Back to School?
Keep Your Vehicle 'Green' and Your Wallet Happy
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'Green' is in. Most people want to protect the environment. And as a number of students head back to school, they will want to make sure their vehicles are environmentally 'green,' because going green could add up to significant savings and trouble-free driving as well.
Ensuring vehicular environmental responsibility goes hand-in-hand with ensuring vehicular efficiency. Most cars, SUVs, vans, or light trucks operate when an air and fuel mixture is ignited within the engine, and this combustion provides the energy that propels the vehicle. The ideal ratio of air and fuel is 14 parts air to 1 part fuel (14:1), called stoichiometric. When the ratio strays too far away from this mixture, the engine operates less efficiently -- fuel economy suffers, power decreases, and pollutants entering the exhaust increase.
Powerful Spark Enhances Efficiency
"One of the best ways to maximize fuel efficiency and environmental protection is by installing a fresh set of premium spark plugs, such as Bosch's Ir Fusion Platinum Iridium plugs. The Fusion spark plug produces the most powerful spark available, which ignites the air/fuel mixture more efficiently, and the Fusion plug with its combination of rare metals and surface air gap design produces this powerful spark for tens of thousands of miles," notes Reid Smith, product manager, Spark Plugs, for Bosch.
Bosch's Fusion is the industry's only spark plug that combines iridium and platinum in a patented fused fine wire center electrode design. "This combination provides a more durable and long lasting center electrode, better heat dissipation, and lower, more stable ignition voltage requirements," explains Smith. "Bosch's exclusive surface air gap technology and yttrium-enhanced ground electrodes deliver better performance.
Durability Keeps It 'Green'
"This long-term durability is very important. Wear can erode the electrodes and widen the gap the spark must jump to ignite the air/fuel mixture. This increases stress on the ignition system and can result in less efficient ignition, decreasing performance as well as gas mileage. Durability tests indicate that reduced gap wear in the Bosch Platinum Ir Fusion lowers the voltage requirement on the ignition system as the plug gets older, yielding better, more consistent performance and economy and longer service life," says Smith.
And don't forget to check and see if underhood heat has cooked the spark plug wires. Installing fresh premium wire sets will ensure that the spark plugs get the proper electricity and yield peak, long lasting engine efficiency.
Oxygen Sensors Very Important to Vehicle Operation
Another very important aspect of proper vehicle maintenance is making sure all the vehicle's oxygen sensors are operating properly. The oxygen sensor measures the oxygen in the exhaust to determine if the correct air/fuel ratio is being burned in the engine, and is crucial to efficient fuel management and engine operations. When operating properly, the oxygen sensor helps keep harmful emissions at a minimum, and vehicle performance and fuel economy at their peak operate under hostile conditions.
Oxygen sensors are subjected to intense heat, severe cold, thermal shock, vibration, and the ravages of exhaust and external contaminants -- but they still are expected to function properly for tens of thousands of miles. This is made possible by engineering excellence and manufacturing precision. Quality definitely counts, and sensors that go the distance are produced in plants such as Bosch's facility in Anderson, SC.
"Have the oxygen sensor or sensors checked and if worn out replaced with the appropriate top quality premium technology sensor, such as those available from Bosch, the inventor of the automotive oxygen sensor. This often improves fuel efficiency as well as drivability, especially in older vehicles."
Don't ignore vehicle maintenance as you get set to return to school. Don't ignore vehicle maintenance as you get set to return to school. Periodic maintenance can save you money, is better for the environment, and allows you to focus your attention on your studies. For more tips and technique, visit www.boschautoparts.com.