How to maintain your fuel system

Posted by kgrubbs in July 5th, 2008  

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Posted in: Fuel, Maintenance     Tags: Fuel

Even with today’s inflated fuel prices, making an extra effort to run the recommended fuels or using today’s fuel treatments can assure the best engine performance and prevent future running problems and save you money in the long run.

Make sure that you use the recommended fuel for your vehicle by checking the owner’s manual, inside the fuel door or on the instrument panel.

Even with fuel prices way up, if you run cheap gas to save money you will experience running problems and a reduction in fuel economy.

The long term effect to running low octane fuel will be varnish build up internally in the fuel system causing poor starting and running. One good recommendation to prevent the expensive cost of fuel system cleaning or repair would be to use a fuel additive.

All of the local parts supply stores carry a variety of fuel system cleaners which help to prevent or to restore engine performance and fuel economy.

Always remember to add the fuel additive at the gas station before you fill up, this will help the mixing process.

Another thing to remember is that today’s cars have electronics that monitor the fuel tank for leaks.

If you forget to install or tighten the fuel cap you will set off the check engine light.

Most repair shops charge an hour of shop labor (approx $80 to $100) to check and clear the engine light. That’s for unnecessary expense for not securing the fuel cap.

Recommendations:

If you can’t afford to run the recommended fuel for your vehicle, then once a month use an additive the keep the fuel system clean or maybe run ½ a tank of premium fuel. Most fuel additives can be found on sale between $1.99 and $2.99 at your local parts store. Keep in mind that if your engine light comes on and you’re sure it’s the fuel cap you can have it reset for free at most parts store. Every vehicle takes a specific fuel cap so don’t try to use any cap you find, ask for one by application to your car, even if you have to buy it from a dealership parts department.

Have you ever wanted to know exactly what kind of fuel mileage your car is supposed to get? Find out your fuel economy and figure out your vehicles average mileages per gallon.

Here is a helpful website to access current gas prices in Indiana.