Keep your engine tuned properly and save on gas and carbon emissions. Checking spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts are a few examples of maintenance that can save a vehicle owner up to 165 gallons of gas per year, resulting in potential savings of over $600. According to http://www.greencar.com/
"when an engine is properly tuned, it consumes less fuel. As a result, the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air also is reduced. When tuning your car, there are five major emissions components that need to be inspected: the PCV system, exhaust gas recirculation system, charcoal canister, fuel injectors, and catalytic converter. Additionally, air filters and fuel injectors should be checked and worn sparkplugs should be replaced since misfires mean unburned fuel can pass through the exhaust system. The car's thermostat should be fully operational in order to conserve gas."
Link: http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=268
Solution Type: Habit
Media
kcaz1900kcaz says :
Sorry for the two extra comments, computer problems.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your numbers are a little off. In the March 2009 issue of car and driver which I received two days ago (I know the dates don’t make sense but it arrived early) a tune up use to be a big deal, new spark plugs ignition points condenser , resetting the timing , cleaning the carburetor and a few other minor details. Now when you get a tune up about all you get are new plugs about every 100 thousand miles (small benefit) and new hoses and belts when they need replacing (little to no efficiency benefit). New plugs every five to seven years won’t help any one enough to notice. The EPA says “fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of four percent…” and “Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.” That isn’t a yearly tune up that is increasing mileage that is restoring a car to proper running condition. There can be large gains in efficiency only when the car has major problems.
Now for the under inflation problem the web site http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml says “Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 % for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. That is a meager .075% per psi per tire below recommended pressure. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.” That means to get the savings calculated by karlbach below all four tires would have to be 10 psi below the recommended tire pressure. All four tires being under inflated by 10 psi is not normal for anyone I know.
The gains from proper vehicle maintenance are small, don’t get me wrong but they are real just not large. The biggest gains are most likely longer tire and vehicle life from proper maintenance.Posted 01/28/09 at 12:40 PM
karlbach says : Amazing to thing that it will be double what it was just a few years ago. And we wonder why the economy's sliding? They should've listened to Jummy Carter. BTW, the Calc I have is from Fueleconomy.gov. They estimate about a 4% estimated increase in fuel efficiency with regular tune-ups. So since the average person uses 580 gallons, that would be an annual savings of 23 gallons @ 19.6 lbs CO2/gal that is about 455 lbs of CO2 saved.
Posted 03/11/08 at 08:33 PM
argam says : Haha, I posted this a while back when gas actually did cost that much.
Posted 03/11/08 at 08:26 PM
karlbach says : Hmmm.your gas only costs $2.20?
Posted 03/11/08 at 08:25 PM