money sectionmoney sectionMethanol -- also known as wood alcohol -- is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel and denaturant for ethanol. In addition, this alcohol is used to produce biodiesel by means of transesterification reaction. Methanol use declined dramatically since the early 1990s and automobile makers no longer manufacture vehicles that run on it.
Automobiles have long utilized gasoline as their prime fuel source through rubber fuel lines. As technology has advanced, blends of gasoline with other fuels, such as methanol, have been become more prevalent. Sometimes these blends can cause problems for rubber fuel hoses.
Those who own snowmobiles, boats, pop-up campers and other recreational items often transport them by pulling them behind a vehicle. If you spend a lot of time driving to your getaway spot, you may want to compare the fuel mileage offered by sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with towing capabilities.
The ease of transporting multiple passengers prompts many shoppers to choose sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) over cars or trucks. SUVs offering a third seat provide drivers with even more capacity to shuttle around family, friends, kids and coworkers. The miles per gallon (MPG) you'll get from third-seat SUVs can vary substantially, so be sure to compare various models.
Sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) have a reputation as gas guzzlers, but not all models are the worst offenders for gas mileage on the road. There are a few factors to consider when you compare miles per gallon (mpg) of fuel for various SUVs.
Small and medium trucks are trucks that weigh less than 8,500 pounds and whose wheelbase is less than or equal to 115 inches. The term wheelbase refers to the distance between the centers of the truck's front and back wheels. Within the category of small trucks, you will find trucks with a range of performance, safety, reliability and fuel economy levels. You can compare trucks one by one by getting the information for each small truck from the manufacturer. However, some types of information, such as fuel economy, are aggregated into databases by government agencies and businesses. You can access…
With gasoline diminishing as a natural resource, scientists are looking for other fuels for commercial vehicles. One of these fuels, called methanol, is added to gasoline and has both pros and cons.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides estimates of vehicle fuel efficiency in the form of MPG, or miles per gallon. The higher your vehicle's MPG, the lower the cost of gasoline per mile. While actual MPG may vary between vehicles due to driver habits, local conditions and vehicle condition, using the EPA estimates is a good way of comparing how much it might cost to drive a particular vehicle over time.
This How To article provides the steps to compare miles-per-gallon ratings for seven-passenger gasoline, diesel and hybrid vehicles.
