Posted 2008-03-17 9:11 AM (#79723) Subject: Some fuel saving tips
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474
Location: White Mills, Ky.
Some tips for getting more for your money at the pump.
Only buy fuel in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the more dense the fuel. When it gets warmer, the fuel expands. So if you're filling up in the afternoon or evening...your gallon is not exactly a gallon.
When you're filling up, do NOT squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the fast mode. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three stages: Low, middle and high. Pumping at the fast rate causes the fuel to churn around in the tank and become vapor. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping at the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes into your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank, so you are getting less for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill the tank when it gets to the halfway point. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank, the less air is occupying the empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you think. This will also minimize the "churn effect" when you fill up.
One last thing...if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to fill up, DO NOT fill up at that time. When the trucks pump into the storage tanks, it stirs up the dirt which normally settles on the bottom. You really don't want that in your tank!.
Posted 2008-03-17 10:56 AM (#79730 - in reply to #79723) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Filling at half a tank may also save your trucks fuel pump/pumps in the long run. Running your tank down to empty generates a lot of heat in the tank, whether it be diesel or gasoline. The fuel returning to the tank is hot, the less fuel in the tank, then the hotter the electric fuel pump becomes. Hotter fuel pump = shorter fuel pump life.
Posted 2008-03-18 1:18 AM (#79773 - in reply to #79723) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL
Anyone had luck with a K & N air filter? I needed a new filter for my truck, so I sprung for one of those. They're supposed to allow more air and help your gas mileage while keeping your vehicle in "stock" condition. However, I noticed considerably WORSE mpg after the change. Ideas?
Other gas saving tip, raise the tubing at the pump. You pay for the gas still in the line when you're done. There's a few dribbles in there yet!
Stay off the gas pedal.
Accellerate slowly.
Avoid idling.
Plug in your truck (if applicable) during cold weather
This is coming from the girl who drives a diesel dually as a daily driver 30 miles to work, and 30 miles back 5 days a week. Truthfully, I love my truck, and I wouldn't trade it for the newest fuel efficient car out there. Really, it's cheaper to buy the diesel than pay for a whole additional vehicle. Do the math... I bought my truck when diesel was 2.89. Now it's 3.89-4.00 Roughly, I'm spending about 1.00 more per gallon, which is 27 more dollars to fill my tank. That's one less time I go out to eat, or one less piece of tack I buy. No wonder the economy is going to heck, I'm not able to fund the veterinarians, tack suppliers, and feed stores! Oh well, come hell or high gas prices I'm riding. It's the thing that makes me happiest in life. People afford crack and dope somehow, so I can afford diesel to go riding. Where there's a will there's a way.
Posted 2008-03-18 7:44 AM (#79778 - in reply to #79773) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Veteran
Posts: 296
Location: Tennessee
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2008-03-18 1:18 AM
Anyone had luck with a K & N air filter? I needed a new filter for my truck, so I sprung for one of those. They're supposed to allow more air and help your gas mileage while keeping your vehicle in "stock" condition. However, I noticed considerably WORSE mpg after the change. Ideas?
Posted 2008-03-18 9:20 AM (#79785 - in reply to #79773) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2008-03-18 2:18 AM
Anyone had luck with a K & N air filter? I needed a new filter for my truck, so I sprung for one of those. They're supposed to allow more air and help your gas mileage while keeping your vehicle in "stock" condition. However, I noticed considerably WORSE mpg after the change. Ideas?
Amanda
When I added some mods to my diesel, I included the K&N filter and air box kit. In use it was much more noisy than the stock filter, my mileage did not improve, and according to people in the know on other truck forums, it is not as efficient at filtering out dust as some other brands. I reinstalled my stock filter box and sold the K&N.
Posted 2008-03-18 12:48 PM (#79803 - in reply to #79785) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc
Originally written by gard on 2008-03-18 10:20 AM
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2008-03-18 2:18 AM
Anyone had luck with a K & N air filter? I needed a new filter for my truck, so I sprung for one of those. They're supposed to allow more air and help your gas mileage while keeping your vehicle in "stock" condition. However, I noticed considerably WORSE mpg after the change. Ideas?
Amanda
When I added some mods to my diesel, I included the K&N filter and air box kit. In use it was much more noisy than the stock filter, my mileage did not improve, and according to people in the know on other truck forums, it is not as efficient at filtering out dust as some other brands. I reinstalled my stock filter box and sold the K&N.
Gard
Yep. Its getting pretty hard to do better than OEM on late model equipment.
Posted 2008-03-18 3:18 PM (#79822 - in reply to #79803) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Yep. Its getting pretty hard to do better than OEM on late model equipment.
When you talk about diesels, there are mods than can add a great deal of difference to their capabilities and performance. I would not go back to my stock diesel motor.
Posted 2008-03-18 3:30 PM (#79828 - in reply to #79824) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Originally written by JacciB on 2008-03-18 4:22 PM
For you diesel drivers another tip is adding Marvel Mystery Oil. This has given me another 2 -3 MPG in my F250.
Jacci
We used to use MMO in the early Mercedes diesels with mechanical injection. It kept the injectors clean as new and greatly lengthened the time before they needed servicing. It is a great top cylinder lubricant.
Posted 2008-03-18 9:43 PM (#79848 - in reply to #79723) Subject: RE: Some fuel saving tips
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
I do not recommend routine use of MMO...but if you are using it in new Diesels, you probably want to upgrade to...
MARVEL® MYSTERY OIL DIESEL SUPPLEMENT
Marvel Mystery Oil® – long renowned for improving fuel efficiency and reducing wear and tear in engines and fuel systems – has introduced Marvel Diesel Supplement, a formula specifically designed to improve the performance of diesel engines when using today’s ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The new diesel-specific formula is designed to meet 2007 federal requirements for low sulfur diesel additives.