At this wintertime your car, sports utility SUV or truck may be running “rough”. Typical symptoms are hard starting in cold weather, stalling poor acceleration and ultimately poor if not terrible gas mileage and fuel economy. In these days of ever costly and expensive ever climbing fuel costs we need as motorists and auto owners to do all we possibly can to both keep our vehicles running smoothly and efficiently and as well maintain our gasoline fuel budgets and fuel economy as best we can. You can bet two basic villains are at work robbing your fuel economy and smooth engine performance. These are good old fashioned dirt and moisture. What can the average motorist do to prevent against these enemies of good motoring and reduce automobile maintenance costs?

First of all when it comes to your engine’s biggest enemy in the form of good old fashioned dirt and grime – make it a point and policy to fill up your gas tank early. Instead of letting your gas gauge or low fuel light reminding you when its time to “fill up” or instead when gasoline prices are on special – make it a solid and regular point to fill up your tank early. Though dirt and grime often enters from the bottom of a nearly empty fuel tank at any of various points in your fuel system – expert mechanics and dealership tech service consultants will advise you that by filling up early you dilute these irritants to less troublesome concentrations when filling up earlier. These contaminants are reduced in power and concentration in the fuel flowing through your fuel lines, filters and fuel injection systems. Otherwise if fuel levels are low not only are the particulate counts greater but there is a greater chance of the sediment being pulled through the lines as the only fuel available is the dirty fuel at the bottom of the fuel reservoirs. Furthermore not only do these evil characters have a chance to do their dirty work but also the fuel tanks themselves may be corrode in the tank even more by not only the particles but the corrosive solvents and elements that both they along with moisture may generate and help create and form. To avoid these problems two points – first of all make it a solid practice to fill up your tank earlier rather than later. Secondly as part of your ongoing maintenance schedule and schedules have your mechanic or dealership service tech change any and all fuel filters at least once a year long before they become clogged and clog up with sediment and debris.

Your second enemy and concern when it comes to fuel economy and motoring performance especially in winter time motoring conditions is moisture, condensation and water. No doubt in severe weather conditions as in the northern United States, Alaska and northern Alberta and British Columbia Canadian regions cold weather conditions will definitely affect fuel systems performance. In extremely cold weather conditions condensation in the fuel tank may well cause the fuel line or lines to freeze.

To prevent these conditions and maintain the free flow of gas to your motor keep your gas tank filled up and add a can of gas line “anti-freeze” which is essentially wood alcohol ( methyl hydrate) when you gas up. In many states now gasoline sold is already an alcohol combination either gasohol or even stronger E-15 or E-20 which is even stronger in concentration of ethanol alcohol gasoline pre mixtures.

Hence for better winter driving practices as well as fuel economy and mpg fuel economy fill up early and if you need to add a can of gas line antifreeze.

Author Bio: Adam I. Watkins
 Autowest Winnipeg
Auto Service Shop
Coqutilam BC Auto Service  –
expert auto repair & diagnosis all makes & models expertly –  British
Columbia Lower Mainland GM GMC Trucks Chevrolet Sales Service Maple Ridge
Vancouver

Category: Automotive
Keywords: winter driving,poor gas economy,hard starting winter,gas line antifreeze,gasohol winter driving