Gas Saving Tip #3
September 14th 2006 21:55
Wow! Finally off from the "day job" for the week and can get back to it here at fuelsavingadvice.com. I do however have some distractions. I know many readers here are not from the States and so this may be a relatively unknown phenomenon, but for a few days every mid September in this little burg I call home, the phrase LET 'ER BUCK is voiced by tens of thousands who swell this small town to 3-4 times it's normal size! The supposedly (or so they claim) world famous Pendleton Round-up's in Full Throat right now.......Yippy. Whatever. In my own little anti-Round-Up way, I'm taking great satisfaction in how the weather has turned ugly for this little drunkfest...Usually in the 80's or more this time of year and I see folks walking around in heavy coats and shivering....ahhh.... Sorry
Today I received my Amsoil Action News Magazine which is something we dealers get monthly as part of our $35.00 per year dealer packages. Although this month's edition was good-- (a hilarious story about a guy who switched to Amsoil's new Formula 4-Stroke Small Engine Oil (new in July), drained his old Amsoil out of his little push mower, put the plug back in and somehow got sidetracked doing something else and forgot to refill the oil reservoir. His wife in the meantime, loaned the mower out to a relative who mowed his lawn twice. The wife, so the story goes, also mowed their own lawn 3 times and they estimated at least five hours of run time occurred with whatever may have been left in the mower that didn't get fully drained. By the time the husband realized what had happened, he figured the motor was shot. He goes out and fills the oil reservoir and starts it up on the first pull. No worse for the wear....again....I digress....dammit!
I got to thinking that I probably ought to go back through some recent Amsoil Action Mag's and pull some gas saving tips out since almost monthly they test and give fuel saving advice. Voila! Now if you've been with me through the start of this little shindig you probably know that I'm passionate about Amsoil synthetics...duhhhhhh
However, I've also hopefully established that should another company or brand come along able to outperform and outprotect, I'll VERY GLADLY take a look. But, I hear in the background, tell me how to save fuel ya dork....Where's today's tip?
Ok....Here's a more basic suggestion you've probably read about or been told or just know through experience but I'll bet you only know about the need to periodically change the filter, not why or what KIND of filter we should be using. Of course, Amsoil has the best, but I'll quote sources unrelated to Amsoil so you can see I'm not just pimping a product or company, but actually a lifestyle one needs to incorporate if wanting to save some gas.
You've probably already figured out that we're talking AIR FILTERS here right? Replacing a clogged air filter has a two pronged advantage. Estimates vary and you'll hear some wild stuff from the likes of the K&N Types, and although I think the science is more positive than negative with respect to their products, it's very easy to find arguments.
An air filter serves multiple purposes but for us let's simply focus on the main one. First and foremost the general standardized purpose of a vehicle's air filter is to do just what the title implies (filter the air). Sounds simple, but in reality it's a HUGE and IMPORTANT task often overlooked by many car owners (but rarely by those boys at Quicky Lube)!!!!! Oh by the by....NEVER, EVER, EVER purchase an air filter from your oil change garage or shop (average mark-up....and let me REPEAT this AVERAGE mark-up is 200%. Trust me, I did it. Sometimes 750% if it cost me 2 to 3 bucks! That's standard industry practice. EVEN IF YOU WANT nothing to do with replacing your air filter yourself, most any 8 year old can do. Ask them what Filter they would recommend for your vehicle, write it down if needbe and go get it for half the cost at just about any autoparts store. If truth be told, you needn't even get these guy's to tell you as any auto parts technician can look it up as long as you know what make, model and year your vehicle is. Most lube shops will charge around 10.00 bucks if you bring them your own oil and filters to have them changed out. Or ask your neighborhood kid to do it for a couple of bucks....you still save money over having the garage or quicky types do it..Trust me!
Obviously, the role of the air filter is to collect foreign particles or better stated, stop them from entering your engine. All engines (ok most) require a very technical mix of air and fuel in order to function appropriately. When the air flow is restricted from a clogged filter, you've thrown off that delicate balance and mix. When you do so, your engine is losing power, and the ability to run at maximum capacity...so you lose power, and gas, and eventually much, much more.
I said two-fold purpose earlier, and actually it's probably much more. Once the fuel/air mixture is aloft than all sorts of snowball elements begin to happen to your automobile.
There's much discussion about paper vs. foam vs. you name it. Some of the science is old. Some is untested. Generally speaking, I'd recommend staying away from any filter (oil or air) that is made from paper. There are too many problems and too much that can go wrong too quickly. Yes they are generally cheap, but sometimes, ok often times you get what you pay for. If you're a car enthusiast you will not have a clogged paper air filter in your vehicle, but for the average guy or gal out there, you probably do. Take a minute and think about it. Next to the lifeblood of your engine (your oil) there's really nothing more important than your air filter. It's the BLOOD AND LUNGS of your vehicle. And yes, once you've damaged your lungs or your blood, you've taken some years off your life....same can be said for your car!
As always........Godspeed & Good luck!!
T
Today I received my Amsoil Action News Magazine which is something we dealers get monthly as part of our $35.00 per year dealer packages. Although this month's edition was good-- (a hilarious story about a guy who switched to Amsoil's new Formula 4-Stroke Small Engine Oil (new in July), drained his old Amsoil out of his little push mower, put the plug back in and somehow got sidetracked doing something else and forgot to refill the oil reservoir. His wife in the meantime, loaned the mower out to a relative who mowed his lawn twice. The wife, so the story goes, also mowed their own lawn 3 times and they estimated at least five hours of run time occurred with whatever may have been left in the mower that didn't get fully drained. By the time the husband realized what had happened, he figured the motor was shot. He goes out and fills the oil reservoir and starts it up on the first pull. No worse for the wear....again....I digress....dammit!
I got to thinking that I probably ought to go back through some recent Amsoil Action Mag's and pull some gas saving tips out since almost monthly they test and give fuel saving advice. Voila! Now if you've been with me through the start of this little shindig you probably know that I'm passionate about Amsoil synthetics...duhhhhhh
However, I've also hopefully established that should another company or brand come along able to outperform and outprotect, I'll VERY GLADLY take a look. But, I hear in the background, tell me how to save fuel ya dork....Where's today's tip?
Ok....Here's a more basic suggestion you've probably read about or been told or just know through experience but I'll bet you only know about the need to periodically change the filter, not why or what KIND of filter we should be using. Of course, Amsoil has the best, but I'll quote sources unrelated to Amsoil so you can see I'm not just pimping a product or company, but actually a lifestyle one needs to incorporate if wanting to save some gas.
You've probably already figured out that we're talking AIR FILTERS here right? Replacing a clogged air filter has a two pronged advantage. Estimates vary and you'll hear some wild stuff from the likes of the K&N Types, and although I think the science is more positive than negative with respect to their products, it's very easy to find arguments.
An air filter serves multiple purposes but for us let's simply focus on the main one. First and foremost the general standardized purpose of a vehicle's air filter is to do just what the title implies (filter the air). Sounds simple, but in reality it's a HUGE and IMPORTANT task often overlooked by many car owners (but rarely by those boys at Quicky Lube)!!!!! Oh by the by....NEVER, EVER, EVER purchase an air filter from your oil change garage or shop (average mark-up....and let me REPEAT this AVERAGE mark-up is 200%. Trust me, I did it. Sometimes 750% if it cost me 2 to 3 bucks! That's standard industry practice. EVEN IF YOU WANT nothing to do with replacing your air filter yourself, most any 8 year old can do. Ask them what Filter they would recommend for your vehicle, write it down if needbe and go get it for half the cost at just about any autoparts store. If truth be told, you needn't even get these guy's to tell you as any auto parts technician can look it up as long as you know what make, model and year your vehicle is. Most lube shops will charge around 10.00 bucks if you bring them your own oil and filters to have them changed out. Or ask your neighborhood kid to do it for a couple of bucks....you still save money over having the garage or quicky types do it..Trust me!
Obviously, the role of the air filter is to collect foreign particles or better stated, stop them from entering your engine. All engines (ok most) require a very technical mix of air and fuel in order to function appropriately. When the air flow is restricted from a clogged filter, you've thrown off that delicate balance and mix. When you do so, your engine is losing power, and the ability to run at maximum capacity...so you lose power, and gas, and eventually much, much more.
I said two-fold purpose earlier, and actually it's probably much more. Once the fuel/air mixture is aloft than all sorts of snowball elements begin to happen to your automobile.
There's much discussion about paper vs. foam vs. you name it. Some of the science is old. Some is untested. Generally speaking, I'd recommend staying away from any filter (oil or air) that is made from paper. There are too many problems and too much that can go wrong too quickly. Yes they are generally cheap, but sometimes, ok often times you get what you pay for. If you're a car enthusiast you will not have a clogged paper air filter in your vehicle, but for the average guy or gal out there, you probably do. Take a minute and think about it. Next to the lifeblood of your engine (your oil) there's really nothing more important than your air filter. It's the BLOOD AND LUNGS of your vehicle. And yes, once you've damaged your lungs or your blood, you've taken some years off your life....same can be said for your car!
As always........Godspeed & Good luck!!
T
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