Category Archives: car facts

How To Improve Your Car’s MPG

Lower Your MPG and Save Money Gas is expensive. If you’re like most Americans than you groan every time you go to the gas station. Fuel may not be getting any cheaper but there are some simple steps you can take to improving your MPG.

Slow Down

We all like to get where we’re going as fast as possible, but you could be burning fuel while burning rubber. According to the U.S. Government, you could save between $0.16-$0.33/gallon simply by observing the speed limit. That may not seem like a lot, but in the end it’ll add up! (Plus, less money spent on speeding tickets means more money in your pocket!)

CALM DOWN!

Driving aggressively (rapidly accelerating and braking) is a big waste of gas. Your aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by as much as 30% on the highway and up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic! Taking your time, and driving defensively rather than aggressively is not only safer for you and your passengers, it’s cheaper!

Replace Your Engine!

If your car is struggling to run, then you’re wasting gas. If purchasing a new car is out of the question, consider rebuilding or replacing your engine. A reputable mechanic, like American Engine Installations can restore your engine and save you from buying a brand new vehicle.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • Turn your engine off while idling- it only takes 10 seconds worth of gas to start your engine.
  • Keep your tires properly inflated.
  • Load cargo inside of your vehicle instead of on top of it.

Are you looking to rebuild your engine? Check out the experts at American Engine Installations.

What causes a traffic jam?

As a driver, one of the worst things you encounter is traffic, especially when traffic happens for seemingly no reason. One second you’re cruising along at the speed limit and the next you’re in bumper to bumper traffic. If there are no accidents or construction, why do traffic jams still occur?

The science behind a traffic jam

Delayed reactions, tunnel vision, and selfish drivers—combined with congested roadways—greatly contribute to traffic jams but it ultimately boils down to physics. For example, let’s pretend that driver A is anxious to pass the slow driver in front of him. Driver A abruptly shifts into the left lane in front of Driver B. Driver B, who is driving at 60mph, must slow down to 55mph to avoid hitting Driver A. Meanwhile, Driver C who is behind Driver B must also slow down to 50mph and the driver behind him to 45 mph and so on and so on.

The process repeats and the traffic in the lane slows down. Drivers in this lane become impatient and switch to the faster moving lane. In doing so, the drivers they cut in front of must slow down to avoid collision and the process is repeated. This domino effect eventually causes all lanes of traffic to slow, and assuming that the roads are congested, a traffic jam occurs.

Most traffic jams are ultimately the result of disrupted and inconsistent driving speeds. By merging on time, paying better attention, leaving enough space between cars, and driving the correct speed limit, traffic jams could be greatly reduced.

For a better visualization of this concept, check out the video below.