Back with you all. It’s amazing what computer gremlins can cause. Last time out we were discussing what you can do to make your car save on gas, especially important in this current economy. There are no hard and fast recommendations that work for every car. Just like my home computer, the very nature of technology may offer surprises beyond your normal expectations, but there are things you can try to see if they work. In some cases these tips can have significant effect, or be part of a greater whole to bring fuel use down.

Service your engine to the highest level you can afford. Leaking oil, broken seals, and hoses can reduce the engine’s efficiency. Your engine undergoes a lot of wear and tear, some externally and others internally. Basic servicing is fluid change and spark plugs. Inspect belts and look for obvious problems. One little trick is to get a spray bottle filled with soapy water and gently spray it in small sections on the engine to find leaks. Make sure the oil is the recommended grade from the factory, as close as possible, or relevant to the age of the engine. Using too thick or thin and oil will affect efficiency. Older engines generally take thicker oil as their clearances have probably worn past their factory specifications and the oil helps to bridge that microscopic gap. Indexing is another little practice passed on to me from my autocross days. This is lining up the front of the spark plugs to face the incoming air/fuel mixture. In some cases it would be best to rebuild the engine all together. The initial costs may be prohibitive, or the loss of the use of the vehicle inconvenient, but having the engine back to factory specifications can significantly pay off.

Don’t forget the gearbox or transmission. Cars naturally suffer from drivetrain loss. It takes a certain amount of horsepower to get the power to the wheels. The motor transfers its power to the gearbox through its series of gears. These gears by themselves take energy to spin, add in the drag of the lubricating fluid and the potential for reduced efficiency. This brings us to the wheels. Moving to a larger wheel package does two things – adds extra weight and changes the gear ratios. The extra weight has a nasty effect since it’s being rotated, making your car work harder. Larger diameter wheels also modify the vehicle’s gearing, lengthening it and forcing the motor to higher rpms to do the same work if the wheels were within the factory parameters. Unlike the engine, gear oil is generally not circulated for cooling and filtration. This makes it age faster and potential changes in its viscosity could increase drivetrain loss.

Two of the biggest challenges to fuel efficiency are aerodynamic drag and weight. Major manufacturers have been making strides in these areas and you can too. When driving long distances opt for windows up. It’s been shown that driving with the windows up and the air conditioner on burns less fuel than the aerodynamic drag caused when the windows are down at speed. One hardcore technique is to duct tape up all the panel gaps on the car. That’s not feasible in Jamaica as this reduces the cooling ability of the engine. On the weight side clean your car of all unnecessary clutter. If you’re really serious, get rid of the spare and have a can of fix-a-flat ready. Secure all weight in their relevant positions, and when carrying weight, try to distribute it as evenly as possible through the vehicle.

See you next week, nuff to catch up on.