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Tag Archives: mpg

Fuel Saving

Fuel Economy Part 2 – What Does Work, Our View

February 4, 2016 Andy 1 Comment

This article concentrates on fuel-saving methods that work. It is based on a combination of common sense, significant testing, and experience. If you haven’t already done so, we recommend you read our earlier blog entry, Fuel Economy Part 1 – What Doesn’t Work, Our View by clicking HERE.

General Vehicle Maintenance

If you’re completely disillusioned with magic fuel pills, magnets, and other fuel-saving devices that didn’t work (as expected) or the miles per gallon (MPG) on your vehicle has dramatically reduced, don’t lose hope. Vehicle maintenance plays a crucial role in fuel economy. This is basic but valuable information.

Firstly, check your tire pressure. They should be at the correct pressure for your vehicle, assuming you are using the recommended size wheels and tyres.

If you are serious about saving every ounce of fuel you can, consider changing the tire brand to a good-quality, low-resistance tyre. The lower the resistance, the less the engine has to work. As a result, less fuel is consumed.

Ensure your vehicle is regularly serviced. You would be surprised by the difference a clean air filter and quality oil will make. It also is possible to change the oil for a lower viscosity, which helps reduce “drag” on the moving components, but this should not be done to the detriment of engine protection, which is the primary function of the oil.

Engine Cleaning

Accumulating deposits on parts such as fuel injectors, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems, plenum runners, throttle bodies, pistons, and intake valves significantly impairs engine efficiency. The result is invariably power loss, rough idle, and reduced fuel economy. However, cutting through the tenacious fuel deposits is no ordinary task, and only the best cleaners make a notable difference. Therefore, invest in a high-quality fuel system and engine cleaner.

Remarkably, most vehicle owners wait until they encounter running problems or very poor MPG before investing in fuel cleaners or conditioners. We have seen significant MPG increases from simply cleaning the fuel injectors and removing carbon build-up.

Oil Additives

Although we consider this a bit of a minefield, we would be remiss if we didn’t inform you that we have discovered that there are small but tangible gains to be had from oil additives.  Gains are not just from reducing friction but also from restoring engine compression by removing deposits from piston rings, cylinder bores, etc.

These are safe gains, we might add, but please tread with caution as it is true that there is a lot of rubbish on the market. Do your research, but in the meantime, if you require a recommendation for a particular vehicle/application, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Engine Chipping / Re-mapping / ECU Re-flash / Tuning Modules

The fourth way of improving MPG is by remapping or chipping your vehicle. This is achieved by altering the fuel and/or ignition timing and other parameters within the engine control unit (ECU) or using a piggyback tuning module.

Although results can vary widely, this can be a very effective and safe way of improving MPG if you know where to go and who to trust. Depending on the vehicle and the mapping quality, improvements of up to five percent can be achieved.

Driving Style

For our tips on how your driving style can improve fuel economy click HERE.

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Fuel Saving

Fuel Economy Part 1 – What Doesn’t Work, Our View

February 1, 2016 Andy 1 Comment

This article is Part 1 of a two-part series. Here, we will cover supposed fuel-saving products that, in practice, fail to deliver on their promises. We recommend you read this before reading Part 2, which focuses on fuel-saving ideas that work.

Oh no, yet another report on fuel economy. We understand how you might feel like you’ve heard it all before. But hold on, we promise you something a little different – views and experience from industry professionals and, perhaps more important, some common sense! Fuel economy, fuel savings, improved miles per gallon (MPG), and the use of fuel savers and similar devices is a subject we are regularly asked for advice on, hence the need for us to provide an overview of our experience on what we have tried and tested.

The results are interesting but not all that surprising. So we’ll give you the facts concerning fuel additives and fuel-saving devices and how they relate to MPG improvements.

Firstly, we will concentrate on fuel-saving products that have failed to increase MPG. We have either tried them ourselves or had access to independent test results.

Although it can be argued that the most accurate tests are performed in laboratory-controlled conditions, they are not always an accurate representation of actual life results, and most of our readers are not scientists. Instead, we prefer to test the various products using real-life driving and not dynameters or similar measuring devices. Besides, an attempt to prove a product works on paper as tested by an “independent” lab means nothing if the results cannot be replicated on the road, as this is where it matters. We use regular commuting routes to provide an honest assessment when comparing MPG figures.

The Mystic World of Fuel Pills

A company called Fuel Freedom International flooded the Internet with a “magical” gas pill promising ultra-high fuel economy. We tested this pill on our Audi A6 and Toyota for a total of five full fuel tanks on consistent, regular commutes. It resulted in a random fuel deviation of approximately +/- 1.5 mpg over the original MPG (A6 – 38 MPG and MR2 – 27 MPG), which is consistent with what we would typically expect, hence no gain.

The claims were further tested but positive results were not forthcoming. “The pill will kick in after burning several tanks of fuel” was the explanation of the company. But how many? Nobody had an answer. We considered five tanks over a period of two months more than sufficient for our testing.

Another Texas company launched a hyper campaign promoting a fuel pill that could bring about almost 20 percent fuel savings and reduce emissions significantly when added to a tank of fuel. We tried this too and it didn’t work. Researchers also tested the product at the University of Texas at Austin and at a Florida university. I know I said earlier we weren’t going to concentrate on lab tests but it is merely to make the point that the results were negative in both types of tests. Unfortunately, this pill turned out to be nothing more than a chemical equivalent of naphthalene. It had nothing to do with improving MPG; rather, it hurt engine performance. As a result, the company later had its assets frozen in a lawsuit.

We have refrained from providing detailed results on all the pills we have tried or providing details on journeys, times, MPG, etc. This is simply because there is nothing to report other than there was no discernible difference on our diesel or petrol test vehicles or from tests conducted by other independent bodies. We have not yet seen any scientific or empirical data that proves any of them work, although we wish we had because it would be much more interesting to write about!

Standalone Fuel Magnets

Unlike fuel pills, fuel magnets have been around for years. Manufacturers claim a “change to the molecular structure of gasoline by aligning the hydrocarbons” that in turn improves fuel efficiency.

Again we will not delve into too much detail, but needless to say, we tried and tested a variety of fuel magnets on both diesel and petrol test vehicles.

We can’t help but agree that the negatively surrounding these types of devices is founded. For example, a particular fuel magnet hit the headlines in 2005, claiming to improve mileage by 27 percent when added to the fuel line. This multimillion-dollar affair was investigated and discovered to be bogus. Later, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued the company, which then agreed to pull its ads.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluated these products and rubbished their claims. Vested interests aside, if it had been possible to lower fuel consumption by placing a magnet in the fuel line, then everybody in this cunningly competitive world would have done so, whether subjected to vested interests or not.

Other explanations of how magnets work in fuel lines are many. The “alignment” theory does have merit, but, executing the process to “refine” the fuel is easier said than done.

The Problem of False Claims

Companies making claims about their fuel-saving pills and magnets is a global phenomenon.

An Australian company marketed a pill that promised to slash fuel costs by up to 42 percent. The company was successfully prosecuted by the Consumer Protection Department for false advertising.

For their part, the FTC endorses neither fuel pills nor fuel magnets. The blatant dismissal of all these fuel-efficiency claims is simply due to one fact – none of the claims are verified by unbiased research and/or controlled testing! All are based on individual testimonials, many being nothing more than words written by the suppliers.

But what about the many legitimate testimonials from customers? I have what we believe to be a reasonable explanation of this and one I have experienced firsthand. The most common explanation and one that is completely valid is that driving style, climate conditions, fuel quality variations, and other factors contribute to inconsistent MPG and fuel emissions.

Although these are vital factors, we believe there is a more significant underlying reason. Let us explain. One of the first tests I did many years ago with a fuel magnet netted an increase in fuel efficiency of nine percent on a weekly, 600-mile round trip commute for the first tank. The second tank earned approximately five percent, and the third about two percent. Why?

After racking my brains, I finally figured out what had occurred, and it was a vital lesson. When you spend your hard-earned money on a product of this nature, you REALLY want it to work. This is a standard and perfectly normal psychological phenomenon. Furthermore, it is human nature that people do not want to be wrong or proven wrong. Again, this is a psychological defense mechanism.

What had occurred is that for the first tank, I was unwittingly trying to obtain the best MPG improvement possible and, as a result, ended up driving much smoother than I would normally. I would seldom reach excessive speed and would brake much smoother. The MPG obviously improved as a result. I know this appears obvious, if not simple, but you would be surprised how many people do this without fully realizing it.

As I gradually returned to regular driving routines, the MPG gain deteriorated. I guess this does, after all, support a need for lab-based testing. But since that original test we carefully ensured that we maintained our regular driving style during any future testing. Blind tests are golden!

It is unfortunate, but it is the way of the world that “miracle” fuel savers are out to lure you with unbelievable claims. We strongly advise that you be realistic. We certainly are not so naive to think there isn’t a great deal of vested interest in this market because there is. However, we are similarly not gullible enough to believe that fuel magnets, fuel pills, copper tubing devices, air intake enturbulation gadgets, and other wacky gimmicks deliver as promised. If they did, our test vehicles would be giant magnets on wheels.

So with all this negativity, what, if anything, does improve MPG?

Click HERE to read “Fuel Economy Part 2 – What Does Work, Our View,” to find out.

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Fuel Saving

How to Improve MPG – Driving Style

January 24, 2016 Andy 1 Comment

Improving Miles Per Gallon (MPG) Via Driving Style

1. Don’t drive too fast or accelerate too hard. Wind resistance increases drastically with increasing speed. Studies show that every time you increase your speed by 10 miles per hour, you lose as much as 15 percent in fuel economy. So slow down and be a fuel-efficient, safe, and relaxed driver.

2. Try moving into high gears and slow speed as much as possible. When the engine turns slowly, there are fewer explosions in the cylinder that use fuel. This means more economy for you.

3. Try not to accelerate when moving up a slope, such as a hill. If you increase your speed when going up a hill, the MPG will decrease dramatically.  It’s best to either maintain the same speed or allow the engine to slow naturally.

4. Anticipate stops and brake less. Every time you brake, you waste the car’s energy by cutting down the forward moving force and transforming it into force acting through the brake pads. Accelerate slowly and stop naturally at the anticipated points by taking advantage engine braking. Avoid braking at the last moment, which may then force you to accelerate unnecessarily.

5. Don’t waste fuel by keeping your vehicle idling for long. Cars seldom require prolonged warming – in fact it can do more harm than good. Prolonged warming can prevent a natural acid build-up from dispersing from the piston rings, resulting in increased engine wear. Driving gently is the best warm up there is. When it’s 25°C degrees out, warming up for 30 seconds is fine. If it’s 10°C degrees out, a minute warm-up is OK.

6. Drive light. Removing excess weight from your vehicle improves your gas mileage. Any unnecessary items you can remove from your vehicle, especially heavy ones, will help you to save on gas mileage.  For example, consider a roof rack. You waste about 5 percent in MPG efficiency when you have one of these on your vehicle.

7. Don’t misuse or overuse the A/C. When it’s pleasant outside, feel the nature instead of shutting yourself in and burning extra fuel by keeping the air-conditioning equipment on.  If A/C is necessary then ensure the recycle air button is on so that the A/C is not overworked by having to cool incoming warm air.

While some of these might seem like simple solutions, they are too often forgotten as we rush through life. By following these tips, you can save money and make fewer stops at the fuel pump.

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Fleet & Commercial Solutions, Fuel Addtives, Fuel Saving

MPG – Negative vs Positive Gain ™

February 12, 2015 Andy 4 Comments

When examining the field of products, services, and techniques that promise to increase MPG, you find a confusing minefield, at best. There are chronic sceptics on one side, loyal devotees on the other, and indifferent observers in between. Unfortunately, this has come from a long history of ignorance and misleading advertising. The dilemma for most is “who is right and who is wrong?”

Two other main questions also might come to mind:

1. How do you know if the advertised MPG increase will be achieved?

2. Why are there such inconsistencies regarding product results, ranging from spectacular to absolute zero? Why such a significant variance?

When we service fleets, we combine our knowledge and experience to simplify the process for operators. Firstly, let us explain the type of gains available and the results you can expect to achieve. To best explain this, we would like to introduce you to the concept of Negative versus Positive MPG gain.

Negative Gain is the process of restoring engine economy and efficiency back to factory levels, or more accurately, how it was when it left the manufacturer, except with an engine that is now run-in. These are not the factory-published figures regarding performance, but moreover, the actual performance that is possible from an engine that is run-in, deposit-free, and operating at full efficiency in real-life conditions. This is engine efficiency restoration.

Positive Gain is the process of improving the standard MPG or performance of an engine that is deposit-free and running efficiently on standard pump fuel and lubricants, as recommended by the manufacturer. This is engine efficiency enhancement.

MPG Saving

Virtually all fuel and engine additives suppliers claiming 10%, 15%, or 20%-plus improvements in MPG rely heavily on the Negative Gain factor. The increased economy claims are based on the assumption that the fuel system has accumulated deposits and that the engine is experiencing a reduction in fuel economy and performance as a result.

This is very important. The reason for such inconsistency is that there are many variables in play. One vehicle may have a considerable reduction in fuel economy or performance (due to fuel system or engine deposits), while another has virtually none. Also, different engine designs respond to deposits in varying ways.   It is really that simple. The majority of gain you tend to see, however great or small, is negative gain or performance and efficiency restoration. Unfortunately, negative gain or efficiency restoration potential is challenging to predict.

This part of fuel and oil additive marketing is particularly troubling, as it can lead to unrealistic customer expectations. We believe it is misleading to make claims about MPG increases on the assumption that the fuel system and/or engine have accumulated substantial deposits. Of course, such claims are always caveated with increases “up to” a certain amount.

So how does the negative and positive gain theory work?

Negative Gain (Economy & Performance Restoration)

Assuming that the mechanical condition of an engine is good and that all its electrical components and respective sensors are operating correctly, there are three ways to restore lost MPG.

1.  Fuel system cleaning. This involves using a professional cleaner to remove any benign or debilitating deposits from the fuel system. It also includes any remedial work to remove biological or non-biological contamination within the fuel or fuel system. This restores the correct fuel flow and atomization of fuel into the combustion chamber.

2.  Carbon Removal. This is the process of using professional cleaners and combustion modification technology to remove carbon build-up from the combustion and post-combustion areas of the engine. These include emission control components like the exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR), diesel particulate filter (DPF), etc.

3.  Compression restoration. This is the process of restoring any lost engine compression by using a professional engine oil flush or lubricant-based cleanser to remove deposits from the pistons, piston rings, and cylinder bores.

Depending on which of the above apply and assuming the correct products and processes are employed, virtually any engine can be restored to optimum efficiency and performance.   The only notable exceptions are when an engine, or any of its periphery parts, are mechanically worn, degraded, or failed. Even then, various technologies and processes exist to restore minor wear.

Positive Gain (Economy & Performance Enhancement)

Again, assuming all being equal and that an engine is in good working order, there are five ways to increase efficiency and performance above the standard factory figures.

1.  Friction reduction. This involves using specialist products and techniques to reduce friction to levels lower than that available from conventional oils and lubricants. Other benefits can include greater protection against reduced component wear and lower maintenance costs. This can be applied to engines, transmissions, differentials, wheel bearings, and so on.

2.  Fuel combustion modification. This includes the continuous use of professional chemistries to improve the combustion efficiency of the fuel, resulting in greater fuel economy, performance, and a reduction in exhaust emissions. Such products can also prevent fuel degradation, protect the fuel system, and control deposit build-up, thus removing any future need to use products to restore lost performance.

3.  Engine retuning (software). This is the process of altering the engine control unit (ECU) or how the ECU manages fuel injection, ignition timing, and other engine control parameters. This can provide more efficient power and torque delivery throughout the rev range, reducing fuel usage.

4.  Engine retuning (physical). This includes the physical modification of engine components such as adjusting intake manifold air-flow dynamics, altering the exhaust system or DPF, and so on.

5.  Other modifications. Making other pragmatic modifications that are widely known, such as optimising tyre pressures, improving aerodynamics, reducing unwanted weight, altering driving style, etc., can also improve efficiency.

Positive gain can manifest itself as additional performance (as measured in horsepower and torque), an increase in fuel efficiency, or a combination of both.

Testing Protocols:

We specialise in the development of bespoke MPG testing protocols. With any test, whether a single consumer vehicle or a fleet of heavy goods vehicles, it is important to set objectives and correctly plan how to achieve and measure them.

Below are some contributory risks and variables that must be considered when developing a comprehensive test plan. Please note that we were advised against revealing this information as it would undoubtedly be copied and reused by other companies selling fuel-saving additives or devices. However, if it helps to restore some integrity to the field of MPG testing, then we believe this benefits us all. Whether you sell fuel-saving technology or are looking to test and buy fuel-saving technology, let’s please restore some integrity to this field.

Risk Mitigation / Containment
1 Length of the test is too short. It goes without saying that the more test data available, the easier it is to discern positive, neutral, or negative results.
2 Lack of availability of historical test data and seasonal differences. It is of paramount importance that historic baseline data is available. If not, this should be captured first. Also, take into consideration the seasonal variations.   For example, if you are conducting a three-month test between April and June, it would be advantageous to have baseline data for the same months in the previous year and the months of January to March immediately before the test. You would be surprised with the variance of data between seasons.
3 Inaccurate MPG monitoring techniques. The most common are on-board monitoring and manual calculations. Where possible, use both monitoring techniques. Telematics that includes average speed is also extremely valuable as it will help validate or invalidate MPG figures. If the average speed for a vehicle increases during a particular month, then the MPG would be expected to increase by default and vice versa.
4 Varying climatic conditions. Weather can have a profound effect on results, and not just temperatures. Wind can affect drag; rain can affect grip, etc. A combination of controlled and real-life tests can mitigate this.
5 Varying traffic, routes, and loads. Variances in routes, traffic, and loads can affect results. Choosing the most consistent routes with consistent loads in low traffic periods and a combination of controlled and real-life testing is the best bet, albeit not always possible.
6 Driver inconsistency. Where possible, the same driver should be used. Otherwise any change of driver must be factored into the test results.
7 Varying vehicle history and condition. Even vehicles of the same type and engine are different and can respond differently.  Pick both a poor performing and good performing vehicle. It is important to understand that results are only applicable and valid to that particular vehicle/engine combination.
8 Fuel inconsistency. Different brands and types of fuel (including seasonable blends) can affect results.   Where possible, the exact same fuel should be used throughout the test and during any pretesting.
9 Poor accuracy with administering treatments. How treatments are administered is important. For example, treating the fuel at bunkered storage mitigates the risk of incorrectly applied ratios when testing fuel additives. Automated dispensing systems are also an alternative.
10 Driver awareness affects results. Blind testing always provides the most accurate results unless trust in the driver is assured. If the driver is aware, then also make them aware during the pretesting (baseline) stage. This can ensure that the driver will not significantly change the driving style during testing.
11 Fuel or additives theft. Unfortunately, this does occur. There are ways to identify and mitigate this risk. However, it would not be appropriate to list them here.
12 Lack of test data. What to test (mpg, power, torque, emissions, oil quality, wear, etc.) is fundamental to understanding the benefits of any given
product(s).   Simply, the more data, the greater the confidence in the decision-making process.

There are other minor factors that we won‘t go into as they apply more to controlled testing, such as the effects of ambient temperature on fuel density and so on. However, the above twelve points will serve you well.

We make our clients fully aware of the common pitfalls and underhand techniques that some companies use. For example, a common tactic is to advise the client to notify the driver that a test is being conducted. The driver is then aware that his driving is likely to be scrutinised and, as a result, drives more cautiously and ” efficiently. ” The client then witnesses a tangible increase that has little to do with the prescribed treatments but is instead from an improvement in driving style by the driver.

Another tactic is to convince the client to pick their worst-performing vehicle for testing. This, of course, increases the probability of more outstanding results. The client then becomes blinded by negative gain results that cannot be reproduced on their other, better-performing vehicles. Ideally, you should test average-performing vehicles or the worst and best-performing ones in the fleet.

The key is to produce a test protocol that mitigates or eliminates as many variables as possible. This will help ensure accurate test data, which, in turn, enables the client to make informed decisions as to the actual ROI on particular treatments or processes.

If you require more information or a no-obligation consultation on MPG reduction or engine cleaning, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours,

Andy Archer

Managing Director

Energy and Maintenance Saving Consultant

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