Fuel Facts
 
As the cost of gasoline has gone up and down, fuel consumption has become a major priority with many drivers. There are a number of things that can be done that are proven to help fuel economy, however, not much trust should be put in “miracle” products that promise great mileage increases.

What Not to Do

Most engine and fuel additive products that claim to provide improved fuel economy are based on unsubstantiated claims with little supporting data, have not had testing conducted in a controlled fashion, or cannot be substantiated by anyone other than the manufacturer, These products that offer to boost fuel economy range from magnets that align molecules to chemical combustion improvers.

The Federal Trade Commission provides a list of products tested by the federal government and their effects, The list can be found online at www.ftc.gov.

Stretching gasoline use by blending it with either kerosene or diesel fuel also will not improve fuel economy. This blend of fuel may result in poor performance and permanent damage to the vehicle’s engine. Both kerosene and diesel fuel are distillate fuels meant for use in compression ignition engines, not spark ignition engines. They have very low octane and are heavier (higher density) than gasoline, which will cause heavy engine deposits and degradation of engine oil.

Chemicals that are normally used as solvents, such as acetone and methanol, also should not be used. These solvents can be incompatible with rubber or sealing components or, in the case of methanol, corrode the metal parts of the fuel sys tem.

What to Do

The best ways to increase fuel economy are with proper maintenance and good driving habits, These include:

• Correct tire pressure — Low tire pressure creates a drag that the engine must overcome, wasting fuel.

• Clean air filter — A dirty air filter can’t efficiently draw air into the engine, forcing it to waste fuel.

• Proper viscosity oil — Oil that has a higher than required viscosity will create more drag on the internal engine components, especially when cold.

Top Tier Fuels — Fuels that are advertised as Top Tier Detergent Gasoline help to keep fuel injectors and intake valves free of deposits. Do not confuse Top Tier Fuels with higher octane (plus or premium grade) gasoline commonly sold at most gas stations. Higher octane fuels do not necessarily have the higher detergency levels as in Top Tier fuels.