Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Today was supposed to be the day. The day I start the modifying of my ‘02 Yukon Denali XL.
I was to get the exhaust modified in order to increase the mpg efficiency. It was to cost me $188 for the parts and labor. I dropped the truck off this morning before work and had a coworker drive me to pick it up afterwards. The mechanic tells me that I’m unable to put just one on because there’s 2 close exhaust pipes coming from the engine. I’m then quoted a price of $388 for parts and labor for 2 exhaust systems. The reason for the extra labor is he’d have to basically create some space between the side by side exhaust pipes.
However, I do have so good news… My Hydrogen boost system has finally arrived and I can start implimenting that system and track it’s results after the install. So starting this weekend, I’m going to install the water 4 gas system in order to tapp into this possible increased mpg phenomenon.
After that’s installed I’m going to have to buy an air intake regulator that reads and adjusts my O2 sensors so that I can achieve the most mpg gain possible. The box runs about an additional $100 on top of the $103 I’ve spent for the w4g system (on ebay).
So as a result, I’m going to test the mpg improvement with the w4g system only. Ride it around for 2 weeks until my mpg averages out (It’s currently at 13.3 mpg). Then, I’m going to add the fuel regulator box to maximize mpg gain. If I’m close to the 20 mpg mark with those 2 modifications, I’ll then get the dual exhaust system put in.
Of course, all details will be recorded and produced for your enjoyment. All goes well, I may be able to sell the (recently acquired) 2000 Honda Civic for a profit.
Posted in purchases | No Comments »
Friday, July 4th, 2008
It’s amazing! 1-2 years ago you couldn’t give away a small sedan such as a Focus, Corolla or Civic. Now you really can’t give them away.
In the last 3 months I’ve seen the Kelly Blue Book value on my 02 Yukon XL Denali go from $15k to a little more than $10k. 3 MONTHS!
In the meantime, I’ve seen the value of used (since I never buy new) gas savers go up in value. For instance, 6 months ago, a 2000 Honda Civic could’ve been had for $3k. I just spend almost double that just to save on gas. $5,350 to be exact.
On another note… one of my first blog entry’s ever, I mentioned that I would be one of the first to blog about the water4gas concept concerning my Yukon. Well I ordered the hookup kit to install. Currently my average is 13.5.
I have a coworker who’s tried it on his escort ZX2 and he says he’s gone from 29 to 44 mpg. Of course he’s tried a couple of configurations and my first confirugation will be an Aero exhaust. I’ll test that around with a full tank of gas to see if my mpg improves. After that, I’m going to install the w4g system.
More results when I get them.
Posted in Informational, Personal debt, education, purchases | No Comments »
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Driving style has a big impact on fuel economy. Backing off can save big.
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - You can get 35 percent better fuel mileage out of your current vehicle by using a device most drivers already have.
That would be your right foot.
Most drivers agonizing over the cost of gasoline fail to realize the enormous impact their driving style has on fuel consumption.
During the last run-up in fuel prices, we wrote about Edmunds.com’s tests of common fuel-saving driving tips. Some common tips, it turned out, had little or no effect on fuel economy. (Edmunds.com provides data and content for CNN.com’s automotive Websites.)
For example, using the air conditioner at highway speeds had no appreciable effect on fuel economy compared to rolling down the windows.
Keeping your tires properly inflated, while important for safety, has only a small effect on fuel mileage, according to Edmunds.com’s tests.
Using cruise control on the highway, though, really does have a noticeable effect on fuel economy. In Edmunds.com’s test using a Land Rover LR3 and a Ford Mustang, the Land Rover got almost 14 percent better mileage using cruise control set at 70 miles per hour rather than cruising at driver-controlled speeds between 65 and 75 miles per hour. The Mustang got 4.5 percent better mileage.
Using cruise control cuts down on unnecessary speed changes which can eat up gas and it prevents “speed creep.” the tendency for a driver’s average speed to gradually increase with time spent on the road. (In that way, it can save you from an expensive speeding ticket, as well.)
If you want a big gain in fuel mileage, though, you need to seriously lay off the pedals when driving around town. Accelerating more slowly away from green lights and stopping more gradually for red lights cut fuel consumption in Edmunds.com’s tests by 35.4 percent for the Land Rover and 27.1 percent for the Mustang.
Slamming down the gas pedal pushes more fuel into the engine while it also keeps the engine running faster.
You can also save a lot of gas by just lifting your foot off the accelerator as soon as possible when approaching a yellow or red light or a stop sign.
For one thing, letting up on the gas sooner gives your car more coasting time.
By the way, when we say “accelerating hard” and “stopping abruptly” we aren’t necessarily talking about juvenile tire-squealing antics. If you start keeping a conscious eye on how you drive, you may realize that you’ve been hot-rodding around for years without realizing it.
In Edmunds.com’s tests, they slowed acceleration times down to a 20-second run from zero to sixty miles per hour. Compared to the kind of zero-to-sixty times we hear car makers bragging about these days, 20 seconds may sound impossibly slow. In fact, it is slow. But, while it won’t get your pulse pounding, it will get you safely onto the highway.
Since most drivers don’t have a stopwatch handy to time their acceleration, Cole Quinnel, a spokesman for Chrysler Corp. engineers, advises not pressing the gas pedal down by more than an inch unless you really have to. Using that approach, the difference in fuel economy will be appreciable.
Let’s say that your car currently gets 22 miles per gallon overall. If this laid-back driving style gets you just 30 percent more in fuel mileage, which Edmunds.com’s tests indicate it could, you’d see that increase to about 30 miles per gallon.
It’s not easy, though. For most people, driving this way will feel, to say the least, awkward. When I tried Quinnel’s high-mileage driving advice, it was difficult to maintain this disciplined approach to acceleration and deceleration without consistent effort. The minute I let my concentration slip — Zoom! — off I’d go again in a gas-wasting rush, just like I usually do.
And, to be perfectly honest, it was a little embarrassing to drive that way. Every molecule of testosterone in my body was begging to be excused for the day.
But, in a couple of short drives, the car was using significantly less gas per mile, even with my occasional slip-up. Maybe if I keep it up, I can soothe my dented ego with a little cash in my wallet.
Posted in Informational, purchases | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
I constantly search for new ways to dump debt and I’m currently facing a changing point in my life to where I need to start going to the basics. Basically, I’ve come to the realization that there’s obvious debt and hidden debt.
For instance, I have no obvious debt in my Yukon because it’s completely paid for. However, the maintenance and upkeep along with constant rising gas prices is making it become a debt problem to drive. So here’s my solution…
As I’ve said before, I think I can get $15-$17K out of my car (I paid $19K 3 years ago). I’ve realized that I don’t need something other than a dependable older car that will get me to point A & B with as much comfort as possible. I think I can reach that comroft level within a $8K budget. So considering, I sell the Yukon for $15-$17K, That’d leave me with $7-!0K to put invest or save.
Not only will the lump sum monetary gain be obvious, but the better gas mileage/ less expensive car will also pad the savings account that much more. That extra $10K will go a long ways towards my wifes $30K student loan debt (still a ‘09 goal - $288/month).
Considering we’re going to be paying $1400/month in daycare, that aligns us to be able to pocket or invest $1000/month once 2 of my 4 children are in public schooling. In the process, that means that once the student loan is paid off & daycare is no longer an issue, we’d be able to put $2500-$2700/month total towards a house payment (we’ll add our current payment of $1000/month).
That $2500-$2700 monthly payment puts us in a very nice middle to middle upper class neighborhood in a Kansas City suburb.
I can’t wait.
BTW: It’s official! The Nebraska Furniture Mart bill is PAID OFF IN FULL! $524 more to go on my student loan.
Posted in Generate income, Informational, Personal debt, education, goals, purchases | 1 Comment »
