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So yeah, gas prices...crzazy all around the world. So in response to that today I'm doing a very detailed guide on how to save fuel.

00:00 Contents

Chapter 1 – Maintenance
00:46 Check engine light
Don't ignore them. Check them yourself with a $5 OBD bluetooth dongle and a free phone app. If it's something like an oxygen sensor causing your engine to run too rich then every minute you delay this repair is wasting you money.

02:54 Dirty air filter
A dirty air filter negatively impacts fuel economy by making it more difficult for the engine to breathe. The dirtier your air filter the less permeable it is and the less permeable it is the more engine work will be wasted on trying to ingest air through a dirty filter

03:48 Thinner oils
Thinner engine oils such as 5w30 are more viscous than thicker oils like 10w40 for example. A thinner oil makes it easier for the engine to spin which reduces the amount of engine work wasted on overcoming the high resistance to flow of thick oils. Improved fuel economy is one of the key reasons why many new cars run ultra thin oils like 0w-20 and 0w-30.

04:36 Tires and tire pressure
Every single psi of tire pressure missing reduces fuel efficiency by 0.1 percent. On top of this every psi of pressure missing increases tire wear by 10%.

05:18 The right fuel
Low grade and poor quality makes the engine more susceptible to misfires or engine knocking which will immediately trip engine sensors causing a check engine light and can also accelerate the rate of wear and failure of oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.

Chapter 2 - Driving techniques
06:11 Coasting with engine off
Never shut off your engine while the vehicle is still in motion. By shutting your engine off your are taking away your ability to react properly and on time to the changing road conditions.
You're likely not even saving fuel. Because when you turn the engine on again the injectors will inject extra fuel to ensure the engine starts more easily.

10:00 Drafting
Drafting is also unsafe because it reduces your braking distance and obscures your line of sight. It also doesn't improve fuel economy because you have to be on your toes all the time and will end up using the throttle and brake more often to adapt to the speed of the vehicle in front of you.

11:37 Coasting in neutral
The engine consumes more fuel when idling then when coasting downhill in gear at much higher rpm. This because by connecting the engine to the drive-train you allow the wheels to do the work of spinning your engine. Coasting in neutral isn't a good idea also because it turns the handling dynamics of your car into that of a soapbox car.

12:38 Throttle techniques
The more throttle you apply the more fuel you use. Hard and aggressive throttle operation only wastes fuel. Apply the throttle gently and gradually while adapting to the speed of the traffic around you.

13:56 Braking
Aggressive throttle techniques call for bad braking. By trying to outrun traffic you will be turning the valuable momentum generated by acceleration into brake dust and heat.

14:43 Shifting
Shifting too early can result in the engine starting to struggle which will force you to apply more throttle causing excessive fuel consumption and possibly engine lugging. Don't forget to downshift when you need to accelerate hard. Trying to achieve the desired speed in too high off a gear will result in a big lag in acceleration and wasted fuel.

Chapter 3 – Accessories, features and products
16:18 Aerodynamics
The simpler and more fluid shape of your car the better. Remove roof racks and bike racks when not using them. Use tonneau covers on pickup trucks. Avoid car bras, bug shields, fake vents and aftermarket spoilers.

18:27 Start/stop
If your car has auto start stop don't disable it. If it doesn't have don't try to manually replicate it. You're just straining the battery, starter motor and engine and being a hindrance in traffic. You're also not saving fuel because the engine injects extra fuel when starting.

19:08 AC and windows
Windows below 40mph, AC above that.

19:55 Shedding weight
Get rid of everything you don't use. Messy trunks waste fuel. Keep the tank half full and replace your spare tire with an inflation kit if you don't go offloading and into inaccessible areas.

20:40 Additives, magnets, ionizers
None of these magical fuel saving devices work. Use the money for gas.

22:33 The wrong car
Giant SUV-s and anything with a big engine can't be saved by any fuel saving technique. You need a small, lightweight car with a small engine. EVs still fit very few lifestyles and hybrid cars are realistically the most sensible option anywhere in the world.

A special thank you to my patrons:
Daniel
Daniel Morgan
Pepe
Brian Alvarez
Jack H
Dave Westwood
Joe C
Zwoa Meda Beda
Toma Marini

#d4a #hypermiling #fueleconomy