Gas Mileage Increase Tip - Spark Plug Performance

By BryanAlan

Oil prices continue to soar to record levels. In return, gas prices, coupled with the major housing slowdown, is turning the economy on its head. With national averages now above four dollars per gallon, many motorists are looking for practical ways to increase mileage. To increase mileage, there indeed are several practical and inexpensive tips you can take - as well as some more drastic ones if you dare!

First, having basic knowledge of how your engine works will help understand what changes can be made. An automobile engine takes minute amounts of fuel and air into each piston chamber. This mixture is then pressurized by the piston moving upward. This pressurized mixture explodes through a spark transmitted by the spark plug.

After this spark is introduced, the mixture "explodes" and the resulting expanded gaseous state is the power used to operate your vehicle. During normal operation, an engine will repeat this process thousands of times every minute (thus - the term RPM's , or Revolutions Per Minute). Each cylinder in your engine produces this exact same process over and over again - for example if your car has a V-6 engine, there are 6 chambers doing this at the same time.

Making this process of energy transfer work better is a key to increase mileage. Lets discuss the role your spark plug plays specifically. The amount of spark the plug is able to send into the chamber is directly related to the quality of the plug itself. The more air tight the seals on the plug, and the higher the platinum level in the plug, the more efficient the charge sent will be. A more efficient charge means less additional charge is needed to get the same output level. Thus, less RPM's and less fuel is used.

Having clean, high quality spark plugs can increase the efficiency of your engines performance, and in return, increase mileage. Many spark plugs can increase mileage by upwards of 2-5%. While this may not sound like a huge increase, changing your spark plugs (at a cost of roughly $4 per plug) will pay for themselves within that month for an average driver.

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Get additional tips and advice on how to increase mileage, be sure to visit savefuelshop.com. Great content, product reviews, and other ways to increase mileage available there. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

When Should You Change Your Spark Plugs and Wires?

By John P. Roberts

Okay...this is the 'sixty four thousand dollar' question – When should you change your Spark Plugs and Leads? Quick answer: 'Before it gets too late and costs you a fortune in Garage fees!' But that is not what you want to hear so this is a recommendation only.

There was a time when driving 10.000 miles per year was the accepted fact, but these days the average mileage per year has increased to at least half that again if not double. We have this huge tendency to 'overuse' our cars but this is what society says is the 'norm'. How often do you (and I hope you do or are you feeling guilty already...) check the oil in your car?

Now I know you are feeling guilty...well if you're not I am! You should check the oil at least once a week or maybe bi-weekly and make that a habitual thing to do, just as you would like to keep your car pristine clean! To get back on tract though the changing of your Spark Plugs and Leads some recommend that you at least check them every three months and change them every six months but I suppose that really all depends on how much your car is used. If you have had your car for a while and use it just 'locally' and all of a sudden the urge is there to go and visit Momma in the next State to yours, then before you start this journey...check the oil and water...and hey what about checking the Spark Plugs and Leads then – what a good idea...why didn't I think of that one...'duh!!!' This precaution will certainly prove to be wise and in the end can save you a lot of money if you really need to do it and you ignore it.

Once you have got the Oil; Water and the few tools needed (for checking the Plugs and Leads) all neatly laid out in front of the car you could do all that in let's say about half an hour...unless that is you have that favourite cup of yours filled to the brim with coffee and your neighbour ambles across to ask you what you are doing. You can become the 'bright spark' (then excuse the pun) then and tell him (with your chest all 'puffed' out) that you are doing a service on your car and it is saving you a HUGE amount of money. Who knows you could soon see your whole neighbourhood with their heads under the hood of their 'great' 'fantastic' (run of the mill) car!

Once you have checked those spark plugs and leads what happens if there is a problem? That is simple, and best of all you've done most of the work already. Run down to the local auto parts store and buy some new spark plugs and leads. Reverse the steps you've taken to check your current spark plugs and presto you've just saved a bunch of money and improved your cars gas mileage all at once!

About The Author

For more information about changing spark plugs and wires and helpful instructional videos you can visit: http://www.graspr.com/videos/How-To-Change-Spark-Plugs-1991-Honda-Prelude-1