Not All Gasolines are Created Equal

In a rough economy, and with gas prices eclipsing four dollars per gallon, crappy gas mileage or worse, a breakdown can be disastrous. If you are looking to see some improvement in your vehicle's mileage and your maintenance costs, then you might want to consider one of these following "procedures" (or all of them if you want the maximum improvement).

Avoid "Bad Gas"     

Keep your vehicle's fuel system clean by putting higher quality gas in your rig. All gas is required, by law, to have detergents added to the fuel mixture to help clean the fuel system. However not all brands of gas are the same. Some brands of gasoline add more cleaning agents to their gas which increases the quality of the fuel, boosting engine performance and fuel economy as a result. The brands of gas which have more detergents and are of better quality are Top Tier Gasoline certified (there is a sticker on the pump). A list of these stations can be found at http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html. And remember, the cheapest gas does not mean the best gas... you get what you pay for!

Clean Your Fuel System  

Aside from avoiding bad gas, if your vehicle is not brand new, cleaning out your fuel system is not a bad idea. Pick up some fuel system cleaner from your local auto parts store (like Lucas Oil Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner or Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner) then add it to your tank when you fill up. This will clean the entire fuel system including the piston heads and injectors. Keep in mind that Chevron Techron is the only fuel additive on the market that is scientifically proven to reduce carbon buildup on the valves, injectors, and sensors.

Oil Additives

I tried the oil additive Marvel Mystery Oil when I changed my oil last weekend. It says that you should add 20% Marvel, and 80% regular engine oil. I only put one quart of Marvel and five quarts of Valvoline MaxLife 10W-30 engine oil (about 17% Marvel Mystery Oil Mix). The oil additive is supposed to clean your engine of carbon deposits and protect your engine by leaving a protective coating throughout your engine.

Through the use of these two products and filling up with Top Tier Certified Gasoline, I have noticed that I have gotten about 60 miles through a quarter-tank (I usually only get about 50 miles for a quarter of a tank). My mileage is up 120%, acceleration is smoother, and the noticeable low-end knocking is gone.

Other tips: change your oil at regular intervals (3000-5000), clean your air filter with every oil change, change to a high flow air filter, and use the proper oil for your vehicle.

     If there is anything that I left out; if there is something else not mentioned that has worked for you, or if you have any further questions or feedback, be sure to leave a comment.