Even though it's hard to imagine a gasoline-powered automobile as something that can be used to drive "green", there actually are ways to be greener without buying an expensive top of the line Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV). Let's boost efficiency and gas mileage, save a bunch on gasoline each year, and make you feel better about driving a gas-guzzling car. Here's how you can get the most efficiency from your regular vehicle by just doing these generally inexpensive everyday things:
1. The easiest thing to do to increase gas mileage without so much as spending a plugged nickel: inflate your tires to their maximum recommended pressure. Why? By inflating your tires as recommended, there will be less friction from tire contact on the road. Less friction means less drag, and less drag means the car will roll easier. An easier rolling car means it takes slightly less energy to move it on down the highway. The less energy used means saving gasoline! Estimates state if everyone properly inflated their tires, we would save about 2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. That's a big WOW right there.
2. Replace your regular spark plugs with platinum tipped ones. The regular electrodes in spark plugs corrode at a much higher rate than a platinum tipped version. Corroded tips don't burn the fuel as well, and consequently, you'll lose a little gas mileage every time you drive. Platinum tipped plugs are good for at least 100,000 miles. Regular tipped plugs should be changed every 10,000 miles or so for maximum benefit.
3. Use synthetic oil and an oil additive in your crankcase every time you change your oil. Synthetic oils are more slippery than regular oil, and there are some very fine Teflon based oil additives to make that oil even slipperier. Slippery oil means less friction when the pistons are moving up and down. As we know, less friction means more power but better still, more efficiency. Efficiency always equates to higher gas mileage. I have been using a Teflon based oil additive in my cars for over 25 years. I know for a fact with my cars, I always gain five to eight miles per gallon just by doing this one simple thing.
If you want to perform a test to prove my suggestion, calculate how far you go between fill ups. Change your oil and add a Teflon based oil additive. Drive your car for a full tankful of gas, then fill it up again, and calculate your gas mileage once more. You will notice a change in your mileage. I always buy the type of additive that stays in your engine for thousands of miles. There are other types that need to be added with every oil change but the longer lasting ones seem a bit more cost effective to me.
So there you have a few simple tips to help you drive as green as possible with your regular car. Until we all go to a ZEV, these are just some inexpensive ways to help out your wallet the next time you visit your friendly neighborhood gas station.
Source: BecauseAction.com
