With gas prices always seeming to increase during the warm months, we’re all looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency. We’d love to get as far as we possibly can on that next tank. But short of going electric or buying a new vehicle purely based on the listed gas mileage, what can you do?

When thinking about how to improve gas mileage, it’s important to understand what that means. Your gas mileage is a reflection of how efficiently your engine converts fuel and air to the energy that your car uses to power itself. Taking steps to make your car’s engine more efficient should improve your gas mileage. With that in mind, here are four things we talk to customers about that anyone can do for noticeably improved gas mileage.

1. Replacing Vehicle Air Filter

A simple but very helpful action you may want to try first is replacing your vehicle’s air filter. Why? An internal combustion engine works by combining air and fuel. In fact, the combustion cycle is mostly made of air. For your engine to run efficiently, you want it to get all the air it needs. Your air filter helps ensure this happens. It blocks all the debris and contaminants in the air that could interfere with the combustion cycle.

However, eventually, that air filter can collect so much dirt, dust and other debris that it gets clogged and limits airflow. This lower airflow means your car is consuming more gas with each mile, meaning worse gas mileage. It also creates more contaminated exhaust emissions. When you have a fresh air filter, a free flow of clean air is getting into your engine, which means it requires less actual gas to go as far. In other words, more air means better gas mileage, so change that air filter as soon as you need to. The air filter is a big part of efficiency.

2. Replacing Engine Fuel Filter

If you have a clean fuel filter, better gas mileage will often follow. The reasoning is not quite the same as that with the air filter, but the common principle is anything other than gas or air in your combustion cycle will hurt your engine’s efficiency.

The purpose of the fuel filter is to strain any debris out of the gas as it passes from the tank to the engine. This protects the engine from possible damage, but like the air filter, that fuel filter can get clogged up. When it does, it can strain the flow of fuel to the engine, making the engine do more work to get the same results and hurting your fuel economy as a result.

By changing the filter regularly, you help ensure a clean flow of gasoline from the tank to the engine. You may also want to consider fuel cleaning products that assist the fuel filter in keeping your gas free of debris.

3. Using the Recommended Fuel Type

Are you using the right gas in your car? You’re aware of the choice you have when it comes to gasoline every time you pull up to the pump. Do you use regular, premium or super premium gas? Is the 87-octane sufficient or should you spring for 91 or 93? To know the answer to this, you need to understand the point of octane.

Octane refers to how sensitive your fuel is to pre-ignition, combusting prematurely. When this happens, you will hear a knocking in your engine, which is not good for your car and can hurt your engine and your fuel efficiency. The higher the octane, the more resistant your gas is to pre-ignition.

This doesn’t mean you should always use the highest possible octane to avoid pre-ignition. If your car’s owner’s manual calls for 87-octane, that octane is sufficient to prevent your car from prematurely combusting. Paying for a higher octane is simply a waste of money, and it won’t improve your gas mileage.

However, if you are using lower octane than the manufacturer recommends, this could hurt your gas mileage. If you have a modern car with anti-knocking safeguards, it will expend more fuel to prevent a problem, costing you more in gas than you save by skimping on octane.

Bottom line: pay attention to what your car’s manufacturer suggests. Each engine type is designed with a fuel quality in mind.

4. Cleaning Fuel Injectors

There is a clear relationship between clean fuel injectors and better gas mileage. The fuel injector is one of the great modern advances in engine technology. It delivers gas to the engine as a high-pressure mist, which optimizes as use and gives you better fuel efficiency and emissions, especially if they are direct injection fuel injectors which spray gas directly into the cylinder rather than the intake manifold.

Your fuel injectors should last a long time. However, if you are not getting the fuel economy you think you should, you may want to consider cleaning your fuel injectors. If your fuel injectors have become clogged, you won’t get the right mist of gas, and your fuel economy will suffer.

We have two famous products that help along these lines: Rislone Complete Fuel System Treatment (also available for diesel), and Rislone Fuel Injector Cleaner. The full treatment is more expensive, but does the job of six additives (including cleaning fuel injectors). Our Fuel Injector Cleaner is a bit less expensive, but is focused on doing the job of cleaning fuel injectors and nothing more.

Choose Products From Rislone

While these are some highly effective and fairly simple ways to improve your gas mileage, there are many other options. For example, using cleaning and efficiency additives in your gas, making sure your tires are properly inflated, driving at a consistent speed (cruise control can help with this) and reducing the load your car is carrying can all help your gas mileage.

The methods of improving fuel economy listed above usually have additional benefits. Replacing your filters and performing regular general maintenance of your vehicle will likely help your engine and car last longer, as well as reduce your carbon emissions to help protect the environment. You can do many of these yourself or with little assistance as well, so giving yourself better fuel economy doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Rislone offers a range of products that are great at helping your fuel system and engine work more cleanly and efficiently. To find the right products for improving gas mileage for your car, contact Rislone today.

The Best and Worst Car Show Hosts

There are a million cookie-cutter car shows out there — whether about a custom shop or racing or new models as they enter the market. It feels impossible to choose the best one — so we won’t even try. Instead, let’s take a look at the best and worst car show hosts and what makes their programs stand out from the crowd.

Best — Jeremy Clarkson of “The Grand Tour”

You can’t have a list of best car show hosts without mentioning Jeremy Clarkson. Formerly of BBC’s “Top Gear,” Clarkson is known for being one of the best automotive journalists in the field — even if he occasionally gets hangry when his blood sugar drops.

Worst — Richard Rawlings of “Fast N’ Loud”

There’s nothing worse than a formulaic car show — especially when it’s the same thing over and over again. “Fast N’ Loud” was the first of the “Pimp My Ride”-style shows. They bring in a junker and make up a lot of drama, and by the end of the episode, they’ve fixed the car and everyone is happy.

Every episode is the same. Plus, it spawned an entire genre of this type of show, and there are far too many of them on the air today.

Best — Jay Leno of “Jay Leno’s Garage”

You may have loved or hated his late night talk show, but there’s no denying that the guy knows cars — and truly loves them. That love comes through in every one of his episodes. He enjoys driving these vehicles as much as he does learning about them, and that makes him a heck of a car show host.

Worst — John Davis of “MotorWeek”

There’s nothing worse than a car show host with a monotonous voice — and John Davis of “MotorWeek” is the epitome of that. His show has also been on the air for 35 years, which is three and a half decades of monotony.

Best — David Freiburger of “Roadkill”

You can’t go wrong with a host who is also editor-in-chief of Hot Rod Magazine. This entry may be a web show, but that doesn’t make it any less fantastic, especially for anyone who loves cars. It helps that Freiburger has a great co-host, as well.

Worst — Chris Evans of “Top Gear”

When the “Top Gear” trio left the show, BBC replaced them with Chris Evans — and it was the biggest mistake the producers could have made. In addition to being unlikable, he tends to shout a lot and doesn’t get along at all with his “Friends” alumni co-host Matt LeBlanc.

Best — Alain De Cadenet

While his show has been off the air for years, Alain De Cadenet still makes an annual appearance during the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He’s one of the few car show hosts with actual racing experience — he’s built his race cars, driven during the 24 Hours of Le Mans and has a unique perspective that earns him a place among the best on this list.

Worst — Mark Worman of “Graveyard Carz”

You can run a great show and still be an awful person — and Mark Worman doesn’t have the benefit of a great show. He is known for mistreating his staff, and wouldn’t have much of a viewership without relying on his daughter’s looks. People paid more attention to their internal drama than the cars they were supposed to be restoring.

Best — Richard Hammond and James May of “The Grand Tour”

You can’t have a list of the best car show hosts without at least mentioning the rest of the original “Top Gear” trio. These two are listed together because they’re at their best — and most entertaining — when they’re throwing good-natured jabs at each other.

Worst — Tanner Foust of “Top Gear USA”

U.S. production companies should have left well enough alone. Their attempt to transition “Top Gear” to an American audience — and an American host — were just terrible. Their entire trio doesn’t work well together, and the show didn’t hold up the way the BBC original did.

Best — Chris Harris of “Top Gear”

While we’re not a big fan of the new “Top Gun” trio, we do have to say that no one can review cars better than Chris Harris. He’s also not afraid to bash the big names if they don’t live up to his expectations, which we love about him.

So there you have it — our list of the best and worst car show hosts on the planet, but don’t take our word for it. Check out some of these great — and not so great — shows for yourself and let us know what you think.

Sometimes, it takes less effort than you might think when you want to increase engine performance. You don’t have to be a mechanic to get more power from under your car’s hood. Nor do you have to be into full-on racing to want to get your vehicle to perform better. Whether you commute through the city or take your car to the track, more power and better performance will make your ride better wherever you go. More power equals more fun.

Understand Your Engine

When you need to increase power, you must understand how your engine works to know the best ways to boost its performance. Under the hood, the basic idea is that your engine mixes air and fuel to burn, which gives power. The better your engine moves cold air and fuel in and exhaust out, the better your torque and horsepower will be. Some seemingly trivial things you change in your engine are critical to powering your ride. Among these are available products that make it easier than ever to get the most torque and horsepower from your engine, whether you drive a sedan or a sports car.

1. Use Synthetic Lubricants and Additives

Motor oil comes in conventional, synthetic and blend varieties. For longevity, durability and all-temperature use, choose synthetic. Synthetic lubricants have a chemical structure that allows them to perform better in your engine, offering superior lubrication over conventional oils. Conventional oils can break down too soon when the motor gets too hot, but synthetic oils don’t. Because they lubricate surfaces better in all temperatures and driving conditions, synthetic oils are a better choice for high mileage and performance vehicles.

To further improve the performance of whatever oil you use, use a proven additive with your oil, like the super-advanced Rislone Nano Prime Engine + Oil Performance Booster. This synthetic-formula additive cuts down on engine friction, which reduces heat, allowing it to run harder and longer with less damage. Its structure even enables it to repair small pits in the metal components of your engine. Unlike other oil additives that use bearing-damaging chlorine, Nano Prime does not have this ingredient, opting instead to use a patented formula that protects rather than harms your engine.

2. Check Your Ignition

No matter how much fuel and air your engine has available, if the cylinders don’t have the spark needed, your engine will no longer perform as it should. You need an ignition system that carefully times the spark plugs to get maximum performance from the engine. Spark mistiming will cause many problems, so if you are experiencing this, you may need to consult with a mechanic.

Most ignition systems will not send an error code to the vehicle’s computer unless a problem arises, but minor issues that can sap your engine of power can occur without you noticing. If you use a leaner air/fuel mixture with a larger proportion of air, you will need higher voltage to trigger ignition of each spark plug. To achieve the necessary energy, install an amplifier on your ignition system. The type you choose depends on whether you have a distributor coil that sends power through wires to the spark plugs or a coil-on-plug system that has the connections directly on the plugs. Single-channel amplifiers and new coils can upgrade the distributor system. For coil-on-plug systems, you may need a multichannel ignition amplifier.

3. Install Larger Throttle Body and Injectors

The throttle administers the required amount of air into the engine while the injectors deposit the perfect amount of fuel into the cylinders. A stuck throttle or clogged fuel injectors will ruin your day. If you need to know how to increase vehicle torque, look at your air and fuel supply systems.

The fuel injectors must stay clean. Sticking to the cheapest gas available could leave your fuel injectors with deposits that can drag down your engine’s power over time. Using a fuel injector cleaner like the one from Rislone that works in ULSD diesel, E85 gasoline and all unleaded gasoline engines removes carbon deposits from the fuel tank, lines and injectors, for a better performing vehicle. Using this treatment ranks among the easiest ways to increase engine performance. Check the fuel supply lines, too. If you need to burn more fuel in the engine, you will likely require larger fuel lines to deliver the necessary amount of gas.

The other part of the air/fuel mixture is the amount of air getting into the engine. The throttle controls the air flow by opening and closing to let in more air for better combustion. Appropriately sized, a larger throttle body could increase horsepower up to 25 hp. If the throttle body is too large, it could reduce your motor’s power. Balance is the key. For some throttle body increases, you may also need to get fuel injectors that put a higher volume of gasoline into the engine. Check the manuals on all new parts you install on your vehicle for specifics. If you want to pursue a project like this, internet forums for your specific model of car are generally very helpful, too.

4. Ensure Good Compression

As the miles on your car add up, your engine experiences aging in the form of wearing parts. Through this wear, you can lose compression pressure, which leads to reduced power and performance. You can repair the wear on your components and restore compression without taking apart the engine. Rislone Compression Repair seals leaks and helps restore your engine’s former compression and power. You will probably notice poor compression symptoms when you drive.

Use Compression Repair if your vehicle shows any of these typical signs of pressure loss:

• Drop in gas mileage: If you don’t change your driving habits, but your gas mileage has dropped, you could have worn engine parts that need attention.
• Oil level reduction: The oil level in your vehicle should be the same whenever you check it — always check oil while the engine is cold. A dropping oil level indicates a leak somewhere in the system.
• Blue exhaust smoke: An engine that does not burn fuel thoroughly likely has compression loss. Sealing leaks can restore the compression.
• Engine noise: Your engine may not run silently, but unusual noises indicate a problem. If you notice sound accompanied by other signs of compression drop, consider Compression Repair fluid.

If you take your car to have a mechanic adjust compression, you may have to switch to high octane gasoline, which can compress more than lower octane fuels without causing engine problems. Another way to help your engine without using high octane fuel is to add Rislone gasoline treatment, which can boost your octane rating by one full number.

5. Implement a Cold Air Intake (CAI)

The science behind cold air intake systems is the principle that air increases in density as its temperature decreases. Denser air can burn the fuel better, increasing power. When you install a cold air intake system, it includes a new air filter. The new filter may look strange because it will be much larger than the stock air filter, up to three times larger.

Cold air intake systems also straighten out the path air follows to get to the engine. Curves cause the air to slow down and swirl as it moves through the turns. By removing the convolutions in the pipes, the system allows air to reach the engine more quickly.

6. Replace Your Exhaust Manifold With Real Headers

Getting exhaust away from your engine block and out of your vehicle is an essential piece of the power puzzle. The manifolds are interconnected tubes that direct exhaust from each cylinder to a single outlet. The problem with manifolds is their design. Backpressure from hot exhaust reducing outflow can reduce power. However, if you replace the manifolds with exhaust headers, you will eliminate this problem. Headers pull exhaust away from each cylinder individually. Only after the pipes are away from the engine do they funnel together into a single collector. Most vehicle manufacturers install manifolds because they cost less to build and install. Lower costs sacrifice engine peak ability.

Replacing the manifold with exhaust headers is a bolt-on task generally those with intermediate skills can accomplish. If you have already done everything possible and still want to draw more power from your engine, install exhaust headers. You will get rid of backpressure and help your engine become more efficient by replacing the manifold. (Plus it sounds way better, and that’s a nice side benefit.)

7. Use Forced Induction (aka Power Adder)

You may know forced induction under its other names, supercharging and turbocharging. The gist behind a supercharger is that it connects to your engine’s crankshaft via belt and pulley system. When your engine runs, the crankshaft turns, which is connected the belt attached to the supercharger. The charger then spins much faster than the motor — up to 50,000 RPM — to push air more forcefully into the motor. With a supercharger, your engine will burn more fuel and create a boost situation (regular cars always operate in a state of vacuum). More air (via boost) means you get more power. With a supercharger, your engine could increase its horsepower by 50-200 hp, depending on the size of your engine and what size supercharger you choose. Torque could increase as much as 50 percent.

A variation of the supercharger is the turbocharger. Despite the close names of supercharger and turbocharger, a turbo operates differently. The outgoing exhaust gasses power the turbocharger, making it a highly efficient option that uses a resource that’s already there (the exhaust). However, until your engine builds enough RPMs (revs), you won’t feel the turbo kick in, which is a condition called turbo lag. Superchargers, on the other hand, are directly connected to the engine’s crankshaft to increase power as soon as you press the accelerator. Superchargers are more instantaneous, but in many cases turbos can be set up to deliver more boost (measured in PSI or BAR) than most superchargers.

8. Maintain Your Vehicle

If you want to know how to increase vehicle horsepower, maintaining your engine will be the first step. Caring for your engine will help it reach its potential. However, if you fail to keep up with changing the oil and checking parts that wear out, your efforts to increase engine performance will be wasted. Even the best additives will not improve your engine’s operations much if used with bad gas or poor quality oil.

Keep your engine’s filters clean by replacing them regularly. A clogged filter, whether for oil, fuel or air, reduces the efficiency of your motor. Dirty oil from neglecting oil changes will also drag down your engine and open it up for potential damage. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the recommended intervals for maintenance. Remember, fluid treatment products work best with clean oil and quality gasoline. They cannot make up for neglect. Though our ZDDP Engine Oil Supplement protects your engine at startup and reduces wear (especially in older cars, hot rods and cars with flat-tappet engines), it cannot correct problems from using dirty oil.

9. Upgrade Your ECM (Electronic Control Module) Software

Your engine’s computer (ECM) keeps track of the all onboard systems and balances performance, efficiency and emission control. Most later model vehicles with onboard computers can accept performance chips or re-tunes (but these could void your warranty, so check with your dealer if you are looking at options like this). If you have any computer or electronics experience, you can install or program one of these upgrades yourself. The chips override the original settings of the engine’s computer, allowing you to increase power, torque, performance and more.

10. Lighten the Load

Think about how tired you became when you carried a heavy load. You probably didn’t have enough energy to move the weight as you normally could. The same thing happens to your car when you keep a lot of extra items inside it. If you’ve ever wondered how to maximize your car’s engine, start by cleaning out the trunk and interior. If it’s a valid trick for race cars, it’ll work for you too.

To make your car perform better, lighten it up. The more weight your car hauls, it’s obvious that the harder your engine must work to perform. By removing extra gear from your trunk and interior, you can help your engine – and performance. Remember that a lot of performance comes from a car’s power-to-weight ratio. What’s faster – a 700 HP car that weighs 6000 lbs or a 190 HP car that weighs 1800 lbs? Answer: the lighter car is likely faster, with all other variables being the same. Horsepower numbers do not always tell the story.

Depending on how dedicated you are to improving performance, you could use acrylic or plastic windows instead of traditional glass and take out the back seats. Even if you drive an SUV or a van, most newer models allow you to pull chairs from the rear to increase storage space. Taking out these seats could help you get more performance from your car.

Start With Quality Fluids and Treatment Products

Knowing how to maximize your car’s horsepower is the first step. The easiest way to get started requires using high-quality fluids and additives in your engine all the time. These are the lifeblood of any high-performance engine. The quality of your engine oil and gasoline make a difference in your vehicle’s performance, and that’s why you will find car nerds arguing about oil and gas endlessly in auto enthusiast forums. Our treatment formulas can also help by making even conventional oil and lower-octane gas function like higher quality products. We also have products to remove deposits to help your older (or neglected) engine perform like new. We’ve been doing this for almost 100 years, and we know a thing or two.

With Rislone treatment fluids, you get a one-and-done means of enhancing power. You don’t necessarily have to be a mechanic to get more out of your engine. Check out our product line at your nearest retailer. If you have any questions about Rislone or our products, contact us through our convenient online form. With our proven products, anyone can have a better-performing engine.

Trust us – pay attention to the subtle signs of engine failure. When you know the types of problems that can kill an engine and how they show themselves, you can repair the problem before you get stranded on the highway or suffer a catastrophic engine failure. Learn these warning signs and what to do to avoid them to ensure a less stressful life and reliable vehicle. We talk to customers every day about this stuff, so we’ve seen (and heard) a thing or two.

How to Know When an Engine Is About to Die

Your engine has several systems that must operate in tandem. Obviously, some components provide drivetrain propulsion, some allow you to steer and some assist in stopping your car. Because of today’s ECU-controlled cars (Electronic Control Unit), it’s possible that when even one system has a problem, your engine may shut itself down to prevent further damage to the vehicle as a whole. Ignoring such an incident could lead to your motor sustaining permanent damage and reaching the end of its life sooner than you ever expected.

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Diagnosing engine problems yourself can be difficult, especially since many problems such as poor engine power, increased fuel consumption and higher emissions can have many causes. In some cases, however, a dirty or faulty fuel injector is to blame. (We know, we talk to customers with this issue every week.)

Modern cars use high-pressure fuel injectors that spray a fine mist of fuel for improved combustion. Even a small amount of carbon buildup or gunk in the injector nozzle can affect this spray and cause engine misfires, pre-ignition and other drivability issues. There are a few ways to diagnose a bad fuel injector that you can try at home, though, before you go to the hassle and expense of visiting a mechanic.

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