Top 5 Fuel Economy Myths Costing Drivers Money ( Mechanic Explains )
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Car
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle that can handle rough terrain and is often used for off-roading. Many people love it for its ability to go on adventures and customize it to their liking.
Car
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is a small SUV that is great for families and everyday use. It has a lot of space for passengers and cargo, making it a popular choice for many drivers.
Term
diesel endorsement
A diesel endorsement is a special license that lets drivers operate vehicles that run on diesel fuel, like big trucks. To get this, drivers usually have to take a test.
Term
18 wheelers
'18 wheelers' are big trucks that have 18 wheels in total. They are used to carry heavy loads across long distances and are often seen on highways.
Car
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tough SUV designed for off-road driving. It has a unique look and is built to handle rough terrains, making it popular among adventure seekers.
Term
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive means that power goes to all four wheels of the vehicle, which helps it grip the road better, especially in tough conditions like snow or mud. It’s different from two-wheel drive, where only the front or back wheels get power.
Term
parts departments
Parts departments are parts of car dealerships where you can buy replacement parts for your vehicle. They help you get the pieces you need if something breaks or needs to be replaced.
Term
factory warranty
A factory warranty is a promise from the car maker that they'll fix certain problems for free if they happen within a specific time or distance. It helps protect you from unexpected repair costs right after buying the car.
Term
warranty coverage
Warranty coverage means the things that the car maker promises to fix for free if they break. It's important to know what is included because some common parts like tires and brakes might not be covered.
Term
fluids
Fluids are the liquids that help your car run smoothly, like oil and coolant. Keeping these topped up and in good condition is important for your car's health.
Term
belts
Belts are parts in your car that help move things like the engine and air conditioning. They need to be checked and replaced sometimes to keep everything working well.
Term
hoses
Hoses are tubes in your car that carry liquids like coolant and oil. They can get old and break, so it's important to check them regularly.
Part
ball joints
Ball joints are parts of the car's suspension that help the wheels move up and down while allowing the car to steer. They are important for keeping the ride smooth and the car stable.
Part
lower control arms
Lower control arms are parts of the car's suspension that help connect the wheels to the body of the car. They help the wheels move properly and keep the car stable while driving.
Term
bumper to bumper coverage
Bumper to bumper coverage is a type of car warranty that protects almost everything in the car, except for things that wear out over time. It helps cover repairs if something goes wrong with the car.
Term
turbo engine
A turbo engine is one that has a special device called a turbocharger. This device helps the engine produce more power without making it bigger, which can save fuel and improve performance. However, it needs to be taken care of to work well.
Term
RPM gauge
An RPM gauge shows how fast the engine is spinning. It helps you know when to change gears to keep the car running smoothly.
Term
tachometer
A tachometer is a tool that tells you how fast the engine is turning. It helps drivers know when to change gears for better performance.
Term
fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is how far a car can go on a certain amount of gas. Better fuel efficiency means you spend less money on fuel for the same distance.
Term
tire blowout
A tire blowout is when a tire suddenly bursts, causing the car to lose control. It can happen for several reasons, like if the tire is too old or damaged.
Term
highway speeds
Highway speeds are the fast speeds you drive on highways, usually between 55 and 75 miles per hour. It's important to be careful at these speeds because it can be harder to control the car if something goes wrong.
Term
fuel economy
Fuel economy tells you how far your car can go on a certain amount of gas. If it's low, your car uses a lot of fuel for the distance it travels.
Term
operating temperature
Operating temperature is the best temperature for your car's engine to work well. Most engines run best around 195 degrees Fahrenheit.
Term
regular gas
Regular gas is the standard type of gasoline that most cars use. It's usually cheaper but may not be the best choice for high-performance cars.
Term
BTUs
BTUs are a way to measure how much energy fuel can produce when burned. It's important for understanding how powerful different fuels can be for engines.
Term
octane level
The octane level of fuel tells you how well it can handle pressure in the engine without causing problems. Higher numbers mean better performance for some engines.
Term
premium fuel
Premium fuel is a type of gasoline that has a higher octane rating. It's better for some cars that need more power and performance.
Car
Honda Civic DX
The Honda Civic DX is a type of car made by Honda. The 1999 model is known for being reliable and good on gas, making it a popular choice for many drivers.
Car
Hyundai Accent
The Hyundai Accent is a small, budget-friendly car that is easy to drive and economical on fuel. The 2009 version is one of the earlier models.
Term
CVT transmission
A CVT is a special kind of car transmission that helps the engine run more smoothly and efficiently. It can change gears without the usual steps, which can make driving feel smoother.
LIVE
Good morning, folks.
You're tuned in to Car Connection
where the coffee's strong, the stories are real,
and the wrenches, the wrenches, and the wrenches,
they never stop turning.
I'm your host, Niall Monermouth Jenkins,
coming to you from the Car Connection Workshop,
where the smell of fresh oil and a little elbow grease
is all part of a balanced breakfast.
Around here, we don't just talk cars, we live them.
Whether it's a 25-year-old Jeep Wrangler
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what that strange rattle really means,
welcome aboard, and stick around for shop talk,
expert advice, a few good laughs, and maybe a story or two.
So let's shift gears this morning.
I have a lot of information to share with you.
We're gonna continue on our fuel series for a little bit,
because it is going to eventually tie in just right
with the fuel savings 30 day challenge, back to back,
and how that can put minimum $100 a month back
in your wallet per vehicle, per household.
I think my muffins are ready.
I think that's what that is.
Yeah, muffins are ready.
Well, I'm a little tied up right now,
so they're just gonna have to wait.
That's all I can tell you, they're gonna have to wait.
So let's jump in.
So put that on your calendar,
the 30 day fuel savings challenge,
30 days back to back, and you'll have homework
that you have to do, but I will be your coach
and your cheerleader.
But if at very minimum, per vehicle in your home,
you could put $100 back in your wallet,
would that be of interest to you?
So in other words, that would be $1,200 a year
getting a raise, perhaps, maybe?
Maybe your boss gonna call you out and go,
you know, I've been keeping an eye on you,
like you are a valuable team player,
so because of that, giving you a $1,200 a year raise,
$100 a month, would that get you excited?
Well, I'll tell you what, if I lost 20 bucks in the driveway,
I would trip you getting there to find it, absolutely.
So welcome aboard this morning, if you're driving,
thank you for letting me into your space.
If you're just heading through the drive-through,
well, we have a routine here in the car connection workshop.
We can't fit you all in, but we could have a few laughs
certainly trying, that's for sure.
Is we raise our favorite morning beverage,
we count it down three, two, one,
and we share a swiggy together from your own cup, of course.
You got your car connection,
limited edition coffee mug yet?
No?
You might wanna find out how you can do that.
All right, you ready?
Three, two, one.
There's a little extra something, something in there.
I got a floaty.
What the heck?
Well, it's a coffee that you can also eat
at the same time, perhaps.
I shouldn't announce that too loud,
shouldn't I?
Everybody's gonna want a floaty in their coffee.
All right, this morning, top five myths, not myths.
Top five myths about fuel, economy, costing drivers money.
I'm trying to line you up for the springtime,
because that winter, well, you'll hear me talk about that.
In winter, it's tough, tough to get fuel economy,
but there still is hope.
And if you listen up, babies, you will pull some back.
You'll claw some fuel economy back,
but it's entirely upon yourself.
The car, whatever vehicle it is you're driving,
can't do it on its own.
It's driver responsibility.
So putting more money back in your wallet is of interest.
You wanna save money on your vehicle repairs
and maintenance, then guess what?
You're on the right podcast and the right network,
car connection network.
We have our YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram,
Stephensvilleontheweb.ca.
We have a wonderful business profile there
that the host of that website happens to be my videographer.
Thank you very much.
Put us up a great profile page there,
and that's where she puts bloopers, outtakes, reels
on Instagram and on Facebook, little short videos
you won't find or see anywhere else.
That's where you'll find the iHeart link as well.
Just click on there, take you right in.
Remember that we are on all podcasting platforms.
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We're on all the majors, Spotify, Amazon, Apple,
and of course iHeart Monday through Saturday,
8 a.m. for the morning motormouth drive,
motormouth morning, nevermind.
Let's just press on.
So if you're just scooting through the drive through,
double check your order, lock it down in your cup holder,
keep an eye on the other guy,
and at least one eye on the road for sure
is we get driving this morning.
How many out there getting involved
in some of those whiteouts?
Aren't they lovely?
Yes, I was on the road yesterday,
was a very long day, 18 hours from Fort Erie to London,
downtown London, Ontario, and all the way back.
Yeah, I think my butt will, should arrive soon
by 10 o'clock this morning,
I think to hear a little tapping on the door.
Yeah, a little bum-itis by the time I got back.
The weather was great going up,
a little blowing and drifting on the way back,
but still clear skies, but you know what, lots of traffic.
Man, I don't know how people do that.
I don't know how you guys do that every day,
but I say that and I did it every day
when I was commuting into downtown Toronto,
Queensway and Kipling area.
I was working for Mack Trucks of Canada
towards my 310T truck and coach diesel license.
So I had to lead the automotive world,
light truck and passenger vehicles and work 1670 man hours
on trucks, heavy duty trucks, motor coaches, all that gear
to in order to be able to write my diesel endorsement
for diesels, big rigors, you know, 18 wheelers.
So I do, I have my 310T with a diesel endorsement.
So yeah, lots of trucks on the highway yesterday,
even though I was in the 07 FJ Cruiser,
I felt like an aunt a lot of the times.
You know, these trucks come up beside you
and yeah, I stay in the outside lane, you know,
I'm cool with driving just a tad over the speed limit.
Yep, I am that fella, but I say all that to say this.
And you can do the math.
So I'll, for all you human abacuses out there,
here I give you some homework.
Okay, I left from Fort Erie, went all the way
to Wellington Street in London, Ontario, Canada
and back, same day, I know.
Imagine if that was horse and buggy.
And I don't think it'd be the same day.
I'm gonna say no.
Driving a 401 West, Westbound.
The wind was really, really strong.
Had a very hard headwind.
So I used more fuel going than returning with a tailwind,
which was really good.
I used half the amount returning back to Fort Erie
than driving into the headwind.
But still, I did that whole trip in an 07 four-wheel drive.
Yes, it's four-wheel drive, not two-wheel drive.
I did only have it in two-wheel drive high.
So yeah, there isn't two-wheel drive low.
So I'm just messing with you.
On three quarters of a tank of fuel.
So cost 80 bucks to fill it, you do the math.
Three quarters of a tank got me all the way there
and all the way back.
And I have a quarter, just a little over a quarter tank
remaining.
So you do the math.
Is it worth, here's your question.
Here's the big question, Jerry.
Yeah, you remember that episode?
Yeah, the show about nothing.
The big salad.
I think that's one of my top favorites.
Yeah, anyhow, do the math on that
and calculate that you should be able to go,
wow, that thing gets amazing fuel economy.
How does he do it?
That's what I'm gonna help you with.
Because the way I see you guys and gals driving out there
every time you fly past me dodging
in and out of traffic, I'm just, here's what I hear.
Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.
You're costing yourselves so much money, I can't believe it.
You say, well, motor mouth, your mechanic,
you can fix your car yourself.
Yeah, I can't fix that.
No, I can't.
I can make suggestions.
So that's what we're gonna jump into today.
Top five myths about fuel economy.
Costing drivers, that's you.
Yeah, if you're driving well over the suggested speed limit,
man, you know what?
You gotta sit down with a certified financial planning
professional and take a look at how hard you're working
for your money and how you're just throwing it away.
Buckets full of cash.
Buckets, kid you not.
So we're gonna spend some time and unpack a lot
of these things over the next couple of months
because you can put so much money back in your wallet.
It's pathetic.
And it's only by having some discipline.
Just remember, where there's no discipline, there's chaos.
Hello, that's where we are, right?
No discipline, we live in chaos.
Ding, ding, ding.
I'll just give you a few clues.
I've got several topics written down to help you.
But if there's something that you don't hear
or you would like me to talk about,
I have four decades plus in the service
and repair industry, light truck and passenger
all the way up as I just talked about my 310T.
In fact, I saw a big sign on the highway up there
because that's where the big Peterbilt of Ontario,
that's Mothership.
I used to work for Peterbilt Hamilton till it closed.
Yeah, the Mothership is up there
and some other trucking companies as well.
Big sign, hiring 310T technicians.
That's a clue for all of us that, you know,
the kids are not getting into the trades
and the trades are fading.
And by 2028, there is already a serious issue
with North America-wide technicians,
automotive and truck technicians.
They're not there.
The fellers are retiring out, they've had enough
and there's no foot soldiers coming in.
And an article I just recently read
and then I'll get on track here is,
and it's serious and I'll keep you up to date on it,
that you could be facing car down for up to six months.
Did that make you skid off the road
and spill your beverage this morning?
That's serious.
Serious is a heart attack, folks.
The trades are dying in the automotive trade period.
Automotive service technician trade is fading off.
There's no foot soldiers coming in behind the fellers
and fellettes that are, you know,
they're getting up there and they want to get out.
You know, the average lifespan
for an automotive service tech, ready?
Age 38.
If they've been in it for a while,
they're done by about age 35, 38.
Their body's had enough.
It's not easy, you know, crawling around and fixing stuff.
You know, not everybody can work from a laptop
and be a diagnostician.
Service tech, that's not true.
Not everybody can do that.
Depends on the field you want to go in into.
If you want to do diagnostics,
I'll tell you those techs right now, invaluable.
You can name your price.
That sign I saw for 310T, if I pulled off
and went in there and showed them my license,
they go, when can you start?
And they'd say, how much do you want?
And when can you start?
They're desperate.
So by 2028, because of the reduction
in automotive service techs entering the field,
the classrooms are puny now,
and there's not enough techs
versus the number of vehicles on the road,
you could be, the average Joe could be facing
six months to get your car back when it's broken.
Think about that one, ladies and gents.
And for all you young'uns out there,
not all of you can wear white gloves
and mess with computers or work on AI.
AI is taking a ton of jobs away.
It's, I call that a paradigm shift.
Just like when we went from LPs to cassettes,
or should I say, eight tracks to cassettes,
LPs to MP3s and CDs,
those are all paradigm shifts.
What happened to all those people in that manufacturing?
Where did they go?
Well, that's the way the world runs.
So now, where do we go if we don't have enough service techs
to service the number of vehicles on the road?
I don't know, I'll keep you as it continues to grow,
and it is a major conversation right now,
major conversation.
So make sure you take coffee and donuts
or whatever the technician's favorite snack is,
because you may need them to do some work free on the side
when they say, you know what,
today's my last day in the shop.
Yeah, you might wanna find their address,
become friends, if you know what I mean.
Friends, absolutely.
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Hallelujah for that.
It's awesome.
Pops is doing really, really good.
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I knew I'd get it eventually.
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How cool is that?
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You know, I had a board operator, Dale.
Dale means he was cool.
He was in his late 70s.
We had a lot of fun, a lot of fun with Dale.
And we all celebrated when it took 23 years,
I think it was 23 years for him to get his own washroom key
at the studio at the time.
Yeah, we had a good laugh about that.
Anyhow, some of the titles and topics
that I have coming up.
Again, if you want to see something specific,
if you haven't signed up for our YouTube channel,
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I want you to be, I want to be perfectly clear.
How many people have heard that before?
Yeah, makes my hair stand up.
I just wanted to say it for fun.
Yeah, let me be perfectly clear.
Lie, here it comes, zing.
Whoa, sure glad cows don't fly.
You'll learn five things in every single video,
every single one.
We're not building hot rides, we're not customizing mods,
doing modifications, stuff like that.
There is a time and a place for that
and we do some of that stuff, but usually off camera.
Because the whole purpose of our YouTube channel
is that here I'm talking, but on the YouTube channel,
you're seeing me do the work.
And all the basic fundamentals of taking care
of your automobile, keeping it longer,
giving it longer life means more money in your wallet.
Understanding your vehicle will help you
to get a better mindset on, hey,
this thing's valuable when it's paid off.
That's right, because when you put the key
in the ignition or push the button,
you're not in partnership with the bank
making a principal payment and interest payment.
And by the time you pay it off,
just had this conversation, it's like deja vu.
Said this conversation the other day,
that some can't understand why you'd wanna keep
the vehicle beyond the manufacturer's warranty.
Well, if you just don't have the cash to replace it,
how important is that vehicle to you?
It should, you should be treating it with kid gloves
and petting it and talking nice to it.
Because that thing, that vehicle that's paid off
and you've maintained it and it's running well
and it's looking good and it's not falling apart.
That vehicle to the families that are struggling
just to keep a jalopy going, that vehicle's gold to them.
Why?
Because they see value in it, but you don't.
That's the difference in the conversation, you don't.
What you see is you're always having
to put some money into it.
Well, when you're going buy a new one
and when it's out of warranty,
who pays to put the parts on that then?
Why do they have parts departments?
Why do they give you factory warranty
and have parts departments?
Because they know it breaks down.
But after the warranty's over, who's paying?
And what items aren't covered by warranty?
Let me give you a few, just a few.
Tires, brakes, exhaust, fluids, belts, hoses,
lighting, accessories, many of the accessories
aren't covered.
So, okay, front end and suspension.
Tyrant ends, ball joints, lower control arms,
pushings, not covered.
Unless you have a bumper to bumper coverage,
that stuff's not covered.
And here, I'll give you another big clue this morning.
If you want to know what a warranty covers
and doesn't cover, what you really need to know
is what it doesn't cover, that list.
That's the list you want to see
when you're buying an extended warranty.
We'll do a whole program on that,
is what's not covered.
Then that will leave a very small list for you to go,
wow, the covered components, there's only a few.
Ding, ding, ding.
Yep, the mice gotta get smarter than the cat.
Anyhow, I'm gonna be talking about top five myths
about fuel economy that keeps costing you drivers
a ton of money.
Coming up, why modern engines don't last
like they used to, turbo engines.
You got a turbo engine?
You're gonna want to listen up for that one, friends,
because turbos are nice.
Give you that extra boost,
but if you treat them like a very bad donkey,
your wallet's gonna know what that means in English.
C-A-S-H, and buckets of it.
Cold weather driving, what actually matters,
the most expensive, cheap maintenance skips.
I have 13, 13 program titles to cover
and share over 44 years of experience
in the service space, 11 years having my own shop
until my body said 82 hours a week is not,
we've had a show of hands and that's not happening anymore.
Okay, got it?
Yeah, then your life changes.
But I'm doing all right, doing good.
Going back out on the shop floor full time
would not be a good idea for me,
but yeah, I pushed myself pretty good anyways.
I'm still working 80 hours a week.
So let's jump in, top five myths about fuel economy.
You ready?
You got your crayons ready?
Wake up your passenger this morning.
Say, yo, you gotta take notes this morning.
Here's the crayons, here's the folded up leaf bag,
looks like a small laptop.
Take some information if you need to listen,
re-listen and share us with someone else,
you can do that very simply
by going to our iHeart radio library
and pull the podcast from there.
They're all titled.
Today's, we're still on series one
and today is episode clickity click 66.
That's right, number 66.
Are you ready?
Say I'm ready.
Okay, good, you're ready.
Stop and start driving.
Will not get you fuel economy, period.
That's costing you a serious amount of fuel economy
starting and stopping,
rushing from one traffic light
or stop sign to the next stop sign.
That's wear and tear in your brakes.
We've talked about that already,
but it's a ton of fuel economy.
That's not gonna help you on fuel economy whatsoever.
So that's a big no-no.
Yeah, it's costing you a lot of money to drive that way.
So stop and start driving,
ties in with the next one,
which is city driving versus highway driving.
And that's what I did yesterday was highway driving.
It was pretty much all highway driving
and right into downtown London on Wellington street.
The traffic was, even though it's under construction there
still, yeah, that's one of the other seasons, right?
In Ontario, yeah, construction, construction season.
Yeah, I didn't see anybody working there.
I don't know why.
It was like, you know, a bomb, a bomby single digit.
But anyhow, the traffic was moving even in downtown.
So it wasn't stopping gold.
So fuel economy wasn't bad yesterday.
Wasn't too bad.
Going lost a bunch, coming back with a tailwind
from the wild west on the 401,
that would be actually 401 ESTA, East coming back,
right to the 403.
City driving versus highway driving.
Highway driving is where you'll get your maximum fuel economy
if you're smart.
And I'm gonna teach you some smarts
and what you do with it from there
will determine whether you put money back in your wallet
or you suffer some financial damage there.
Emotional damage, no, it's financial damage, silly.
Number three, here's the big kicker.
When you human advocates figure out
how much it cost me for fuel yesterday
to go all the way from downtown Fort Erie
all the way to downtown London on $80 worth of fuel.
And that's premium fuel, okay?
And I believe it was just slightly over a gold bar ounce.
One, it was at 159.9 for premium.
So there I'll help you a little more with the math.
Yeah, that's all I use is premium, no ethanol in there.
We talked about that already.
And when I find that article
that I got from the engineers who designed
and tested ethanol fuel in the UK,
I will definitely share that with you
because there were some nuggets in there
that even I myself could not come up with.
And that's how I got educated on ethanol
a long time ago in Bethlehem.
So 2,500 RPM is the sweet spot.
So I don't look at my speedometer much.
I look at my RPM gauge and it'll tell me
basically exactly where I am on the speed.
I used to drive a car like that for a minute.
My first car had no speedometer.
I drove it by tachometer.
And it's very accurate on your speeds.
So if you're driving at a particular speed,
look over at your tachometer
and memorize where the needle is.
And that will tell you how fast you're going.
So I keep it at 2,400 RPM.
Just under 25 all the time when I'm on highway.
Why would I do that?
Well, I made it all the way to London
from Fort Erie and back on $80 worth of fuel.
And that was six and a half,
almost seven hours of driving in traffic there and back.
Do the math, figure that out.
How does he do it?
I just shut it off and coast.
No, I don't do that.
Hook on the back of a big rig.
I don't mind getting behind a big rig,
but I won't get.
You guys, I saw vehicles yesterday
sucking right up to the back of a truck.
Here's the deal, if you're a truck driver,
here's what I know, sitting behind.
I know how to drive truck as well
because I worked for Mack and Peterbilt.
Anyhow, if I can't see you in my side mirrors,
I don't even know you're behind me.
So when you get that close, I don't know you're there.
I have no idea that you're right up the back of my trailer.
And I'll tell you folks, when you see what it looks like,
a car stuffed right into the back
of a highway truck trailer,
that should shake you to wake you.
Don't do that, okay?
That is so unsafe you can't even imagine
because if he has to lock it up, you're done.
You're a goner, airbags are not, you're done.
You're right in there.
You stuff your car right in under that back bumper,
that trailer, or right into the middle of it.
That's why some of them have bigger bumpers at the back
to try and stop that from happening.
But I'll tell you what, you'll be lucky if you survive that.
Yeah, I worked with a guy at Peterbilt
that happened to his pops.
Yeah, and it was a really sad story.
Really, really sad story.
Yeah, and so please don't do that.
Get off their butts.
Get back where if you can't see the driver
in his driver's side, side mirror, he can't see you.
He has no idea you're there.
And if you had any idea whatsoever,
what it takes to get a big rig stopped,
you know they only have approximately two and a half
really good brake applications
and then the compressor can't,
it's not able to keep up and refill the system.
So in a panic stop, that means like gotta get on it
to get it stopped.
First of all, it takes like three quarters
of a football field to get a rig stopped.
They don't stop on a dime and give you change.
They have two hard brake applications
and then you're a dead man at that point.
Yeah, that's what you need to know.
Another thing you need to know,
if you're one of those people on the highway
driving beside a truck trailer,
if one of those wheels, those tires decide
to blow off the rim, you realize it'll take you
right off the road and roll your car instantly.
It'll blow you like a tumbleweed when that comes off.
When that tire blows, you blow away.
Did you know that?
Maybe perhaps not.
So I'm not saying that to scare you,
get away from them.
Don't sit there, yesterday I saw that and I'm going,
you guys have no idea.
That tire blows, you're a goner.
That tire will blow you completely sideways.
Like I'm saying, just like a tumbleweed.
It'll roll your car over instantly
while you're going highway speeds.
What do you think that's gonna look like?
Not good, so I'm thinking about you, do not do that.
If you're passing a truck, get past it.
If you can't get past it, back off and get out of the way.
As you don't know the state of any of those tires
on those trailers, I do.
They're not maintained like they should be.
I guarantee you any trailer I pull over
that I will find under-inflated inboard tires on the Dooley's.
Those tires are running hot even in the winter.
An inboard tire blows, it'll take out the outside tire
and if you're sitting right there in your car,
you got a problem.
You got a problem, so please, please, please, two things.
Stay back far enough from an 18-wheeler
that you can see the driver in the driver's side mirror
because if you can't see him, he can't see you.
Number two, if you wanna sit beside an 18-wheeler
and drag race him, good luck because one day
your luck will run out and when a tire blows,
life is going to be different for you, guaranteed.
Get away, give them space, give them a distance.
Stay a distance back like I just said
and don't sit there humming along beside the trailer.
Yeah, bad spot to be.
Okay, 2,500 RPMs, when you get over 2,500,
no fuel economy at all, it's gone.
That means you're sucking fuel like a shop vac.
That's what that means, zero fuel economy.
Winter driving is really hard on fuel economy
to begin with because the engine's working so hard,
the thermostat and the cooling system's working so hard
to maintain 195 degrees Fahrenheit
so the engine is running at normal operating temperature.
In a headwind, that thermostat is busy,
opening, closing, partially opening, partially closing
to keep that engine at 195 Fahrenheit
so you get maximum fuel economy burned.
But in the winter, fuel economy does take a dive
but you still can beat it if you stay under 2,500 RPM.
So keep that in mind.
When you're around 3,000, 3,500,
you're getting zero fuel economy.
You're just filling the tank and throwing it out the window.
What, money, lots of money.
Number five, regular gas versus premium.
Now here, we talked about this a little bit
and the deal is butane, not butane, sorry,
BTUs, British thermal units.
That's how you measure the kaboom in the engine.
So you're gonna get a bigger boom on premium fuel
than your regular fuel because the octane level's higher.
It's as simple as that.
We don't want any ethanol in our premium fuel
and if you can avoid it,
you don't want any ethanol in your regular fuel
because it takes one and a half tanks of fuel
to go to the same distance on one tank of gas
without ethanol.
Yeah, so if you missed yesterday's,
I think that was yesterday's program.
Anyways, it's up there on our iHeart library.
The link's on our homepage or our website,
cartconnectionbusinessnetwork.com, ccbusnet.com.
I put that in all the descriptions on our YouTube videos
and also on our podcast so you can find us.
All right, next.
So the higher octane, the more burn,
the cleaner the burn and more power.
More horsepower is created in the cylinders
because of the explosion of air fuel mixture under pressure.
So if your vehicle, most, you know what?
I haven't found a vehicle
that I can't put premium fuel in yet, not one.
Our 99 Honda Civic DX two-door hatchback,
the Rocket loves the premium fuel.
That's a 99.
All our Volkswagen's that we bring out in the summer,
European cars, pretty much will tell you
it's premium fuel or nothing, buddy.
Yeah, don't give me decaf, high test.
And if it's turbified, it's gonna be premium fuel.
But I'll tell you right now, premium will get you
the best fuel economy if you make some changes.
If you make some changes to your driving habits,
you'll really put some money back in your pocket
with premium fuel.
I run premium in the 07 FJ,
run premium in the 09 Hyundai Accent.
Yeah, you can laugh.
It's okay, that thing runs on farts and a jar.
The 08 Ragu Rogue, that loves premium fuel.
I can tell you that, that thing is a fuel miser,
but you gotta know the issues that they do have.
They do have a list of, they're problematic.
First one is with the, what do they call it, CVT?
Yeah, transmission.
You gotta know and understand that puppy
because it'll bite you big time.
So, regular versus premium.
You're paying more for the premium,
but I made it all the way to London yesterday
and back on $80 worth of fuel.
And a quarter tank left over still.
A good quarter.
Yeah, not a short quarter.
And a bonus this morning, towing versus fuel economy
and carrying loads.
So if you got a vehicle loaded up with passengers
or loaded up with gear, pulling a trailer,
heading to the cottage, pulling a stone veil,
whatever this time of year, fuel economy is denied.
It's just simply not going to happen.
It's not gonna happen.
So, I'm gonna pull over and park it there
because I could give you a lot more,
but I did say top five myths about fuel economy.
All those things will not get you fuel economy at all.
Nothing.
Denied.
And that's not money in the wallet.
That's, you're gonna be out there
trading more time for money, working.
And instead of working hard for your money,
you need to get your money working hard for you.
So, car connection brought to you
by our certified financial planning professionals,
Tony Miele and Larry Tietro,
my personal financial planners for well over 20 years.
I call them my brothers from other mothers.
They laugh at me.
It's okay.
50 years experience as fiduciaries
with IG wealth management, managing investment portfolios,
whatever size it is, debt management,
you don't have to lose sleep at night.
You need a game plan.
That's what you need, a game plan.
And someone to help you, they can do that.
Estate planning, that's powers of attorney.
The whole package.
You have a checkbook, a home, kids, cars, toys.
That all needs to be planned for.
Absolutely.
And it's not a do it yourself cake mix
you get from the store.
You need a proper estate plan, period.
Yeah.
So if you go and get the cake mix
and say I do it myself,
look for the fine print where it says
you need an attorney to check this for you.
It's on there.
It's on there.
So you need to find it.
Setting up a mortgage.
I wouldn't think of getting a mortgage anywhere else.
Been with them for over 20 years.
The great rates and wonderful people out in Winnipeg
and the mortgage department to deal with.
Yep, they treat you like a real person.
And life insurance.
Life insurance, critical illness insurance.
And here's how you get all your questions answered
from someone who has the fruit on the tree.
Book an hour and a coffee discovery meeting.
That's what we call it.
It's complimentary.
But don't waste the fellas' time.
They don't need more clients,
but they promise to take care of our car connection clients
because you know me.
Dial Motormouth Jenkins.
So just let them know.
Tap into either Tony Miele or Larry Tietro
and get that hour and a coffee booked.
They'll meet you at your home.
Coffee shop by Zoom, by phone, at their boardroom.
Whatever you're comfortable with,
but get your questions answered
by those who have the answer.
I think I'm going through puberty again.
Wow, do I got a zit?
Oh, maybe not.
Niagara Block, 5,000 Montrose Road in Niagara Falls.
They've been building Canada since 1931
with building supplies and hardscape landscaping materials.
If you're looking to create that backyard space,
your personal oasis where you can hide away from the world,
I love that space at home here,
especially in the summer, this time of year.
No, I'm not enjoying it at all.
So I'm looking forward to spring.
Let them help you pick out the best materials
to create that space and also give you a referral
to the contractors that can actually start
and finish the job and it will look amazing
and you will be pleased.
And thank you to our nonprofit faith-based organizations
that we come alongside to help them do what we can't do.
And that is a Crystal Ridge Dream Center.
They're serving men, women, children, meals, love,
and hope single moms.
They have a program for single moms as well.
It's what they got going on there is absolutely crazy good.
Changing lives one at a time in the Niagara region.
They feed over 200 people out the door every Tuesday
and every Friday.
So check them out on our website
and consider doing something to be part of that community.
Total Freedom Darien Center New York is a campus
available to those struggling with addictions
and there's lots of that going on folks.
They're an alternative addiction program
bringing restoration to individuals and families
enslaved by cycles of addiction and destructive behaviors.
When you purchase merchandise from our online store safely,
you buy, you pick your size, your color,
pay for it safely online.
It gets delivered directly to you
and we wanna thank Freedom Expressions
as one of the businesses they run on the campus
to help people learn how to get back into keeping a job,
working with other people and getting back to the real world.
They put together our store for us.
They put together all the merchandise
that we want to make available to you
and when you purchase that proceeds go to help someone
somewhere in Canada and the U.S.
that's suffering with an addiction to get to a campus.
Now the campus at Darien Center New York
is open to men and women, Canadians and U.S.
Total Freedom Sydney Manitoba Canada is a men only campus
and there's a new life waiting for you either or.
And I'll tell you, Rick and Rob and the facilitators
out in Manitoba, Sydney Manitoba,
they have a story to tell.
They will not only walk the walk,
talk the talk but they walk the walk.
I'll tell you, you will not have a dry eye.
So thank you for doing that.
I think that's a wrap up for today.
We got a ton of material to cover for you
over the next several months.
Don't forget to take the opportunity
to visit our website, carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com,
ccbusnet.com, connect with our program partners,
connect with us on all the links and platforms
that were on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram,
Stevensvilleontheweb.ca.
Click on the business tab.
You can email me there.
There's a website form on our website.
Our iHeart link is there and also our merch store.
Make it a great day.
Keep it under 100, drive safe and put the coffee on.
Because we're gonna see you someday.
We're gonna come to your house.
So be prepared.
We're gonna come to your house for coffee.
So happy healthy motoring
and we'll see you tomorrow morning
for more of Motor Mouse Morning Drive right here at 8 a.m.
Bye for now.
About this episode
Fuel economy myths can cost drivers significantly, and this episode dives into the top five misconceptions that lead to wasted money at the pump. Host Niall Monermouth Jenkins shares insights from his extensive experience, emphasizing the importance of driving habits and vehicle maintenance. Listeners will learn how factors like stop-and-start driving, city versus highway travel, and fuel choices impact overall efficiency. With a blend of humor and practical advice, Jenkins aims to help drivers reclaim their fuel budget and make informed decisions.
Original notes
Most driver's think they're saving fuel - but in reality, they're following myths that cost them more over time.
In this episode of Motormouth Morning Drive, we break down the top five fuel economy myths that mechanics see every day in the shop, including:
1) Why chasing MPG numbers can hurt engine longevity
2) The truth about premium fuel and fuel additives
3) Why "lighter oil equals better mileage" isn't always true
4) How driving habits matter more than most modifications
5) Why short trips quietly destroy fuel efficiency
This isn't internet theory - it's real-world experience from the shop floor.
If you want your vehicle to last longer and cost less to operate, this episode is a must-listen
"MPG doesn't matter if the engine doesn't last"
Motormouth Morning Drive- real advice for owner-operators, commuters, and anyone tired of wasting money at the pump.
More episodes and ...project details & links available at Car Connection Business Network.com (ccbusnet.com) you'll find everything on our home page if you'd like to follow the build /repair work we do in the shop daily, Connect with our program partners just click their logo and connect Thank You! Grab some merch proceeds going to Total Freedom Addiction Campuses Canada & USA, helping those struggling with addiction get set free! Happy Healthy Motoring Friends, Tnx for watching & Listening, Nile Motormouth Jenkins Peace, Patience, Kindness Always. NMJ
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