Vehicle Fuel-Saving Fables

[pennypinch]

We have all been hearing about the different ways we can save on fuel for our vehicles, but don't be taken in by all of them. A few may work but for the most part they are myths.

Have you heard filling up your tank in the morning gives you more gas per gallon? They say if you fill up early in the day when it is cool the fuel is more dense, therefore you get more fuel molecules than if it were warmer. But according to consumer reports, there is little if any difference in the temperature of the fuel during the day or night.

Have you been told you have to buy premium fuel for your vehicle? If so, be sure to check your owner's maunual and see if it says "recommended" or "required." If premium is only being recommended, buying regular won't make much of a difference, you won't really notice any difference in how the vehicle runs. Modern engines have sensors that can tell the grade of fuel and adjusts the spark plug timing accordingly. Technology to the rescue, saving you on the cost of fuel. (Keep in mind, some vehicles HAVE to have premium. Always check your manual or dealership before trying a different grade of fuel.)

Properly inflated tires do make a big difference in your vehicles fuel efficiency. If your tires are low, it causes more tread to be in contact with the road which will require more fuel use in the engine. But DO NOT EVER over-inflate your tires to try and save a buck on fuel. This may cause an extremely dangerous tire blow-out at a high speed.

Are you considering buying a device that is supposed to make your vehicle use less gas? If so you may want to reconsider. If you think about it, car companies would be putting these on every one of their vehicles if these actually worked so that they could sell more cars. Companies are always trying to stay one step ahead of their competitors. Therefore, they would use these to boost their sales and rake in the bucks.

I hope these tips can help you save a few dollars on the cost of fuel and help you to weed out the bad myths that have been going around.