Automakers need to be very careful when advertising fuel economy. A recent lawsuit against Hyundai suggests that at least some consumers are bean counters when it comes to mileage. Recent Hyundai Elantra ads have heavily focused on the EPA estimated 40 miles per gallon fuel economy that the vehicle allegedly gets. However, these ads have been run without the mandatory disclaimer that states the numbers are measured on the highway.

Naturally, vehicles driven on real roads won’t exhibit these impressive rates. When driving an Elantra in the city, it gets somewhere around 30 mpg. While these numbers are certainly still respectable, they are misleading. A California law firm in association with the Consumer Watchdog advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against what they perceive as false advertising.

Most automakers are now focusing on the highway fuel economy claims of their vehicles. Older commercials actually focused more on overall mileage or even what consumers could expect to get in the city. One might imagine that this shift is due to a wish on the behalf of advertisers to sport higher numbers. While these numbers aren’t made up figures, they are based on ideal highway estimates.

Another problem might come from the fact that the EPA doesn’t actually use real roads for testing vehicles. Instead, they test them on a treadmill and use mathematical equations to adjust this for what they perceive as real road running. There are other independent tests that actually put vehicles out on the road, and these seldom get exactly the same results as the EPA examinations. Regardless, what drivers see on the road will still be rather different than what any test shows.

These figures can sometimes hurt the automotive industry. While one might hope that sales of the Hyundai Elantra aren’t hurt by this new threat, drivers are often offended when they see this sort of negative publicity. While the old adage goes that any publicity amounts to good publicity, this isn’t the case for people shopping for cars. They want information that they can trust, and anything else will make them reconsider when thinking about a particular brand image.

There once was a time when it was highly important to run the correct octane fuel in an engine. Older cars were not equipped to handle the difference at all. The result would be uncontrolled combustion that would eventually cause the engine to knock. Modern engines are equipped with sensors to help regulate the flow of fuel and monitor the rate of ignition to ensure everything stays within a safe operating range.

One of two different declarations will be found in the manual about standard fuel. Premium Recommended engines can be used with a lower octane of gas. Premium Required engines are a different story altogether. One can run a lower octane in a Premium Required engine but it is best not to do it regularly. That type of engine can be damaged by the way a lower octane fuel ignites.

Engines of the past were unable to adjust to fuels with different octane ratings. The wrong fuel would cause audible knocking as the combustion became uncontrollable. The knocking would do damage to internal engine parts over a long period of time.

In situations where a lot of throttle is used, lower-octane fuels do not allow the engine to run as much ignition advance. Additional ignition advance lets the engine generate more power during hard throttle situations. Thus, if a lower-octane fuel is used with a Premium Recommended engine, then the engine is producing less power in hard accelerations. This loss is generally in the neighborhood of about a half mile per hour from 0 to 60; barely noticeable for most drivers. Drivers with a turbocharged gasoline engine will notice the difference much more.

This difference really only stands out for those that make heavy use of the throttle. In partial conditions, full ignition advance with no knock is readily attainable regardless of the octane of the fuel.

A vehicle that has an engine that requires premium is a different story. Running a lesser octane fuel can result in higher exhaust-gas temperatures and knocking that will do significant damage to the interior components of the engine. The relatively small amount saved from running a lesser fuel in a Premium Required engine will not offset the cost of having to buy a replacement engine.

If your manual cites your vehicle as “Premium Recommended”, lower octane can be used by driving gently and not using the throttle hard. It will be nearly impossible to tell the difference in performance for most users.

Gasoline prices are steadily increasing across the board and are only set to continue going up. Summer prices are expected to peak at $5.00 a gallon during a season in which vacationers typically do a significant amount of driving. The increased prices and shaky economy sees many of those individuals opting to vacation closer to home or not to vacation at all.

There are some ways to cut general fuel costs by improving driving technique and appropriately maintaining a vehicle. The following tactics are small in presentation but can add up to much bigger savings in the long run.

Planning Provides Efficiency

A solid plan of where you need to go and why can help significantly. You and your family or friends can plan regular store trips together to get the items you need all in one trek. Each person can either contribute to the gas fund for the trip or you can rotate vehicles on a trip-by-trip basis. Having good company while doing tedious activities like grocery shopping is a great way to make the time a bit less boring.

Economic Operation Provides Savings

There are many ways to encourage fuel savings through more efficient vehicle operation. The start up of an engine on a cold morning does not require any longer than a minute to be in operable condition. Leaving the vehicle to idle for 10 to 15 minutes only burns off gasoline and really provides no benefit. Revving the engine during idling does nothing other than burn more fuel.

Economic driving is a main point for helping with fuel savings. Most automobiles get approximately 20 mpg better efficiency at 55 MPH than they do at 70 MPH. Hard starts and stops drastically decrease efficiency. Accelerate steadily from a dead stop and try not to brake hard if it can be avoided. Avoid repeated gas and braking while actually in motion.

Items that add weight or resistance to the vehicle will cause an increase in burned fuel. If a luggage or bicycle rack is not being used; remove it for the time being. Excess weight should be removed from the vehicle that is unnecessary. Extra weight in the trunk, bed, or backseat requires the vehicle to work far harder than it would in normal operation.

Ensure Proper Maintenance of the Vehicle

Properly inflated tires can provide upwards of a 3% increase in gas mileage for your vehicle. They are less likely to blow out, are much safer, and last for much longer than underinflated tires. The proper tire pressure can be found either in the manual for the vehicle or on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. The pressure printed on the tire itself is a rating for safety and not the proper inflation ratio.

Regular tune ups and maintenance will keep the vehicle in good working order. A periodic front-end alignment reduces off-set friction of the tires on the road. Proper balance contributes to even wear and tear, extending the life of the tires, and maintaining an optimal traveling fuel efficiency.

Automakers across the country are frantically making plans to change their truck models in order to satisfy new regulations regarding fuel economy on all types of pickups. The new mandates that were passed by congress recently are another effort to reduce the United States crippling reliance on fossil fuels as well as to reduce overall pollution.

The new fuel economy regulations do not go into effect until 2016; however, automobile producers will have just one complete design rotation to make drastic changes to the overall weight and composition of their trucks. The new regulations have strict guidelines for trucks regarding fuel economy, with the average fleet fuel economy required to be 35.5 miles per gallon by the 2016 deadline. Light duty trucks will be required to boast a rating of at least 30 mpg. The fuel economy standard for light trucks is just under 25 miles per gallon.

Some companies like GM and Ford may attempt to reduce the overall weight of their full size pickups by more than 500 pounds by 2016. One way to shed weight from new vehicles is to use lighter metals and metal composites than what is currently used. Steel is a commonly used metal in pickup trucks of today but it is extremely heavy so automakers may decide to use lighter metal alloys and composite metals. While this may seem like a simple solution, these lighter metals are much more expensive than steel.

Some people have already voiced other concerns regarding what metals are used, saying that lighter metal composites may be unsafe when compared to standard steel. In addition, some consumers may be concerned that lighter trucks will not have the appropriate payload and towing capacity because of the lightweight materials that will be used.

Many auto producers are making the best of the new regulations by making it seem as if the new standards are their idea in many new television, print, and radio commercials. With this new advertising scheme, trucks will no longer just be known as rough and tumble blue collar workers of the automobile world, but also as money conscious and eco-friendly. While some automakers and consumers may not be completely on board with the new standards that will be implemented, the overall goal is an admirable one that will help reduce America’s reliance on non-renewable resources.