What causes poor fuel mileage?
EPA Proven Inefficiencies
EPA tests prove that only about 15% of the energy from the fuel you put in your tank gets used to move your car down the road . The rest of the energy is lost to engine, driveline inefficiencies and idling. Therefore, the potential to improve fuel efficiency with advanced technologies is enormous.
Combining the products from Truck Economy to address these factors and increasing the your fuel efficiency could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars over your driving life. How? you ask not only by increasing your miles per gallon but extending the life of your truck.
Why do we need catalytic converters?
Disgusted by black, noxious fumes coming out of your vehicle? That smoke is fouling the air you breathe, and by the way, poisoning not only yourself but also your loved ones. And it could also mean frequent emissions tests, as mandated by various state laws and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
You can solve that problem by installing catalytic converters into your vehicle. A catalytic converter (also known as catcon or cat) is a device that turns harmful exhaust gases like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburned fuel into basic molecules like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water. "Cats" reduce the toxicity of these emissions from your internal combustion engine. This way, these gases can no longer cause damage in the environment, thus making you safer and healthier.
Motor engines try to regulate the air:fuel ratio to 1:14.7. Meaning, for every pound of fuel to be burned, the engine needs 14.7 pounds of air to do the job. But in reality, when driving the air-fuel ratio in your engine varies from lean (an air-to-fuel ratio higher than 14.7), and other times the mixture can be rich (an air-to-fuel ratio lower than 14.7).
Because of these non-ideal conditions, the burnt fuel can actually produce other kinds of emissions like:
* Carbon monoxide - a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless
* Hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds - produced mostly from unburned fuel that evaporates
Sunlight breaks these down to form oxidants, which react with oxides of nitrogen to cause ground level ozone (O3), a major component of smog.
* Nitrogen oxides - contributes to smog and acid rain, and also causes irritation to human mucus membranes.
The catalytic converter works by:
1.Reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen.
2.Oxidation of (non greenhouse gas, but toxic) carbon monoxide to less harmful (greenhouse gas) carbon dioxide.
3.Oxidation of unburnt carcinogenic hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water.
Several components make up the standard catalytic converter. These are:
1.The core or substrate. The core is made up of a ceramic honeycomb, which provides support to the catalyst.
2.The washcoat. This is a mixture of silicon and aluminum. This forms with the core, a rough, irregular surface which has a large surface area. The large surface area gives more places for the catalyst to bind. The catalyst is first suspended to the washcoat before being applied to the core.
3.The catalyst. Tis is usually a precious metal, either platinum, palladium or rhodium. Platinum is most widely used but is the most expensive. Either palladium or rhodium is substituted for it. Platinum and rhodium are used as reduction catalysts, while palladium and platinum are oxidation catalysts.
One downside of having catalytic converters is that it becomes ineffective in the presence of lead, which leads to catalyst poisoning. Catalyst poisoning occurs when a substance in the engine exhaust coats the surface of the catalyst, preventing further exhaust access to the catalytic materials. To avoid it, vehicles with catalytic converters are run using unleaded fuel.
Catalytic converters help protect lessen the emissions brought about by the burning of fossil fuels. Having one installed is doing your share in protecting our environment. In the end, you are also protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Do cold air intakes increase mpg?
Do cold air intakes increase mpg?
Imagine a runner trying to compete in a marathon wearing a mask over his nose and mouth. Do you think he’ll be able to keep up with the rest of the runners who have free, unrestricted breathing? Or, will he quickly tire and run out of energy? Chances are the runners who can breathe freely and deeply will perform better in the race.
Oxygen Flow
Just like with runners, anything that restricts the flow of oxygen to your vehicle’s engine is detrimental to the potential power it can create. Therefore, anything you can do to reduce or eliminate those restrictions works to improve the efficiency of your engine, which adds horsepower, torque and even improves fuel economy.
Unfortunately, most trucks roll off the assembly line with inefficient air intake systems right from the start. High design and development costs, combined with strict government regulations force vehicle manufacturers to create low-maintenance systems that meet the broad needs of the average driver. While the factory system does provide safe, reliable performance, it’s not always the most efficient system for generating power.
Air Intake Filters
The problem starts with your vehicle’s restrictive paper filter and factory air box. Paper filters are cheap, disposable, clog easily and fail to provide enough air flow for your engine to operate at its peak performance. Also, while your factory air box does provide excellent protection for your factory filter, it prevents a lot of cool air from ever reaching your intake tube.
One quick and easy fix is to replace your stock paper air filter with a more free-flowing performance air filter such as the truck accessories available from K&N. These filters are made from multiple layers of oiled cotton gauze that trap dirt, dust and tiny particles with very little restriction in air flow. And, the best part is that these durable cotton-gauze filters are washable and rechargeable so all you have to do is clean and re-oil the filter and it’ll perform like new every time.
Air Intake Systems
To take performance to the next level, you can add a high-flow air intake system (commonly called a cold air intake). In addition to adding an even more powerful 360° cotton-gauze filter, most of these kits also replace your stock air box and intake tube to further eliminate any restrictions in air flow. Some companies, like K&N, leave the filter element open for maximum “breathability” and separate the filter from high engine heat using an aluminum heat shield. Other companies, like Volant, choose to isolate the filter from engine heat using a specially designed cold-air box that captures air from a specific location under your hood where the largest volume of cool air is available.
How to Save Gas
How to save gas Go Green (for your wallet)
Save Money At The Pump!
The price of fuel is a topic on the minds of all Americans. War, weather and politics have the price of regular, unleaded gasoline soaring above the $4.00/gallon mark with no sign of relief in sight.
As truck economists, convincing any of us to run out and buy some compact, fuel-efficient hybrid is just unrealistic. But, there are some things you can do to fight back at the pump (and gain a few extra horsepower on the way). Interested? We thought so. Truck Economy wants to show you tips to save gas and squeeze a few more miles out of every gallon of gas. By maximizing the performance of the three main areas that contribute to your vehicle’s efficient use of fuel: air intake, exhaust and fuel/spark delivery.
Cold Air Intake System
Your engine needs to breathe, and the more air it has available the easier it is to generate power. But, at the same time, you need to filter the air going into your engine to make sure dirt, dust and other particles don’t gum up and damage your engine. Factory air intake systems use paper filters, and while they do clean the air very effectively See (do cold air intakes increase mpg) – they are also very restrictive to air flow.
High-flow intake systems and replacement filters, on the other hand, provide excellent filtration without restricting air flow. Companies like K&N use oiled, cotton-gauze filters that trap tiny particles and flow almost as much air as running no filter at all! Couple this high-flow filter with the free-flowing intake tube (found on K&N’s FIPK kits) and we’re talking about a serious increase in efficiency. Efficiency you’ll appreciate when you step on the gas and when you fill up your tank – (see figure 1).
To further increase air intake performance and save even more fuel, many truck owners swear by the Tornado air channeling device. This simple device drops into any stock or aftermarket air intake and swirls the incoming air. The swirling air moves faster and more efficiently around corners and bends. The result is better fuel atomization and increased fuel economy – (see figure 2).
Muffler and Exhaust System
Vehicle manufacturers must comply with government regulations and design their exhaust systems to meet the needs of the average driver. These regulations are detrimental to the one thing that the EPA is in business to achieve, which is to increase fuel economy. Production cost, noise levels and other factors often force automakers to tune down the factory exhaust – which has a negative impact on performance and truck fuel economy.
Aftermarket truck part manufactures, like Corsa, Gibson and MagnaFlow design their systems with power and mileage in mind (the great sound is a bonus). These systems use mandrel-bent tubing and high-flow mufflers to allow exhaust gases to escape more efficiently and free up your engine to produce more wheel-driving power. (The EPA claims approximately 85% of the power produced by the engins is only transfered to the wheels) The result, increased efficiency and improved mileage – (see figure 3).
Fuel & Spark Delivery
The final component of the performance equation is fuel and spark delivery. On most modern vehicles, this process is controlled by your vehicle’s computer system. As with exhaust systems, your vehicle’s computer system is tuned with the average driver in mind.
Programmers from Hypertech, Bully Dog, and Superchips allow you to optimize your vehicle’s computer to suit your specific driving style. For instance is you are a contractor and pull a trailer consistently you have the ability to adjust and maximise your fuel economy based on your driving needs. In addition to advancing your vehicle’s power settings, computer programmers also allow you to tune the computer to work more effectively with additional performance accessories like cold air intakes and performance mufflers and exhaust systems. (see figure 4).
Another easy (and inexpensive) way to pick up a few extra miles is by adding a set of performance spark plugs. E3 performance spark plugs burn stronger than standard plugs – creating higher temperatures and more complete combustion. The result is up to 13% better fuel economy, up to 12% more horsepower and reduced emissions (up to 58% over the life of the plug).
Well there you have it. We hope you learned a little something that can help save you some money at the pump.
1. High-performance air intake systems and replacement filters flow more air for increased mileage and power. |
2. The Tornado air channeling device creates a swirling air motion and makes air move more efficiently throught your engine. |
3. Performance exhaust systems boost efficiency for better mileage. |
4. Computer programmers help to tune and optimize your truck or SUV's computer for more power, better mileage, or both. |
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What is the Cost of Replacing your Truck?
The True Cost of Replacing your Truck
Average truck owner owns and or drivers there truck an average of 100,000 miles or about 5 years lets assume we are able to extend that to 10 years or 200,000 miles.
- A newer truck costs $25,000 dollars
- is fiananced at approximately a 6% interest rate
- And is required to to carry full coverage auto insurance costing about $100.00 per month
- TOTAL COST = $35,832.00
- By extending the life of you truck for 5 more years you have just saved $35,832.00. By adding truck economies aftermarket truck parts you will extend the life of your pick up truck to 15 years you have now saved $71,655
- What? add that $514.32 for the 5 years into somekind of investment at 8% over 20 years you will have earned $179,232.00. That is the true cost of only driving your pick up truck for only 5 years. How about 10 years? $353,055.00
What is the differnece between Regular and Synthetic Motor Oil?
Human Body = five pints of blood. Your Engine = five quarts of oil. Coincidence? We think not. It's no secret that oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Your engine's oil pump, whether it be electrical or mechanical, pumps oil through the engine's pathways and galleys, just like your heart pumps blood through your veins. Your liver, constantly cleaning and filtering the blood coursing through your veins, is just like an oil filter, filtering the oil and keeping it free from contaminates and unwanted dirt and grime. Why the anatomy lesson? Because keeping your engine running healthy and strong is just as important to your vehicle as it is to you (whether you like it or not). Today's truck and SUV engines are built with such precision and care that tolerances between moving parts are dangerously close. If your engine isn't properly lubricated, you'll be in a world of hurt - fast. That's why a good, high-quality, high-performance motor oil is a must. One that flows quickly and smoothly to all of your engine's vital components. Enter Red Line synthetic motor oil. Born in the laboratory and proven on the racetrack, Red Line synthetic motor oil is like high-performance blood for your engine. Let's see just what makes Red Line synthetic motor oil so great. 1. Longevity Red Line synthetic motor oil is designed for driving. The folks at Red Line want you to be able to drive your truck or SUV, and really drive it. They've manufactured a synthetic motor oil with less additives than any other motor oil on the market. To get fossil oil to perform under harsh conditions and hold up, it needs to be mixed heavily with additives. Additives to prevent foaming, additives to give it high-temperature protection. Additives to help it flow smoothly or to prevent burning. These additives all have a short window where they work optimally, then their quality deteriorates quickly. On the other hand, Red Line synthetic motor oil is not weighed down with unneccessary additives. They've designed the motor oil to have all of the characteristics that you could want, without the need for additives. Where a "normal" motor oil is supposed to be changed every 3,000 miles, Red Line synthetic motor oil can go 15,000 miles or more between changes because of its additive-free design and high-performance engineering. Yes, Red Line recommends intervals of 15,000-18,000 between oil changes (depending on application). For most of us, that's just one oil change a year. That boils down to you spending less time under your truck or SUV and more time inside, driving it like you're supposed to. Increasing your truck fuel economy 2. Cold Temp. Flowing Not all parts of the country enjoy the warm temperature conditions that can be found in the southern parts of the country. Up north, in colder parts of the U.S., we've got to worry about something called cold startup. Cold startup is exactly what it sounds like; starting up your pick up truck or SUV in cold climates. This occurance can be problematic for vehicles lubricated with standard fossil oil. Regular motor oil is thick in cold temperatures, extremely thick. And slow moving. And while conventional motor oil can take seconds to reach vital engine components, a properly-engineered synthetic motor oil like Red Line synthetic oil is there almost instantaneously. 3. Higher Lubricity A properly-engineered synthetic oil like Red Line is more free-flowing than any standard motor oil. Now, you'd have to pull out a microscope to see it in action, but it all comes down to the molecules. A high-quality synthetic oil is smoother and more free flowing due to the actual molecules in the oil being smaller, and less bulky. The Carbon atoms in standard motor oil are large and oddly-shaped. They don't slide against each other very well and need special additives to help them flow smoothly. Additives that break down over time. Red Line synthetic motor oil is far superior to conventional motor oil in this respect. It is slicker, smoother, and stands up to heat better. Also, because of it's enhanced lubricity, Red Line synthetic motor oil creates less friction and in some cases can actually free up horsepower. If you're looking for a high quality synthetic motor oil, one that: * Lasts up to five times as long as conventional oil. * Flows smoothly in all temperatures. * Provides a higher level of lubrication. Get your hands on some Red Line synthetic motor oil today!
What Does CAFE Mean?
What is CAFE?
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer’s fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less, manufactured for sale in the United States, for any given model year. Fuel economy is defined as the average mileage traveled by an automobile per gallon of gasoline (or equivalent amount of other fuel) consumed as measured in accordance with the testing and evaluation protocol set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CAFE has a negative impact on the cost of new trucks, in other words you will need to keep your truck longer.
