What is ecomodding? How to save fuel and money

I believe that "wrench smart" also includes things like getting regular oil changes and possibly using more efficient oil. Synthetic oil is becoming more popular, costs a little more, but doesn't have to be changed as often and adds a couple of MPG.

Check your tire pressure. Having improperly inflated tires can cost you valuable MPGs. It's easy and often free to do at gas stations. Pressure gauges are cheap at any convenience or grocery store. Tires have right on their labels the recommended pressure.

Aerodynamics is about the flow of wind around an object. Sometimes you might see the term, "aerodynamically dirty." That means that it's not aerodynamic or has a lot of trouble spots. Boat tails on cars make them more aerodynamic, because a large flat surface in the back of the vehicle creates a disturbance of air behind it that slows you down. Some people find that adding an extreme boat tail can have the biggest effect increasing MPG. Even less extreme boat tails, like on the Honda Insight can make a difference.

The Honda Insight gets great mileage. Not only is it a hybrid, but it is aerodynamic! The weird caps (wheel skirts) on the back wheels decrease drag on the car and add MPGs. The regen braking helps to conserve fuel. The car itself is not huge like an SUV or other sedans, so that decreases drag.

Trucks can have improved aerodynamics by letting the tailgate down, getting an angled cap, or by building one yourself: see how here !

There are many more modifications, easy and hard, that can be done. Click here to see a list at ecomodder.com.

Use your momentum going downhill. You don't need to press the accelerator.

Coast to a stop when you come to a red light or stop sign. If you race to get there, you're only wasting fuel. The best way I find to think about it is anytime you use your brakes, you're wasting fuel. Of course, use your brakes. They're there for safety! But speeding up too quickly or unnecessarily will use up fuel that will then be turned into heat by your brakes. It's just burned up. And we want to conserve gas because if you use too much, you're only increasing its price sooner! We can run out of oil eventually.

Hypermiling can refer to some seemingly extreme driving techniques that are used to maximize a car's efficiency in MPG, such as cutting off the engine while driving to coast. However, there are many things you can do that are easier and safer if you don't feel comfortable doing them. Decreasing your car's weight, avoid traffic, combine errands, turn off accessories you don't need like the CD player or heat if you can do something else.

Click here for a list of tips.

The three different octanes available at most gas stations indicate the level of refinement that the oil has gone through. The lowest number is the "crudest," and the highest number is the most refined. The more refined the gas is, the more MPGs you can get. You get one or two MPGs depending on your vehicle, but I also wonder how much fuel it takes to process the extra oil and how much oil is needed to lube parts and make parts that go into refinement.

Diesel seems to be getting more popular in the US. Audi, BMW, and VW have diesel models of cars in the US. They usually have the letters TDI on them somewhere. That indicates the type of diesel engine, "Turbocharged Direct Injection." I don't know what that means, but diesels these days are much quieter and cleaner than they used to be. They are also more efficient as far as MPGs go.

I don't have a high opinion of hybrid vehicles. I like that they shut off the engine while coasting. I like the regen braking to charge up the battery more and use less fuel. I don't like how much it takes to build one. Prius parts come from all over the world. The car's gone nearly 2,000 miles before it hits the showroom floor. That's fuel to transport, create parts, mine ore, and all the other things. I also don't like having a hybrid engine in a clunky, inefficient, aerodynamically awful vehicle. I don't think it's worth the extra emissions from plants and cargo hauling involved in creating the thing. I feel like it's hypocritical to get an SUV with a hybrid engine unless you really need the functionality of the SUV and it can provide that functionality. SUVs are normally very heavy, and along with hardly being aerodynamic, are inefficient. A hybrid SUV that can't go on dirt roads, gravel roads, or rocks is no good in my opinion.

I like electric cars. As far as I know, they use less energy than gas cars if we take into account the whole process of refining oil to make gas and having all the pumps and everything. However, it takes materials and fuel for transport and manufacturing to build the charging stations, unless you only need to use one in your home. Of course, another draw is that they have zero emissions as you're driving. The trouble is that many people don't like the range on them. If you make bank, you can get a Tesla Roadster for 300k. Its range is over 200 miles. As far as I know, the Nissan Leaf's range has the most miles for a car that's accessible to more people, around 70 according to the EPA and around 47 according to Nissan. I think if you can afford it, only drive short distances, and have a place to charge at home, an electric vehicle might be a good choice. They seem to last a long time. I have a neighbor with an old Prius that runs great to this day. He loves it.

Of course, the best way to save on gas is to not use any at all! If you can walk somewhere, do it! If you can bike somewhere, do it! Take the bus when you can. Take the subway if you can. If you can afford a moped and use it for small trips, go for it. There are electric ones that seem worth it and the gas ones can have amazing mileage. You often don't need a motorcycle license or permit to drive certain moped models. It depends on the speed and engine size. Check out your stat's laws on this. The DMV will have this information.