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Energy Saving Changes

What I have done:

1. Tornado Air

This cynlinder like device, is something I added last year when I bought my car. When I was first running my car, my console said I have about 14 MPG. So I bought this "tornado" for the air intake. It gets placed inside the intake tube to give a fast airflow giving more air to the engine, increaing gas mileage.

What I can do now:

1. Fuel Injector/Carburetor Cleaner

This is a formula that I bought at the local brooks pharmacy for $2.79. The purpose of this product is to:

• Helps improve gas mileage
• Helps remove gum, varnish and carbon build-up
• Helps fight power loss
• Helps reduce emissions
• Helps keep the vehicle running like new, longer

I'm going to add this liquid after the second week of observations. This is because I want to get a decent amount of data before I make any changes.

2. Inflate Tires

When my car is driving on the road, there is a certain area of tire that is pressured on the road which creates friction. When the car is running, the engine does a certain amount of work fighting against friction. So, if we decrease the friction between the road and tires, the engine does less work on the road and restoring MPG and horsepower. But ofcourse this is a very small amount of difference. Friction equation --> Friction(net)=(coeffiecient of friction)*(Normal Force). Increasing the area increases the coeffiecient of friction, adding more friction between the road and tires.

Future and ongoing changes:

1. A/C

Its the winter time now. Using the Air Conditioner uses a lot of gas to create the cold heat. The A/C compressor puts an extra strain on the engine.

2. Engine oil

I will schedule a oil change sometime in the next week of so. Using good engine with a friction reducing oil additive increase MPG.

3. Reduce the weight

The more weight in the car creates more friction. Equation --> Friction(net)=(coeffiecient of friction)*(Normal Force). The Normal Force is equal to (Mass)*(Gravity). If more stuff was added to my car (sub, clothes, garbage, weapons, etc.), then the Normal will be greater, creating more friction.

4. 55 mph

Accoring to studies, the average speed in which gas milage is improved, is 55 mph. Going this fast will improve my gas milage the best, but it will make me look like an old granny driver.

5. Air resistance

Besides friction, the car is overcoming air resistance. A big bulky car like my jeep is not much aerodynamic compared to a small sports car. But if I avoid adding ski racks or anything that sticks out into the open, my MPG will increase.

6. Getting ready for the cold winter months

The engine runs richer until it warms up.

Headlights can be on for longer periods of time, the alternator has to make up the load, which puts additional drag on the engine.

On many cars, when the defroster is on, the air conditioner runs to remove humidity from the air.

Websites

http://www.inct.net/~autotips/mpg.htm#Example_log

http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/tornado_air.htm