Proven Fuel Saving Tricks

1. Slow down

One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer.

2. Replace the Air Filter

Also another really good strategy to saving fuel I learned once while talking to a race car driver at a drag race was that spending a little extra money on a high performance air filter. For example a K$N air filter it may cost a little more than your stock air cleaner however it lasts longer and is reusable improves horsepower and also improves fuel economy.

3. Check your tire pressure

Under-inflated tires are one of the major causes of reduced fuel economy. Tires lose air due to weather changes or just sitting idle about 1 psi a month.

4. Stay away from fancy extras

New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tires on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tire in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.

5. Get the Leadfoot Out

You can save fuel immediately in whatever you drive by going easy on the accelerator. Jack rabbit starts and full-throttle acceleration boost fuel consumption dramatically. It's all a matter of degree: Light acceleration saves more than moderate acceleration.

6. go back to the classics

The biggest fuel savings comes not from hybrid technology but from the old standards: car pooling and public transportation. If you and just one friend or neighbor trade off commuting to and from work, you cut your fuel usage by about 50 percent. No other step will save you as much money. Also, if you have two vehicles in the family motor pool, leave the thirstier one in the garage as often as possible.

The Benefits of a Cat Back Exhaust System

The term cat back exhaust can be defined as the section of an exhaust system that attaches after the last catalytic converter in the system. It is typically made up of a rear-pipe, a resonator and a muffler, but depending on the make and model, it can also include a mid-pipe, X-pipe, H-Pipe or a Y-Pipe.

Adding an aftermarket cat back can provide several benefits, the first of which is more power. Aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to be freer flowing than your stock exhaust, usually incorporating larger diameter piping and higher-grade mandrel bent tubing for a more laminar flow. These changes can result in a reduced level of back pressure at the engine manifold, which means the engine can breathe a little easier and release more horsepower and torque. How much horsepower is gained depends highly on the design of your factory exhaust system and the quality of the catalytic converters in front of it. If the stock catalytic converters are fairly restrictive, then less power can be gained from a cat back exhaust system. If the stock cat's can flow a large amount of exhaust gas with creating too much restriction, then a cat back exhaust system should offer a nice increase in power.

An increase in fuel economy is often experienced after installation. This is the result of the engine not have to work as hard pushing exhaust gases through the piping. This reduces the total amount of load on the engine, causing higher efficiency and MPG. This increase in fuel economy typically occurs when traveling at freeway speeds, but can sometimes be noticed when driving in the city as well.

Another big benefit of a cat back exhaust system is the sound they can produce. Whether you want just a little more grunt or a full-on growl, there is a system out there that will satisfy your ears. This is actually a very big consideration when purchasing, so make sure to do your homework first. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of time installing an auto part only to find out it isn't what you wanted.

Automotive Dreams Come True

While most of the cars we see on the road are mass-produced, by major automobile manufacturers there are a few cars built in limited quantities for special purposes. There are even a few small custom building-manufacturing companies that are the dream come true accompanied by the sweat and hard work of one individual. Such a company was TVR, founded by Trevor Wilkinson, back in 1947. The company was housed in Blackpool, England and specialized in the production of sports/racing cars.

Each car was designed by stylists at the Blackpool plant and completely custom built on the premises. The bodies were made of fiberglass with a full FIA rib cage. Even the seats were hand-sewn by seamstresses on site.

The company also sponsored a one-make racing series billed as the TVR Tuscan Challenge.

One limited production car, designed specifically for this race, was the TVR Tuscan Racer or Speed 8. This was a convertible with a fiberglass body mounted over a tubular steel chass. It was powered by a 4441 cc Rover V8 engine and had a Borg Warner T5.5 manual transmission.

The TVR's were soon billed as "one of the world's most powerful performance cars." In 2005, the company ceased to be the culmination of a British dream as it was purchased by the 24-year-old Russian millionaire Nikolai Smolensky.

Another dream was the Dauer Racing 962 LM. This car is also somewhat of a mystery as it is not certain just how many were built although Dauer claimed he could produce fifty. Jochen Dauer was the founder of the Dauer Racing Team who had already tasted success in the World Sportcar Championship and IMSA.

Regardless of production figures, the 962 was unique in that it was a racing car converted for road use. It has also been described as "One of the most spectacular supercars ever built."

It was styled by Achim Storz, a former employee of Porsche Design. And the Porsche 962 was actually the inspiration for the entire car. It was equipped with a Le Mans spec 2994 c.c watercooled flat-six with dohc per bank operating 4 valves per cylinder. It was capable of producing 730 hp at 7,600 rpm and 517 lbft at 5,000 rpm. According to Dauer it could accelerate 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and 120 mph in 7.2 seconds. It weighed 1080 kg.

The body was very similar to the Porsche Group C racer, being a Kevlar body mounted over a steel tubular space frame. It had large diameter wheels and tires.

But a problem that was never overcome in the road use conversion was cabin size. Racing cars are designed to accommodate one person, the driver. Street cars, at minimum, must seat a driver and at least one passenger. Although Dauer crammed two seats into the cabin, it was so crowded that the passenger's shoulder would come in contact with the driver's. The driver's head came close to touching the window and there was little leg room. Finally, one had to detach the steering wheel to enter and exit the vehicle. This is true of racing cars.

While the car had excellent forward vision, rear vision was poor. Like a truck, there was no rear window and the driver had to depend on side mirrors for a rear view. This would make it a choice for the driver who valued speed and performance over comfort and convenience.

Guide to Auto Transport

If you are planning to ship your vehicle, you may be considering how to choose the right auto transporter. When you inquire about auto shipping companies just ask them if they are broker or carrier. Schedule your auto shipping 4 weeks in advance, giving enough time for car mover carrier to pick up your vehicle. If you are not present, ask your friend, relative to transfer the car to the car mover. Most of the auto transport companies offer door to door service. Sometimes it may be difficult to drive in large truck carrying your vehicle in a residential area. So auto shipping companies tell their customers to drop their vehicle in a terminal from where they will pick up the car. See to it that your vehicle is insured. Before shipping your vehicle, truck driver will inspect your car for any scratches or damages and note it down in bill of lading. This document should be signed by both the parties. Same procedure is followed upon delivery.

Do check your vehicle before signing bill of lading. If you find any damages while unloading you can claim for damages now but not at a later stage. Do not keep personal belongings in the car as it may damage the interiors of the car. Some items like spare tires or car jacks can be found in the trunk of the car but do tie it down properly. When working on the total cost of the shipping, provide information for other things also like origin/destination, departure date, type of vehicle, type of car transport service desired and auto shipping requests etc. Some car shipping companies require certain amount of deposit or full payment in advance. If you make full payment prior to auto shipping service, use a credit card so that charges may be disputed if circumstances warrant such actions.

Do check there license certificate. Do contact local Better Business Bureau as well as verify that the shipper's license is valid and active with the appropriate transportation agency. It is important you take time to check references and get all services agreed to by the company in writing. If any problem arises with the auto shipping company try to settle it. However if you feel you have reached a dead end or you are not treated reasonably you can file a complaint with multiple agencies (BBB, State or Federal Department of Transportation, Interstate Commerce Commission) as well as seeking legal counsel.

Shijina is an expert author for auto transport and vehicle shipping. She written many articles like car shipping, vehicle transport and auto shipping. For more information visit our site aaat.com Contact me at shijinaseo@gmail.com

Government Seized Cars Reviewed

If you want to save a healthy sum with your car purchase and if you are ready to take a bit of risk, then government seized cars are for you. You can find all models and makes of car at government seized car auctions. And, if you are lucky enough, you will get a car that is in top condition. These car auctions are conducted with a specific purpose - to dispense with cars that are consuming storage area and are expensive to maintain. As is the case, profit will not be the major objective at these auctions. So, you will be able to buy cars at a cost that is well below the showroom cost. Sometimes, you can even get cars at 90% off the original price.

Following some guidelines can come in very handy while you are making an attempt to purchase a car at government seized car auctions. Reach the place where the auction is conducted earlier than the auction starting time. Doing so will give you enough time to get a good understanding of the cars being auctioned. Ensure that you have inspected the different parts of the cars and performed a check on the VIN numbers. Preparing in advance is also going to help. You can calculate the highest bids you are going to make at the auction by knowing the original price of the cars you are looking to buy. Get through the history of the cars being sold. Usually, the auctioneers provide you with a brief history of the cars that are going to be auctioned.

The toughest challenge for most people when buying government seized cars is the scarcity of information. These days, you can find online car portals that deliver in-depth information about the car auctions that are nearest to you as well as the various car models and pricings. Reviews also provide a variety of information, which includes the features of the cars being auctioned and list of the best auctions venues around your area. People writing these reviews will have reliable knowledge about the car dealers or auctions sponsors that have friendly staffs, offer quick enterprise, and deal out excellent cars. You can find these reviews from websites or by searching online. Your local dailies also come up with quality car auction reviews.

Hybrid Conversion Kits

Electric cars are 100% zero emissions and eco-friendly. Prices of electric cars are not cheap though, they can get as expensive as the Tesla which is priced at $98,000. The Tesla all electric car is not only eco-friendly but fast as well: the motor will send this sports car like vehicle from 0 to 50 mph in 3.9 seconds. Not impressed yet? How about being able to travel an average of 221 miles before having to charge. Unless you are going on a long trip with this super electric car, you'll be good just cruising the streets, showing off this hot sports car.

Not everyone can dish out $98K to go eco-friendly and have a gasoline free electric car. Steep price for not using any fuel, but may very well be worth it. For those who do not have that kind of cash stashed under the carpet in the back of the closet: try converting your car to an electric hybrid or full electric with an electric hybrid conversion or an Electric Vehicle (EV) Conversion. Converting would be much less than $98K. An approximate cost of converting your vehicle to full EV is around $5000.00. Small price to pay for never having to fill up on gas ever again. Also, keep in mind you will not have any emissions and no pollution coming from your newly converted electric car.

Restoring our environment is a gradual process. Reducing emissions and pollutants from normal fuel burning cars is the first step in achieving better air quality and maintaining the Ozone. Convert your cars into a hybrid or full electric vehicle (EV) and start saving money and restoring the environment. Drive a eco-friendly car today!

For more details on Hybrid Cars and Electric Cars, Join the Hybrid Conversion Community at http://www.Convert2Hybrid.com