• Does the fuel I use make a difference in my vehicle’s performance?
• How often should I change my fuel filter?
• Why don’t vehicle manufacturers include programming in their computers to provide the improved mileage gains I got when I installed a chip?

Question: Does the fuel I use make a difference in my vehicle’s performance?

Answer: Your choice of where you get your fuel is one of the most instrumental decisions you make regarding your vehicle’s health. In the same way you watch what you eat so you don’t end up in the hospital emergency room you need to be careful what fuel goes into your vehicle. Spend a few pennies more for premium fuel. Government regulations require a “premium” fuel to have a minimum cetane rating of 47. Unlike gas vehicles which don’t have the ability for improved performance with higher octane gas unless they are reprogrammed, the diesel engine runs considerably better with higher cetane fuel and no reprogramming is necessary. Your engine will start better, run cleaner, and have less acid by products in the crankcase as a result of the combustion process if you use premium. Constant diets of cheap low grade fuel will mean your vehicle will end in the vehicle emergency room for repairs that could easily have been avoided.

Question: How often should I change my fuel filter?

Answer: Your fuel filter is the first and last line of defense for your fuel system components. The combination of dirty fuel and neglected filter replacement can lead to expensive fuel system repairs. However, too frequent of filter replacement is not in your best interest either. Fuel filters should be replaced every 10-15,000 miles. If you know you have gotten a bad batch of fuel you should replace the filter at that time. Some diesel owners change their fuel filters at every oil change. That is too often if oil is changed between 3-5,000 miles. A fuel filter gains efficiency after a certain amount of usage. So, if you change the filter too frequently, you will be replacing it when it is at its peak performance.

Question: Why don’t vehicle manufacturers include programming in their computers to provide the improved mileage gains I got when I installed a chip?

Answer: Among the changes frequently made in programming a chip are increased fuel delivery and advanced timing. Both can enhance fuel economy. Increased fuel output allows the engine to operate more freely, as the governor is not always laboring to keep the vehicle moving, even if load requirements increase. The advance timing gives the engine more time to burn the fuel. However, advanced timing creates higher combustion temperatures which in turn causes higher NOX’s(nitrogens of oxide), a pollutant regulated by the EPA. To meet the government regulation of NOX’s, the engine manufacturer is forced to back off the timing resulting in poorer fuel economy