Top Fuel Efficiency Do It Yourself Hacks
Monday, July 19th, 2010-
Top Fuel Efficiency Do It Yourself Hacks
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Car Culture/Getty Images
Us do-it-yourself hackers just love to tinker with things to improve their efficiency. Perhaps it is from all those years of watching episodes of the eighties hit television show, MacGyver, that inspires us to improve upon where others have left off. Whatever your reason and passion, your vehicle is one of the most popular DIY project types, and we offer you Planet Green’s top DIY hacks we have featured thus far in the year.
- Spark Plugs
Fresh spark plugs can indeed improve the tune of your vehicle and therefore improve its overall fuel efficiency. Spark plugs are not always checked very thoroughly at your local 10 minute oil change shops, so it is sometimes best to keep your own eye on your plugs and change them in accordance to how much you drive, and/or the recommended intervals of your manufacturer. - Fuel Additives
Fuel additives were made for the DIY hack. They are easy to apply to your vehicle, they promise so much, and their cost is relatively minimal in comparison to the cost of fuel these days. The problem with these additives, is most of their promises are never kept and we end up adding a snake oil to our tanks, which is no more healthy for your vehicle, than drinking monkey urine for breakfast is healthy for you. About the only additives you can usually trust to do what they claim to are fuel system cleaners and stabilizers. - Improve Your Wind Drag Coefficient
While a lot of us hacks look to improve on wind drag by adding gadgets, such as spoilers and air dams, sometimes the best way to gain better aerodynamics is to remove such gadgets. We’re talking about those giant wings and spoilers, which really do no more good for your vehicle, than dumping a pile of bricks on top of your trunk. This unnecessary weight and drag actually slows you down. Large radio antennas, cargo and bike racks can also cause drag, so if you don’t use it, take it off. The smoother you can make the air flow across your vehicle, the better off you will be. - Substitute Carbon Fiber Body Panels
There may come a time when you are replacing a body panel due to aesthetics or an accident, and often times one of your choices in the aftermarket arena will be a carbon fiber body panel to replace the steel OEM panel. For instance, carbon fiber hoods are popular replacement parts, as well are fenders for some vehicles. The carbon fiber parts are up to 5 times lighter than regular steel and therefore will reduce a nice chunk of unnecessary pounds from your vehicle. - Add a Tail Net or Tonneau Cover to Your Truck
Trucks have gotten quite a bad wrap over the years for being a practical brick in the wind when traveling down the highway at 65 mph. Well, they have received this reputation for good reason… because they are a bit like a brick. Todays trucks are a bit more aerodynamic than the old farm trucks thankfully, but you can still improve upon your aerodynamics drastically by adding either a Tail Net or Tonneau cover. These will streamline the air over (or through) the bed, which normally acts like a dragster parachute at slowing you down. Install an Onboard Fuel Efficiency Meter
It is easy to ignore a problem that you cannot see. But as we all have experienced, just because we choose to ignore something doesn’t mean the problem will just go away. Many vehicles today have onboard fuel efficiency meters that keep you abreast of the kind of gas mileage you are getting through your various daily driving maneuvers. If you pay attention to these, you can eventually train yourself to drive your vehicle the way it prefers to be driven. If you don’t have one, and your vehicle is from the years 1997 and newer, these can be purchased for many vehicles and installed by the average do it yourself-er. One example out there is the Scan Guage II, which sells for $169.95.Turn Your Diesel Into a Mean Green Vegetable Burning Machine
Did you know that many standard diesel vehicles can be converted to run off of vegetable (food) grease, and the conversion can be purchased in a easy to follow do it yourself kit? These systems, such as the Golden Fuel System, include a new fuel (a.k.a. vegetable oil) tank and all the other components you will need to make the conversion. The kits are sold for upwards of $600 and should pay for themselves within 6 to 12 months.Build Your Own Human Car
If you are an advanced do it yourselfer, you may be interested in the design of the street legal human powered car developed by HumanCar Inc.. The design of this 4-passenger human powered vehicle has shown speeds up to 60 mph while coasting downhill. You probably won’t find a better fuel economy vehicle than the one which is powered by your own body, will, innovation, and determination. Keep discovering folks… the next great transportation revelation is only one small idea away!
