Run your car like a hare and yet save fuel
With the petrol prices going up, the demand for fuel thirsty cars might just go down. Many people are concerned about the mileage of their car. And mostly the concerned people are the ones who own these thirsty engines. The biggest question troubling them is about the fuel economy and means to improve it.
Physical State: The physical state of the engine is the main factor affecting the mileage of a car. The compression ratio should be up to the mark. The spark should be firing properly, the air filter should be clean to avoid or the engine would require more power to pump in air. The brakes shouldn’t be dragging with the wheels. The pressure in the tire should be a bit more than factory suggested one in order to increase the handling along with the efficiency.
The oil used in the engine, gears are important to get a good fuel economy. The oil should be thin enough for the engine to function properly with the least friction. Use the thinnest grade oil in the recommended ones by the manufacturer.
The engine has to pay a heavy price if the inlet (air filter) and exhaust are choked. A lot of the horsepower generated by the engine would be wasted in pumping the air in and out. Once the car gets a bit old, the catalytic converter gets choked. And its very common in old cars. In order to check the functioning of the cat, go for a back pressure test.
Modification: Using free flows or performance air filters do help the engine to improve the efficiency. In some cases bigger exhaust systems could also be used. Increasing the compression ratio surely increases the efficiency of the engine, as more energy would be generated. Fuel economy is increased only when the air-fuel ratio is maintained for road use.
Aerodynamics: Here comes my very favorite topic. Aerodynamics comes into picture once the car crosses the speed of 60km. A lot of energy of the engine goes to waste as it tries to overcome this drag. Stylish spoilers can slightly increase the down force of the car. And at the most a tray can be attached to reduce the drag being caused underneath the car. Avoid carrying load on top of the car to reduce drag.
Weight: Adding extra weight to the car would result in burning more petrol. Loading your car with heavy woofers, or tools means simply giving away your money.
I tried this and I had understeer, I tried that and I had oversteer, at the end of the corner I just ran out of talent!
