Your car’s muffler probably never comes to mind—unless you lose it. Don’t feel bad, even for the engineers who designed your car, the exhaust system is usually an afterthought as well. Because exhaust systems are often the last addition to a vehicle, their design isn’t as conducive to better performance as they could be. Manufacturer-installed exhaust systems often snake around other parts. This snaking can cause crimping in the pipes, which decreases the pipes diameter. This decrease in diameter causes less exhaust to flow through potentially causing a backup of exhaust. This backup can interfere with the fuel mix, leading to a loss of power and performance. Loss of power and performance equals more gas burnt to compensate. Installing an aftermarket system could save you money by preventing a back up of exhaust—around a one to two percent performance improvement, reports autoanything.com. If you’re thinking about a new exhaust system for your car, consult your mechanic.
Gas Cap
OK, so maybe this one isn’t a concern that needs a mechanic, but it’s still one you should look at. Gasoline—as the shortened name suggests—is a gas. Yes, you pump it in as a liquid, but it readily evaporates. If there is any way that gas can escape from your tank, it will. One of the areas that gas escapes through is faulty gas caps. The Car Care Council estimates that 147 million gallons of gas evaporate every year through loose, missing, or damaged gas caps. If you fall into the estimated 17 percent of cars that have a bad gas cap, get a quality gas cap with a seal and you’ll prevent any gas seepage.
Fuel Octane
Just one more that may not concern your mechanic. Make sure to fuel your car with the recommended octane. You might think that the higher the octane the better the performance, but, alas, such is not the case. High octane fuels are for high-performance vehicles. Most everyday cars don’t fall into that category. Purchasing the recommended octane fuel can save you money and won’t negatively affect your car or its performance. If you’re not sure whether your car is a high-performance vehicle, check your owner manual or be aware of your engine “knocking.” Otherwise, stick with the lower octane—and cheaper—gas.