Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

Everybody’s talking about ways to save gas nowadays. I can’t even get through a week of blog posts without mentioning gas prices or fuel economy at least three times because that’s literally 90 percent of the automobile-related stories going around. But this post is about a new item you can use to monitor your fuel usage in real time so you can adapt your driving habits accordingly.

The Scanguage, a three-in-one automotive computer designed by Linear-Logic, monitors your fuel usage every second while you’re driving. The unit is about the size of one of those removable faceplates you get with some of today’s car stereos and you can mount it underneath your dashboard controls. Once it’s connected properly, all you need to do is glance at it while you’re driving to see how many miles per gallon you’re getting at any given time.

That’s not all the Scanguage does, though. This nifty device also scans your engine to find any potential problems before they become major problems. If you’re “Check Engine” light has come on, this little computer can often tell you what the problem is so you can fix it before it becomes too costly.

Many of the newer Ford trucks on the market already have something similar already installed in them. But if you have an older truck (but one that was built after 1996), you can get this device for less than $200. It might take a little while to reap the benefits of a $200 mechanism, but since you can transfer it to different vehicles, it’s a rather smart investment.

Apparently, everybody is an expert on the auto industry all of a sudden. Arnold Schwarzenegger was telling a group of auto executives that they should “stop whining” only a few weeks ago. And now Jay Leno – comedian and TV talk show host – has an opinion on the auto industry, too.

According to the wisecracking comedian, making more fuel-efficient cars is easy. “It ain’t that hard folks – make better cars,” he told Detroit automakers during one of his mediocre monologues.

But it wasn’t all negative feelings toward Detroit. He said the F-150 is one of the best trucks ever made and nobody but Americans can make anything like Ford trucks. But, he said, we just can’t build an inexpensive economy car. Instead, American automakers tend to “dumb down the cheaper car,” making them less appealing for motorists and consumers.

He also offered advice to Detroit, saying the major domestic automakers should do what Harley-Davidson did. That means turning around its quality problems and once again becoming a market leader. He went on to say this: “I believe that, all things being equal, Americans will buy American. It just has to be as good as the competition; it doesn’t have to be better.”

Okay. He’s entitled to his opinion. I know he’s a car guru, but does that make him qualified to tell automakers how to do their job? Ford, for instance, has been working on its quality problems for the last several years. As a result, Ford products are becoming some of the most popular vehicles on the market today. And the Ford Motor Company continues to ensure the best possible products from its factories every day. So as long as we’re all giving our suggestions, I suggest Jay Leno should leave auto building to the experts. While you’re at it, Jay, write better jokes. It’s not that hard.

Have you been getting some great tips for saving gas from the last few blogs? If not, that’s totally understandable. These hypermiling techniques are for the hardcore fuel saver and they really don’t save much unless you use all of them. But if you want more tips or just enjoy reading about the lengths people will go to, here are a few more.

1. Drafting
You probably already know about this one. If you don’t, here’s the short explanation. Drafting basically involves driving dangerously close to the rear of a semi-truck trailer. Because of the physics behind the wind resistance and other factors, the air kind of pulls your car along without your pushing on the accelerator as much. This is very dangerous, though, because your car needs to be only about 10 to 20 feet away from the bumper of the truck. That doesn’t really give you enough stopping time in case of an emergency.

2. Coasting to an auto-stop
This is generally for stick shifts, but you can use it with your manual transmission too. When you’re approaching a red light, put the car in neutral and turn the engine off. Some hypermilers use this tactic when going down steep hills too. But the reduced vehicle control when the engine is off makes this an irresponsible and even dangerous habit.

3. Shed any unwanted pounds
I don’t mean you should start going to Subway and eat only turkey sandwiches. I mean you should take anything out of your vehicle that doesn’t need to be there. The more stuff you have, the less efficient your gas mileage. Some hypermilers even remove the luggage rack because it can create air resistance as you go down the road.

4. Maintain your vehicle
Make sure to change the air filter on a regular basis and keep up with oil changes and tune-ups. Also, make sure to keep your tires properly balanced and inflated. All of these together contribute to your fuel economy.

You can use any or all of these tactics at your own risk with your certified Ford. Some of them are innocent, but others actually put you in danger. I don’t know if it’s really worth it just to save a few bucks a month on gasoline. But that decision is yours.

For new, used, or certified Ford vehicles please visit our Ford dealer in St. Louis MO or our Ford dealership in Waterloo, IL.