The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland Tennessee (TN) and Bradley County Tennessee (Tn).





Of Bradley County Tn.


SEPTEMBER  2005

                            The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland and Bradley County Tn.

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by J. B. Griffin III.

Gas Mileage!

I haven't quite figured out why, but it seems like everyone is suddenly talking about how to improve their vehicle's gas mileage.  It's like the price of gas went suddenly to three doll... never  mind, I know now.

OK, here are some tips guaranteed to put money  back in your wallet.

#1  Don't purchase secret gizmos or additives from the internet or parts stores.  There is no "Tornado" or super-duper two letter re-washable air filter that's going to make your Expedition get 35 MPG in the city while  pumping out 700 more horsepower.  If you think your budget is tight now  wait until you invest in a few of these losers and see a ZERO gain at the  pump.

by J. B. Griffin III.

#2  If you feel that you just have to buy something to help I do recommend one of the reprogrammers for your PCM.  These have actually  been written and manufactured by real engineers and they will help your vehicle's performance - a lot.  The only downside I see to these is that when you suddenly add 150 horsepower to that PowerStroke diesel you tend to  play a game at red lights called "Watch

This."  Then instead of a MORE  fuel efficient engine you've just created an unbelievable gas hog.

#3  Now, for the more practical minded among us (read ladies) I suggest investing in a tire pressure gauge.  These don't usually appeal to  men because they only cost $1.95.  Even better would be four of the new  valve stem caps that tell at a glance when the tire is a few pounds low.  Low tire pressure wastes gas like nothing else, especially on the freeway.  I once improved a customer's mileage on his Nissan Sentra by 10

MPG  just by inflating the rear tires from 15psi to 35.  Most cars are so light  in the rear that the pressure usually has to drop to below 10 psi before  the tire even begins to appear low just by looking.

#4 Have your car tuned up.  It's not a terrible waste of money to change those plugs every 100,000 miles or so.  "But it still runs  great."  No, it only seems to run great because it has a great computer that can mask over your neglect by squirting a bunch of extra fuel in the cylinders with each revolution of the engine.  It can dampen the feel of a misfire by fattening up the mixture and it's being fattened up with your three  dollar a gallon gas.

#5  If your "Check Engine" light is on have your car fixed.  On  1996 and newer cars and trucks it won't come on until you are spewing unburned  fuel out your tail pipe at 1 1/2 the legal limit. If the light is flashing it means you are wasting so much fuel that it is actually damaging the catalytic  converter.

#6  Run your air conditioner.  Yes, that is right.  Most  cars and trucks are so aerodynamic that driving with the windows open actually creates a more negative effect than the slight boost in fuel  consumption which comes from running the new high-efficiency a/c  compressors.  Were not talking the old cast iron York and Tecumsehs here  with duel drive belts.  I can remember when it took 5 horsepower just to  drive the belts without the compressor on.  The modern units are all integrated into the serpentine belt system with variable displacement  systems.
If you have other tips send them in care of this  newspaper.  Or you may e-mail your car questions to Jeepster1515@yahoo.com
Don't forget in December we will have the grand prize  drawing for one gallon of Supreme 97  octane. 

JB Griffin is an ASE Certified Master Technician.  He owns and  operates JB's Japanese and American Auto Repair in Evensville, Tennessee.  You may e-mail your car questions to jeepster1515@yahoo.com

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