to the battery. This process is known as regenerative braking. This helps to recharge the batteries and keep them in good working order.

The aerodynamic designs of the hybrids help in their energy efficiency. Look at pictures of the various hybrids on the market. The shape of the vehicle is intentional. It reduces the frontal area of the car, which reduces the drag on the car when it moves through the air.

Lightweight materials are used on hybrid cars. This is also intentional. The more a car weighs, the more energy is needed to propel the vehicle forward. This is one reason SUVs use so much more gas than other cars. Lighter materials are used to reduce the overall weight of the car and in turn, decrease the energy that is needed to run it.

The tires on these vehicles are specially designed to increase efficiency. Stiffer materials are used in the construction and the tires are inflated to a higher pressure. This ensures optimum efficiency and conserves energy. These tires have about half as much drag as regular tires.

Automobile manufacturers are always looking for ways to increase the energy efficiency. Technology is being continually developed to increase the efficiency and performance of these vehicles. Some of the coming improvements include: increased fuel economy, more safety features, better performance and comfort.

Your new hybrid automobile is an investment that you will want to protect. Keep the exterior looking great with regular washing and waxing to protect the finish of the car. Don’t overlook the headlights when performing exterior maintenance. New Lite Headlight Cleaner and Restorer will return cloudy headlights to like new condition. Learn more about this product at www.mdwholesale.com.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Maillie

Why I Shouldn't Drive With Both Feet

2006-09-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Don't Drive With Your Feet On The Brake & The Gas!
By Dr. Gary S. Goodman

I’m one of many children across America whose moms and dads drove their cars with two feet: one on the brake and the other on the gas.

I suppose this became a widespread practice after the advent of the automatic transmission. It’s predecessor, of course, the manual trans, requires two (or more!) feet to manipulate.

Anyway, this habit of two-footed driving is emblematic of what most of us do with our daily lives. We stop-and-go in fits and starts toward our goals.

It takes more time for us to reach our destinations; and the “ride,” the pleasantness of the overall experience is diminished, tremendously.

One of the key ways we do this is by setting a goal, or by agreeing to do something at the request of somebody else, and then by holding back, at least a little in our execution.

For example, my accountant always asks me to organize my documents before tax time, to make it easier and faster to do my returns.

I hate this kind of work! To me, I’d rather get nearly anything else done that sifting through papers, receipts, and miscellaneous clippings, organizing them into piles, rubber banding them, and then sending them off to him.

So, I do a little, get distracted, do a little more, get distracted gain, and continue this way until I get just enough done to satisfy him.

Like a little kid who drags his feet when he has to go to a relative’s house, I make it harder than it has to be.

That’s just one of my “two-footed” driving habits.

What I should be doing, instead, is letting go of holding back. Once I’m in the driver’s seat with any project, I need to just keep driving toward my destination without stopping.

Well, this is one of my resolutions, and I thought I would share it with you.

I couldn’t think of a better opportunity, now that tax time is coming up!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Gary_S._Goodman

What Is The Tornado Fuel Saver. Does The Tornado Fuel Saver Work?

2006-09-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Tornado Fuel Saver
By Bryan Super

I am sure you have heard the commercial. Buy the "Tornado Fuel Saver" and make your next tank of gas last longer. The Tornado Fuel Saver is a gadget that you put into your fuel line near you engine that is supposed to enhance your miles per gallon. WIth the concerns of rising gas prices, people are looking for ways to save money on the fuel that they purchase so they fall into the trap.

I have tested the Tornado Fuel Saver and I can say, in my opinion, that it does not do that much. At most, I saved .1 miles per gallon. That is far from what they advertise on their fuel saver commercials. I should also mention that many automotive places do not sell the Tornado Fuel Saver because they have seen that it does not work as well as many hope and people would bring it back and request a refund.

If you do not want to drop money and try the Tornado Fuel Saver for yourself then here are a few ways to save fuel:

Drive the speed limit. Driving fast burns gas more quickly. Do not drive around with large items in or on your car. The lighter your car the less gas you will burn. Check your tires every so often to make sure they are inflated correctly. Low tires cause more gas to burn.

While these methods will help you fuel savers out a little, there is another method which is amazing. You can make this device by yourself and save up to 30% on your gas mileage. This fuel saving method actually works and the cost is less than half of what the Tornado Fuel Saver pricetag is.

Tornado Fuel Saver

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Super

What Should I Know About Fuel Cell Cars?

2006-09-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Fuel Cell Cars
By Marius Ciobanu

Fuel Cell cars are the cars of the future. A lot of research has been done with electric cars, but until the battery costs go down, the driving range goes up and the weight of the batteries goes down, this will not be an option for the general public, unlike the popular hybrid cars. A hybrid car has a gas engine and an electric engine. The gas can continually recharge the electric batteries.

In a fuel cell car, the fuel used is compressed or liquid hydrogen. A fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen to water, and produces electricity. Due to ongoing problems with storing liquid or compressed hydrogen, currently, mostly buses are using fuel cell technology. They can hold large tanks of compressed hydrogen on their roofs. The type of hydrogen fuel cell currently used for buses and cars is the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC).

The fuel cell uses a catalyst, which is a platinum powder or compound, to facilitate the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen. The catalyst is spread as a thin coat on a large surface for maximum effect.

Why are there problems using hydrogen as a fuel? Except at high compression, and/or low temperatures, hydrogen is a gas. It is the lightest gas, and would tend to have high leakage through pipelines. Due to its high energy content, it is also very explosive. There was the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937 in New Jersey. That was a hydrogen lifted dirigible which went on fire. Due to the use of heavy safety equipment to compress hydrogen, this is why fuel cell technology is first being used in buses.

Another option being developed is to use hydrocarbons that are hydrogen rich as the basis for hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrocarbons are compounds of hydrogen and carbon. The leading candidates are CH4, which is methane gas, a pure form of natural gas, and methanol, a liquid alcohol compound, CH4OH. Both methanol and methane can be converted to hydrogen gas using a chemical reformer. Reformers have a drawback in that they lower fuel efficiency by as much as half. There is increased miniaturization of chemical reformers for automobiles.

However, other compounds are being experimented with that are easier to catalytically convert to hydrogen for a fuel cell and can be more easily stored in a vehicle’s fuel tank. An example of the type of system that could work is being experimented on at Daimler-Chrysler. It involves simple borate, borax, a compound chemical that is produced and used for soap. A running prototype minivan was displayed at the North American Auto Show in 2002. The hydrogen fuel cell can run on hydrogen that is liberated in a simple chemical reaction from sodium borohydride. This chemical can be made in refineries from a combination of borax soap and Hydrogen gas. The vehicle could run on sodium borohydride, which would be processed in the car to yield hydrogen gas for the fuel cell. The only exhaust product would be water (H20). The other waste product would be borax (a form of soap), which would then have to be reprocessed to sodium borohydride, to refuel the car again. Infrastructure to produce hydrogen from methane or ammonia and then produce sodium borohydride would be necessary at your local refueling station.

Saving The Planet Seems Like an Enormous Job! But We can Do It Together One Step at a Time! Take THAT First Step and Signup to Our Green Tip of The Day Newsletter NOW!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marius_Ciobanu

Tips To Buying Or Selling A Gas Station

2006-09-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

Gas Stations For Sale
By Damian Sofsian

Are you thinking of selling your gas station? Or looking for gas station for sale that you could turn into a business?

Look no further – just browse through the Internet. There are online companies that assist clients from around the world in selling their gas-related properties, and also help introduce those in search for gas stations, convenience stores and car washes to an international network of sellers and buyers. These online companies cooperate with real estate and business brokers all over the world through a transnational referral system.

Some companies offer their services to selected gas distributors, multi station owners and individual sellers and buyers. They provide clients with as much information as possible for gas-related businesses that might help them decide intelligently.

Beware of scams

There are a lot of financial scam artists who pose both as buyers and sellers and in the internet to contact potential victims. In order to protect their clients from internet fraud and real estate scams, most online as station broker companies verify and identify the financial capabilities of persons and organizations offering to purchase or sell gas-related businesses.

Worthy investments

It’s no wonder that a lot of people are interested in owning and trading gas stations. When managed properly, gas stations make profitable businesses with fast return on investments and relative stability.

A gas station business is also highly expandable – some gas stations are equipped with car washes that offer services free of charge (or at a discounted price), depending on the amount of fuel purchased. A number of gas stations also have small fast food outlets inside their property. These are usually express versions with limited seating capacity and limited menu listing, though some are regular sized with spacious seating. Extra businesses such as these almost always double the revenues of a gas station.

Gas Stations provides detailed information on Gas Stations, Cheap Gas Stations, Vintage Gas Stations, Gas Stations For Sale and more. Gas Stations is affiliated with Defensive Driving Course .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damian_Sofsian

Explain Gas Prices And Price Gouging

2006-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

3 Key Questions About Gas Prices and Price-gouging?
By Mike Makler

nd profit. Even the State Taxes are often higher then the Retail Markup.

2 - Why do gas prices vary so much State to State ?

The biggest reason especially in the case of Neighboring states like New York and New Jersey or Illinois and Missouri is state taxes. Gulf Cost States (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas) have lower gas prices then the rest of the country because they are closet to the Gulf of Mexico where about 1/2 of the Gas is Produced.

3 - What Should You do if you suspect price-gouging?

Price-gouging is a very sensitive subject. Just because one gas station is charging 10%, 20% or even 30% more then others in the same area doesn't mean it is price-gouging? Before you report price-gouging check with websites like Gasbuddies.com to determine the national average price and your local price. Clearly if you paid 2 or 3 times the local price you were gouged. If you pay 50% or more above the average price it may be harder to determine price-gouging. If you feel you were significantly over charged for gas then save your receipt and contact your State Attorney General.

The Department of Energy has a web site (gaswatch.energy.gov) where consumers can report suspected price-gouging

About the Author
Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri

Call Mike at 314 398-5547

Visit Mike's Web Page:
http://ewguru.com/finance

For Missouri Specific Insurance and Loan Questions:
http://ewguru.com/Mo-Finance

Get Mike's Newsletter Here
http://ewguru.com/fin-news

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Makler

Explain Gas Prices And Price Gouging

2006-09-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

3 Key Questions About Gas Prices and Price-gouging?
By Mike Makler

nd profit. Even the State Taxes are often higher then the Retail Markup.

2 - Why do gas prices vary so much State to State ?

3 - What Should You do if you suspect price-gouging?

The Department of Energy has a web site (gaswatch.energy.gov) where consumers can report suspected price-gouging

Get Mike's Newsletter Here
http://ewguru.com/fin-news

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Makler

Gas Scooters Perfect For Cash Strapped Motorists

2006-09-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Gas Scooter
By Terry Price

A gas scooter is a ton of fun and will save you many hard-earned dollars on gasoline. With fuel prices soaring, the scooter is becoming very popular for a commuting vehicle or just simply going to and from the corner store to run a few errands. With the vast selection available in almost every shape and size it is easy to find exactly the scooter that will fit your needs. They also come in the from of karts, skateboards, and choppers. Entry level scooters will usually have a 20+ cc motor and can reach speeds of 18 + MPH. Even if you’re a bit on the heavy side, it can carry a remarkable 350-pound capacity. Now isn’t that something! You will find this gas scooter is most suitable for ages 10 and up and is more adult friendly because of its direct drive system offering a better power band. Then there are intermediate sizes with motor sizes in the 35cc and higher range that will carry you along at 18 plus MPH and have a 250-pound capacity. Many will have removable seats and centrifugal clutches and will fold into a size that might even fit into your suitcase if you push hard enough! You will find tires in the 8 to 9-inch range and will also sport disc brakes for your safety. Looking into the bigger gas scooter models, there then comes the 50cc plus size with it’s 350-pound capacity and will wisk you nicely along at 28 + MPH. These scooters come with 9 or 10-inch tires and include front and rear disc brakes, and also include the removable seats.

When it comes to performance modifications, like most other motorized vehicles the sky is the limit. You can get larger motors for them that sport 2.5 HP and can offer you speeds in excess of 35 MPH. The next scooter, usually reserved for the younger person or anyone with a sense of adventure is the off-road or racing scooter. This gas scooter is a ton of fun and is recommended for ages over 13 years old. Here is some great information on the gas scooter: http://www.motorized-scooters-wholesale.com/gas-powered-scooters.html

With these off road or competition scooters, speeds of 40 MPH or higher are attainable and most come with dual front shocks. Some standard items such as front and rear disc brakes are common. The have a great torque capacity and will even lug a 350-pound person up a hill without a problem. Here is a site with lots of gas scooter information to browse through: http://www.motorized-scooters-wholesale.com/110-gasoline-scooter.html

By Terry Price- Remember to visit http://www.motorized-scooters-wholesale.com for a great resource on all kinds of scooters, articles, and even performance equipment. When your pocket book says save money, this site directs you to wholesale sources of parts and gas scooter accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Price

Gas Trucks Versus Diesel Trucks

2006-09-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

A Look At Gas Trucks Versus Diesel Trucks
By Gregg Hall

If you plan to use your truck like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and don't plan to it for a long time,you may want a gasoline engine. Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to find, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.

If you plan to use your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put plenty of miles on it, you may want a diesel. The price to buy a diesel truck is really high, although they can offer you a lot in return.

Below, you'll find the leading vehicle manufacturers and what they offer you.

Dodge

The 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on the road. Back in 2002, the Ram didn't have enough power with the 245 HP 9.5L. Dodge promised more powerful engines for the 2500/3500 platform and they delivered on that promise.

The new base engine is the 5.7L gasoline V-8 that's not only the most powerful engine of the group at 345 HP but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.

Ford

Ford helped push the 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck market to where it is today when it introduced it's international engineered power stroke diesel back in 1994. Before 1994, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big gasoline engines.

From 1994 to 2002, over 70% of super duty Fords were sold with the optional 7.3L V-8 diesel engine. This engine helped to put Ford among the leaders in diesel trucks, as they had more than they needed to dominate the market.

Chevrolet/GMC

The GM 2500/3500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM's 6.0L gas engine V-8. This engine is ideal for 3/4 ton trucks where towing isn't a concern. The upgrades start with the 8.1L gas V-8 that's based on Chevrolet's venerable big block engine.

Over the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance. Unlike gas engines, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, which means you won't need to get them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines.

For those who like to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is the way to go. You can get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are built to go 250,000 miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit,making them a purchase that is more than worth your money.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get your truck parts at http://www.autopartsplusmore.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Why Gas Mileage Is So Important

2006-09-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

Gas Mileage and its Importance
By Ian Henman

Whoever you are, you're bound to feel the effects of the increase in the price of gas. The higher cost at the pump has left many families needing to tighten their purse strings. One way to cut your costs is to increase your gas mileage. Ok, so this may sound like an obvious solution, but there are loads of easy ways to improve your gas mileage.

One of the best ways to improve gas mileage and economy is to keep your vehicle maintained in good condition. Try to make sure the tires are always fully inflated, as too little (or too much) pressure can have a significant impact on your gas mileage. Ensure that when your oil is changed you get your air filter inspected. Having a clean, working air filter also has an impact gas mileage. Making sure your car is well kept not only helps efficiency with gas mileage, but also helps ensure your car lasts that bit longer. With people keeping a closer eye on their budgets, it's a good idea to make you car last that bit longer.

You can also increase your gas mileage by watching your driving habits. There are several routine habits of many drivers that can have an impact on gas mileage. The main change one can make to help improve gas mileage is to reduce your speed. By driving at or below the speed limit you can singifcantly improve your gas mileage, not to mention reducing your likelihood of having an accident. When driving in the city, it's a good idea to try and avoid sudden acceleration, which greatly decreases gas mileage. Similarly, quick and excessive breaking can also use more gas. To get the most usage out of each gallon, try to avoid these bad habits at all times. Riding the break is a common practice of younger or new drivers suffering from a lack of confidence and is a bad habit to develop, particularly in relation to fuel consumption.

If you are looking to buy a new car, it is a good idea to consider one of these new hybrid cars which promote efficiency in gas mileage. Nowadays, there are loads of models to choose from, thanks to the recent rise in gas pricing, Several of which get fantastic gas mileage. The hybrid car is not only good for gas mileage, and improving in appearance and performance all the time. The extortionate price of gas has led many manufactures to step up production of hybrid cars to help consumers achieve greater gas mileage. Due to the increasing numbers of hybrid cars, there is no longer the long waiting lists before purchasing such a car. Many dealers will now even have several hybrid cars in their showroom for you to choose from.

As well as changing your bad driving habits, you can also the number of times you use your car to improve gas mileage. Why not walk or ride a bike for shorter distances? Try also to incorporate multiple destinations into the same trip which will inevitably decrease the number of miles you have to drive. By making these small changes you can really save money at the gas pump by improving your gas mileage.

So think about it - with these minimal changes, you really can improve your gas mileage. It won't cost you anything, nor will it cause you any hassle, but it could save you an absolute fortunate.

If you'd like to read more information about gas mileage and vehicles please take the time to visit our website at Automotive Tips

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Henman

Global Positioning Services (GPS) Improves Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

How GPS Saves You Gas
By Simon Wyryzowski

Unless you've been living on a deserted island (and under a rock at the same time) you realize that gas prices are not everyone's cup of tea - unless you are an oil tycoon.

For those who live in big cities where mass transportation is widely accessible, it's relatively simple to bypass this problem by opting to take them instead of using your own car to travel to and fro to work. But for the majority of us, driving is not going away anytime soon.

Having a GPS system installed in your car will reduce your gas prices. How? It will consistently giving the most direct routes to whichever location you need to go. If it's raining hard and visibility is lower than usual, a GPS can serve as a navigation partner to help you find your way home or to wherever you want to go. This saves you time and gas from spinning your wheels, potentially getting lost along the way, and giving yourself a migraine in the process.

Not only does a GPS give you accurate directions, it also provides for estimates as to how it will take to get to a certain destination via a particular path. You can then compare paths and time estimates. When you take all of this into consideration, you will realize that paying a few hundred for a brand new GPS unit is not much considering how much it will save you year in and year out.

I mean let's take a modest example. Let's say it costs you $30 each time you go fill up your tank. Imagine that before getting your GPS system you had to get you tank filled on average once a week. That's $1,520 for an entire year.

Now on the flip side, let's pretend you got you GPS unit up and rolling. With improved efficiency in getting to your destinations, you effectively have reduced the amount of wasted gas as a result of not getting sidetracked or getting lost while driving. Perhaps you will only have to get your tank filled up once every two weeks instead- in which case you will only be spending $760 a year for gas- or a savings of 50%.

These are just sample numbers, but you can see how you can get a return on your investment over and over again simply by purchasing a GPS system which ranges anywhere from $100 or so to $1000 or more. But you don't need to get the fanciest model right out of the starting gate. Anything within the $200-$400 range should give you a very robust system in general.

GPS live tracking services will allow you to keep tabs on your most valuable belongings.

http://www.gpszoom.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Wyryzowski

Tips on RV Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

RV Gas Mileage - Simple Tools to Not EAT It on GAS

When going on a camping trip, the best vehicle to take on the trip would be a RV. An RV is the acronym for Recreation Vehicle and is actually a towable or motorized vehicle that is used for both transportation and as a temporary living quarters. They are usually sold by recreational vehicle dealers. There are also many RV lease vehicles for one time use of the RV found in local RV dealers. It is also possible to an rent RV online if you require one.

With the rising cost of gasoline, it is always better to check on the RV gas mileage when choosing the right RV for your camping trip. Sometimes people work out being able to afford an activity, but issues like the cost of gasoline, a VERY REAL expense, are forgotten! Filling up your car every couple hundred miled for $50-75 will definitely put a damper on your expedition, if not planned for in advance. With an RV, you MUST figure out how far you can expect to get for your dollar. Of course, you cannot expect too good a mileage as RV gas mileage is rather low when compared to other vehicles. This is because of it being a huge and heavy vehicle. However, there are some tricks you could do to increase the RV gas mileage.

You could check the tire pressure of the tires of the RV using a RV pressure regulator as tires with too low tire pressure give a low mileage. Limiting the use of the air conditioner in the RV will also help increasing the RV gas mileage. If your RV has extra RV trailer accessories, it is very likely that the RV gas mileage will be low because of the extra weight. When traveling, avoid accelerating and braking unnecessarily and this will increase the RV gas mileage. Of course, the better the route is, the better your mileage will be, So when plotting out your camping trip, route it using the most efficient routes possible.

You can raise the mileage considerably by making a visit to the garage before going on a camping trip. Here the mechanic can have a look at the spark plugs and adjust and replace the spark plugs as necessary. Any fouled fuel injectors in the RV, when replaced will increase the the miles for your money. With the implementation of all these steps, you will find that the RV gas mileage will increase considerably, to provide you with a better mileage on your camping trip.

To receive a free copy of the 'Ultimate What to Take Camping List', visit Dependable Camping Equipment

Sam Jordan

Sam Jordan is a creative webmaster / content publisher with many interests. He is the webmaster of Dependable-Camping-Equipment.com in addition to many other sites.

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Truck Bed Covers Are On Drag On Fuel Economy And Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Truck Bed Covers Increase Gas Mileage
By Jerry Predaris

In addition to the security, Truck Bed Covers offer an increase of over 10% in fuel economy. This is excellent news with current fuel prices. Studies show by reducing drag due to airflow in the truck bed with a tonneau cover will result in an 11% decrease in drag as compared to a truck bed without a cover. The studies also revealed a canopy actually increase drag and fuel consumption. Results will vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

This is how it works when airflow passes the truck’s cab. The flow separated behind the cab and enters the truck bed resulting in drag if the bed is not covered. Replacing the tailgate with a cargo net results in increase drag compared to removing the tailgate, which had an increase but not as much as the cargo net. The best method of decreasing the drag, thus increasing fuel economy, is to install a tonneau cover over the truck bed.

There are now more options available for customer to improve mileage while adding security and style.

There are conservatively 500,000 trucks with covers on the road everyday and based on the average gas savings, American’s save 60 million gallons of gas per year or approximately $100,000. Studies show the average truck owner drives 18,000 miles per year. At 15 mpg that comes to 1,000 gallons of gas. At a minimum 10% savings you would save around 120 gallons a year (and many reports show it to be more like 12%). You can see why it would not take too many months to have your new truck cover pay for itself.

We have a huge variety of truck covers and automotive accessories. http://www.truck-bed-covers-4u.com

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A Review Of The Discover Platinum Gas Credit Card

2006-09-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Discover Platinum Gas Card
By Jeremy Biberdorf

The Discover Platinum Gas Card is another credit card that offers gas rebates, as well as rebates on other purchases. You can use this credit card to earn cash back at any gas station anytime. Every purchase you make with this credit card qualifies for cash back.

They claim a “Full 5% Cashback Bonus® on Gas purchases throughout the year*” and “Up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all your other purchases.*”, but you have to read the fine print:

“Each year, earn a full 5% on your first $1,200 in gas purchases. In addition, earn a full 1% on other purchases in excess of $3,000; your first $1,500 in other purchases earns .25% and your second $1,500 in other purchases earns .50%. Gas purchases in excess of $1,200 earn Cashback Bonus at the same rate as other purchases.”

So you actually only get 5% on your first $1200 in gas purchases each year. If you don’t have your calculator, that is $60 in cash rebates at 5%. After that your rebate percentage drops a lot. Depending on your spending habits, that could average out to only about 2% cash back through the year.

This credit card could be a good option for someone looking for a second credit card to use combined with an existing card with similar introductory bonuses. By using multiple credit cards and watching your spending, you could be averaging 5% or higher cash back throughout the year. Maybe you even have a different rewards credit card to use after your first $1200 in gas purchases. Another limit of this card is “Purchases made at select warehouse clubs, discount stores and their affiliates earn .25%.” So if you frequent such stores, don’t expect 5% or even 1% cash back.

There are no limits on the cash rebates you can earn and the rebates never expire. You can increase your bonuses by redeeming for gift cards or certificates from their partners. You do have to redeem your cash rebates in $20 increments. As rebates do not expire, the only way you would lose rebates is if you do not have card activity for 36 months or you close the account.

The Discover Platinum Gas Card has no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. With credit cards from Discover, you can qualify for a regular APR rate as low as 10.99%. You also get $0 Fraud Liability.

Overall this is a very good credit card, but I do recommend using a secondary card once the yearly gas purchase limit has been met. It is a great card for someone looking for cash back everywhere and a low interest rate.

Check out http://www.gasolinecreditcards.net for a comparison of different gas rebate credit cards, including The Discover Platinum Gas Card. Click for more card details and a secure online application.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Biberdorf

Tips On How To Estimate Your Cars Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

Cars Gas Mileage Estimation
By: Ronald Trainer

When I was a kid I never kept concentration, nor learned, nor was given any teaching about finances, technical or mechanical or monetary or other duties, thus the thought of keeping a tab on one’s car’s gas mileage never crossed my mind. It was only recently that I took the time to learn and paid attention to, how to record my car’s gas mileage and also learned- HOW it would be beneficial.

My new tutor was my friend, a retired grocery store clerk. I would accompany him on his Saturday errands. One of which would be filling his van’s gas tank. You can find other automotive related material at http://www.hubcapreport.com. His activity once a week would be to go to the gas station, fill up his tank, and then write down the car’s mileage and amount of gas he had just put in, all this on a small hand-size spiral notebook which kept in the van’s glove box.

My friend was a great guy, but at the same time, a mastermind by anyone’s standards. He was always up to some calculations or the other. Looking for his pen in his nerdy pocket protectors to scribble something down- an innovation or scientific idea or history-based. So I thought that he used to note down the car’s gas mileage just to keep appease his character or to ease the mental demons that he possessed

Before I had purchased a used car for myself I had got into gear to carry out research of various aspects of a car like that emissions standards ratings, a car’s reputation for deterioration and then finally to a car’s emission. That is when it struck me that my friend did not record his car’s gas mileage to feed his mental hunger but to actually to pay attention to his car’s gas mileage.

I had initial dreams of buying a truck, or a hot rod or even a sports car, but finally bought a car that I LOVE, a used Saab. I then immediately drove it to the gas station as I remembered that the person who I had bought the car from told me that it needed gas.

After I finished filling the gas in the tank, I noted down the date, the mileage and the amount of gas put in. I carry out the same activity every time I fill gas and thus am able to keep a tab on my car’s gas mileage. The information of car mileages for Saabs and any array of other cars is available on sites like http://epa.gov, which people could check before then go in for a new or used car.

The gas prices at the time when I am writing this article, i.e. April 2006 are 25 cents higher that the prices at the same time last year. Thus the prices could range from $2.60 to about $2.62 a gallon. Now I realize the reasoning of recording one’s gas milage.

About the Author:

In Ronald's spare time he works with the following internet portals: Hobbies For Fun Recreation And Fun

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Watch Out For Scams With High Gas Prices

2006-09-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

High Gas Prices Inspire Con Artists
By: Dave Larsen

The high price of gasoline brings out the worst in some people. It also brings out the gullibility in others. A spate of rip-offs have been uncovered recently, all designed to take advantage of people's desperation to lower their fuel bills.

Texas based company BioPerformance, Inc., was shut down in May for being an illegal pyramid scheme and marketing a "magic gas pill" that wasn't magic at all--unless moth balls are magic.

Drawing on the desire for cheap gas at a time when gas prices are at record heights, BioPerformance claimed to have a "magic gas pill" that would increase fuel efficiency by 30% and reduce harmful emissions by half. In independent laboratory tests at the University of Texas and a university in Florida, the gas pills were discovered to be nothing but moth balls! Moth balls not only won't improve gas mileage, they can actually hurt your car's engine instead of helping it. Moth balls are also deadly to people, although the Bioperformance bottle claimed the pills were non-toxic.

"These claims are bogus," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. "The pill does absolutely nothing to improve gas mileage. The company is merely a smokescreen to trigger the recruitment of more and more paying members into what appears to be an illegal pyramid scheme.”

Along with promoting a product that is dangerous, BioPerformance was found to be an illegal pyramid scheme masquerading under the disguise of a multi-level marketing company. In legitimate multi-level marketing, profit comes from how much product a person sells; in illegal pyramid schemes, profit comes from recruiting more people into the program.

According to the BioPerformance website, at the time the company was shut down, it had 4,500 members in Texas and $25 million in sales. All that was built in just five months, which goes to show how desperate people are to save money at the gas pump.

You must be careful, there are very few product on the market today that will help you get better gas mileage. Bioperformance is one of the worst cases and fortunately, they've been put out of business and their owners are in serious legal trouble.

About the Author:

Dave Larsen has worked in the alternative energy business for 20+ years. Originally trained as an auto mechanic, Dave left that business because he was tired of shop managers ordering him to rip people off. Dave now offers tips to help people save money on fuel bills and not be ripped off. http://www.energy-efficient-car.com

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Beware of Consumer Products Claiming To Boost Gas Mileage

2006-09-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

High Gas Prices Bring Flood Of Bad Products
By: Dave Larsen

In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work.

First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic.

Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage.

There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely.

No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine!

Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful.

About the Author:

Dave Larsen has worked in the alternitive energy business for 20+ years. Originally trained as an auto mechanic, Dave left that field because he got tired of shop managers ordering him to rip people off. He now offers tips to people so they can save money on fuel bills. http://www.energy-efficient-car.com

Read more articles by: Dave Larsen

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