But what I have found that works is not gimmicky at all, but based on pure science – better spark plugs and better air filter.

If your engine can spark hotter, more fuel will burn (lots of exhaust is unburned fuel vapor). And that means more miles for every gallon.

Pulstar Spark Plugs Burn Hotter for better Gas Mileage

Here is a nifty video showing the plug in action: Pulstar Spark Plug Test

I have tried splitfire and halo spark plugs in the past, only to find moderate success. But I recently ran across Pulstar Iridium spark plugs. The marketing touts a hotter burn from a better capacitor (iridium). The plugs are priced about 4 times more than other advanced plugs, but the premium material pays for itself in about 5 tanks of gas (or about 2 months). In my 2008 Subaru I have seen on average a 20 percent increase in gas mileage, reaching up to 30 percent when I drive 45 to 50 MPH. Of course, savings will vary by car.

Gas Milease, Horsepower and Torque Gains from Pulstar Spark Plug

I also run a permanent air filter from KN. I’ve forked over the $35 on my last four cars and trucks only to see a consistent MPG increase. Like the spark plugs, its a one time cost and pays for itself in a matter of months (not to mention, no more disposable air filters).

Both products provide greater torque and horsepower too.

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We bought our 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage in 2001 with 12,000 miles. After adding 178,000 miles in the past ten years, the car keeps on ticking and has had only one major repair: air conditioning leak (and that was a major cost only because the leak was buried in the dashboard).

Aside from following the prescribed maintenance schedule, there are a few other things I’ve learned to follow:

Use 100% Synthetic Oil and Change it Often

Most cars come with and are replaced with the conventional oil pumped from the ground. Fully synthetic oil is just that, made in a lab to behave like the stuff from the ground. However, synthetic oil is much more durable – it lasts longer under heat, is more viscous (slick) so it lasts longer in an engine and lubricates better. The primary drawback to synthetic oil is the cost: it typically runs more than twice as much as conventional oil. On the flip side, most shops will recommend changing conventional oil every three to four thousand miles while suggesting six to eight thousand miles for synthetic, effectively making them cost the same. I’ve tended to change my synthetic oil every five or six thousand miles for extra protection. And don’t forget to have the filter changed each time! Keep in mind there are synthetic “blends” available too – these are a mix of conventional and synthetic oil. While blends are cheaper than full synthetics, they will also not last as long. If Formula 1 race cars all use full synthetic, the stuff must work! Mobil 1 is the most common brand of full synthetic, but can be expensive. Royal Purple is the pick of many motor heads.

Use Premium Spark Plugs like Splitfire, E3 or Halo

Like oil, spark plugs are another part where you’ll usually get the cheapest, basic part. Cheap spark plugs go for under a buck, while the good ones can be as much as ten bucks. But you get what you pay for: increased performance, fuel efficiency, less pollution an in some cases a 100,000 mile warranty! These advanced spark plugs typically use two things: increased surface area to “spark” and greater conductive metal surfaces for a hotter spark. Iridium and platinum are commonly used, though its hard to say which is better. Splitfire and E3 plugs use a fork contact surface (as opposed to a single prong on standard plugs) and the Halo plug uses a ring (hence, “halo”). With increased surface area and burn temperature, you’ll see increased combustion. This means more fuel burns more complete,  so you are getting all of the stored up energy out of the gas. And as a result, you’ll have less air pollution from uncombusted fuel or fumes being exhausted. I was able to quantify this years ago with a before and after emissions test.

Use a Permanent Air Filter like K&N

Like oil and plugs, you usually get the cheapest filter unless you ask. And most filters are disposable. But what a permanent filter can provide is less waste and increased horsepower. Permanent filters simply allow more air to pass to the engine than disposable paper filters, all the while keeping the engine clean. Increases air intake results in greater horsepower. Permanent filters should last the life of your car and require occasional cleaning with a kit you must purchase separately. While being a tad pricey up front, they more than pay for themselves over the lifetime of your car. K&N are the most common brand of filter and I’ve used them for years.

Maximize Tire Inflation

If you’ve ever looked at your tire and compared it to your owners manual, the maximum inflation pressures probably differ. The manufacturer of the tire will typically provide a maximum pressure independent of the car. The auto manufacturer will typically provide an inflation pressure max designed to support the car’s purpose, which for most cars is comfort. As a result, most car makers recommend a lower tire pressure to make for a smoother, cushioned ride. However, the maximum tire pressure from the tire maker will give you increased gas mileage, usually at a slight cost to ride comfort. It all comes down to resistance on the road, and a fully inflated tire simply rolls farther!

Aside from making your car last, you should see improved gas mileage or maintain what you are getting. In addition, you’ll likely see a slight horsepower boost and reduction in emissions.

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You would assume that online retailers have a strong customer support system. Not true with Napa. As a matter of fact, the experience I had was so bad – support, site errors – I almost though it was back in 1999 still.

You can call Napa for order support, but only during business hours. Oh yeah, and only to leave a voice mail – no one answered my call.

You’d think there is a great online support tool. Not really – a “mailto” link is about the best contact I could find. Oh wait, or is it this form? Mailto has no autoresponder with that either.

You might think the online return process is flawless. Works fine until it provides an error: “Please select the quantity you’d like to return” AFTER you selected the quantity. Almost as if they don’t want you to return the item.

You might think you are at the wrong site. I thought I might have more success typing in the “return authorization URL” on the back of my packing slip.Wow – that page doesn’t even exist.

I honestly didn’t think such basic fundamentals in customer experience would be so grossly overlooked by a national brand at this stage of the ecommerce maturity.

Anyone looking for an example how NOT to run an ecommerce site can place an order at NapaOnline.

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I’ve owned the CarMD for several years now and use it every time a check engine light comes on…for both of my cars…before calling a mechanic. You can even use it to “presmog check” your car or check out a used car before buying.

It’s super simple: order the unit, create your online account, plug the unit into the port under your dash (all cars made after 1996 have this), start up the car, wait for the beep, shut off the car, plug your CarMD into your USB connector, click open. You’ll need the car’s VIN number for your account (CarMD supports multiple vehicles per unit). When logging in, select the car which you just plugged into. CarMD feeds the data to the web site which immediately translates your check engine light code into understandable jargon – “Fuel pump needs replacing”. Best of all, CarMD also provides a cost estimate for this repair for this vehicle, so you know what to expect when you go the repair shop.

Occassionally, the engine error isn’t found in the CarMD database and the CarMD people need to view the error and provide you a custom report. This can take a day or two, but is rare – this only happened once.

You’re limited to three vehicles and up to six reports per month. But if you plan to go over that, maybe it’s time for a new car. There are no monthly fees either.

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Membership rates start at $54 per year. Plus, they provide $40 in gas reimbursement certificates, which makes the basic service only $14 per year! They’ll even match AAA prices for new members. Really, if you care about sustainability, this is the service for you!

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