This two-page handout was distributed at the Mammoth Mountain Energyfest in 2006. I tried the spark plug part of this and my 91 Honda Civic's mileage increased significantly, from 40 mpg to as much as 51 mpg at times. I do not guarantee any results or that any of these suggestions won't result in damage. I only reprint this here to pass on the information to a wider audience. I quote:
With the big increases in the cost of gasoline the question arises: How can we influence that increase? Once clear choice pops up: decrease the amount of gas we use. Three ways to do that: Lower the amount of miles driven, buy a high mpg vehicle, or increase the miles per gallon we get in our present vehicles. Choice number three is the most practical option. After many years as a fleet manager I have conducted numerous tests on how to increase gas mileage on gas and diesel vehicles. Some products actually decreased mileage, or did nothing at all. Here are the best results I have come up with.
On my 95 Honda Civic, which I purchased at 124,000 miles, I started out getting 37 miles per gallon (highway). By using synthetic multi viscosity oil I increased the mileage by 3 mpg. By adding a product by Lubrication Engineers called LX, which is an industrial fuel system de-carbonizer and also is a combustion enhancer, the mileage increased by an additional 3 mpg. Go to www.le-inc.com for further information and how to contact a representative.
The big difference was using Double Platinum spark plugs by NGK, they added an additional 3 mpg, but by increasing the spark plug gap of these plugs by 20%, the mpg went from 46 to 54. I have duplicated these percentage results on other gas-powered vehicles driven under highway conditions. Vehicles driven around town using these suggestions will get better results than without, but it is more variable.
The NGK spark plugs are not available for every type of vehicle and some people are concerned that increasing the spark plug gap will create ignition system problems. I have been running these spark plugs on this Honda for over 100,000 miles and have not had any unexpected ignition problems. Same with other vehicles I tested. The spark plugs are a bit pricey, but will pay for themselves in a very short period. There might be a new car warranty issue so inquire before implementing these suggestions. Go to www.sparkplugs.com for a listing of NGK spark plugs and prices. With the NGK plugs, they seem to last forever.
Not every car on which these suggestions are used will achieve the same high highway mileage percentage results. I also drive fairly conservatively, I go slower up steep grades (with multiple lanes), stay close to the highway speed limit, and check tire pressures regularly. No jackrabbit starts.
If we all were able to lower the amount of gas we use by at least 10%, that would have very positive impacts on us individually, and as a nation.
The more detailed story on the spark plugs
The Double Platinum plugs have a very pointed tip, which because of the platinum, does not erode with time. When electronic ignition systems were first introduced the spark plug gap was increased from around .035 to .055 inch. As the spark is very crisp and focused with these NGK plugs, why not increase the gap? With time the platinum tip does not erode, which keeps the spark crisp and makes the ignition spark front longer and quicker.
The more detailed story on oils
Going from regular motor oil to full synthetic 5-30 motor oil can increase the fuel economy by up to 10%. The only problem with using this weight oil is that under very hot conditions and high speeds, the oil starts to nitrate, which is a breakdown of the oil. By going to synthetic 10-30 oil the nitration problem decreases, but you only get up to 7% increase in fuel economy compared to regular engine oils. The trade off is that the oil change interval can be increased by a large margin. On a Ford Bronco II I have, which both my kids drove through High School, I changed the motor oil at 10,000 mile intervals and the oil sample came back very good. At 75,000 miles I removed the valve covers and it was like new inside. This car also went from 20 mpg to 25 mpg by installing the NGK Double Platinum plugs. I installed the plugs 5 years ago and recently drove round trip to Mammoth and got 24 mpg. Not bad.
By changing to a specialized gear oil, such as Lubrication Engineers Amazol 607 90wt, you will immediately lower the gear box temperature by 15%, which shows that friction has been reduced. Friction robs horsepower. A good quality synthetic gear oil will also reduce friction. An additional bonus is that the oil lasts a very long time without having to be changed. In the case of transmissions and differentials that take regular motor oil, use the same oil you use in the engine.
A note on air cleaners
Stock air cleaners and air cleaner housing tend to be restrictive. By replacing the stock type air cleaner with a reusable type, such as K&N, you will reduce the restriction, which results in more air to the engine.
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Gregory J. Reis
