This is a well-known fact that if vehicle tires are kept well inflated not only you can minimize damage to your tires but at the same time save fuel also. Now with technology advancement, you can in fact take advantage of the new generation energy efficient tires.

These tires are being manufactured by many companies including Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, and Toyo.

How much you can save?

The recent advertisement of Goodyear assures that their FuelMax tires can provide four percent reduction in fuel consumption. This might be a conservative estimate when you consider the report of the StockAnalyst website, the economy driving champion were able to drive 9 miles more per gallon when using FuelMax tires manufactured by Goodyear.

Recent manufacturer’s test has confirmed that Michelin’s Energy Saver tires can increase fuel efficiency by 8 percent which seems quite encouraging. If we calculate it on annual basis, it becomes a huge savings every year; it may offset the calculation as these tires are expensive as compared to the conventional tires.

Vehicle Handling

In the past the manufacturers of tires used mixture of silica in the rubber compounds to decrease the rolling resistance, this would increase the fuel efficiency. This resulted in fuel savings but at the same time decreased the tire life. The silica mixture makes the tires hard and the tires loose the flexibility.

But now thanks to the silica distribution strategy, the tire life has increased so has the fuel efficiency. Vehicle tires are weather proof and are quite safe also. Michelin Energy Saver have improved the stopping distance by over eight feet as compared to the standard tires, the total life of the tire is 16,000 miles more over the standard tires.

Greener Tire

With the increase in the fuel efficiency another benefit is that harmful carbon emission is also reduced. A normal car emits around 14,000 pounds of carbon annually. Michelin claims that with the use of these tires the emission can be reduced by almost 2,000 pounds a year. This is equivalent to planting of 40 trees. This offers a wonderful opportunity to cut down the carbon footprint without having to compromise with performance and safety and save money at the same time.

It is expected that most of the tire retailers stock sufficient quantity of energy saving tires and also provide training, experience, computer tools and professional help to you in determining the type of tires which suits your vehicle. When purchasing these tires, you will have to consider your driving habits, your budget and the range of driving per day.

Another point to bear in mind that when you shift to energy saving tires, you will have to change all the four tires in one go, this may require a bigger initial investment. You can also opt for nitrogen inflation; as such a step will help you to maintain proper tire pressure.

Such a technique does not affect the performance with the temperature change, maintaining the right pressure in the tires will ensure the long life of the tires and savings on the fuel expenditure.

My experiences travelling in buses began as a young boy. I was then staying at the 2nd mile, Kapar Road, Klang. I remember travelling in blue coloured buses owned by the Kuala Selangor Onimbus Company (K.S.O.C). This company, for readers’ information was run by Klang’s well known Chinese entrepreneur, Mr. Tong Kok Teck and his family.

If readers should read one of my earlier articles in the blog, you surely must have read an episode whereby my grandaunt once travelled down from our ancestral abode at 136, Kapar Road to Klang. Being a fat, jolly old dame, the bus, which she embarked one fine day, suddenly moved off before she could find a seat.

Fearing that she would fall, she had to find something to hold on to. Luckily for my aunt, Madam Tan, she saw a young, Chinese lad, with long, “Afro” looking hair sitting near to her. My aunt, launched her hands into the young lad’s mane, holding on to it for dear life. Her actions may have prevented her from falling. But it caused the victim’s face to turn red, like a cooked lobster!

While staying along Telok Pulai Road, Klang, in the 1950’s and 60’s, our family then possessed no cars. We then had to travel extensively by using the familiar “blue and yellow buses” belonging to the MARA Express Company.

When working for more than 10 years or so in Kapar Town, Selangor, I used to frequent buses run by the Kuala Selangor Bus Company almost daily. I still remember paying approximately RM1.50 going to the above town, which was located some 10-15 kilometers away.

In the 1960’s, I once worked as a “temporary” teacher in a small, sleepy hollow of Telok Datok, some 18 kilometers from Klang. In fact, I was attached to the Methodist English School (M.E.S.) under auspices of a MR. Vincent Daniel, who happened to be the younger brother of the then, well known principal of my alma mater, the Anglo Chinese School (A.C.S.) Klang, situated at Jalan Raya West, Klang, he was Mr. D.R Daniel.

In those days, I travelled mostly via express buses run by the MARA Bus Company of Banting. Without those buses and the services which they provided, I would surely be at a loss going to my place of work in those days.

I have already written quite extensively about my association with tour or express buses in my earlier article entitled “How To Seriously Consider Attempting To Solve Bus Accidents”. I was then in Penang doing my studies there in the 1970’s. I had to travel to and from Penang Island a total of 2-3 times per week then.

I can still vividly remember that I used to travel in express buses such as MARA Express, Ekoba Express and S.T.P. Express Bus, amongst others. It costs me RM13 or so to travel from Penang in those days. Reflecting upon it, I feel rather strongly that without the services provided by “buses” in those days, my studies in the Pearl of the Orient, as Penang is so well known as, would certainly have not been achieved. “Syabas” to the bus express companies which provided me with their invaluable services way back in the 1970’s.

Talking about the subject of travelling by buses, I feel that the trips I organized to the “Lion” city of Singapore and also to Penang Island, way back in the 1970’s, should also be given mention as well. For both the above trips, we used an air-con bus belonging to the Kuala Selangor Onimbus Company, Klang.

In Penang, we remember visiting the former Prime Minister or “Bapa Malaysia”, Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, at his home, “Takdir” at No.1 Jalan Tengku, Penang. We also visited my interesting places in Penang such as the Governor’s Residence; a batik factory in Telok Bahang, a “sardine” factory located in Riverside Road, Penang and also the annual exhibition or “expo”, which was held at Sungai Pinang site, near Bayan Lepas.

Thinking back regarding our trip to Singapore Island, which I organized with my colleague, Mr. Chee H.C., amongst the interesting places the group visited were the “285 feet above sea level cable car” to Sentosa Island. The Japanese Gardens, the Chinese Gardens, the Aw Boon Huat Tiger Balm park, the Janjong Katong beach, the famous “Bugis Street”, where the “maknyahs” were located, and finally the Botanical Gardens, where according to history, the first “rubber” seedling brought here by H.N. Ridley from South America, were planted.

Although our trip to Singapore was an enjoyable and fruitful, yet educational one, nevertheless, it should be reiterated here that there was one thing the organizers and the group felt we failed to achieve, and that was our intention and mission to meet face to face with the man whom we have learnt so much about in our everyday “History” lessons!

And that being, meeting the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew himself. The group in fact had written to the Prime Minister, but at that particular time, Mr. Lee was himself facing a political crisis. Singapore, was then in the process of breaking up with Malaysia. Nevertheless, even though Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was unable to meet with us, he did however advised his Secretary to provide our group all the assistance we required for our visit to Singapore.

As a result, our group of 50 or so youths and organizers, were accorded a fantastic stay at the National Youth Training Centre in Ang Moh Kio, I think, for RM1.40 per day, with breakfast thrown in.

So much my endeavours of travelling in buses in the 1970’s and 80’s. Whether you believe it or not, even up to this day, I still travel quite a lot in buses. Buses anyway, are a layman’s mode of transportation.

Once in every two or three days, I still travel from Klang to Kuala Lumpur. To travel to Petaling Jaya, one has to pay approximately RM1.50 to RM2.50. If one were to stop at Pasar Seni bus station in Kuala Lumpur, then one has to pay a sum of RM3.00.

What buses do I travel on these days? Amongst the buses I frequently use are buses from the Causeway Link Company, Seroma Bus Express, Rapid KL and also not to forget mentioning “Citiliner” bus expresses, owned by the Konsortium Transnational Berhad (KTB). In reality, the purpose of writing this article is not to relate to readers about episodes of my bus travels over the years.

It is in fact to highlight the woes facing bus companies, especially “Citiliner” buses. Citiliner buses services in Selangor, with effect 13th December, 2011. The Konsortium Transnational Berhad or KTB, is in the process of seeking the Selangor state government’s assistance.

According to KTB, the Company is reported to be incurring a loss of some RM8 million per year. Unless and until the Selangor government extends KTB some form of help, the public or “rakyat” will be the ones who will suffer.

The question the public would be asking is, should or should not the Selangor state government throw the Konsortium Transnational Berhad, the “life line” that it needs. Well, Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, how about it? What do you think?

Concerning the dilemma that is faced by bus companies these days, the STAR daily newspaper in its editorial, did a write up. The editorial reiterated that “quality bus services in this country is but still a pipe dream”.

The STAR editorial further continued, in the interest of ordinary folks who depend on buses to move around, the current matter has to be sorted out as soon as possible. In short, the interest of the people or “rakyat” should be accorded due consideration.

However, this is only a short term solution. The long term objective is for all bus operators to sit down together and develop a strategy for the future. Bus companies should come up with a programme whereby punctuality is emphasized. Besides that, reliability should be taken into account. Efficiency of bus companies is also an important consideration which should also not to be forgotten. All in all, it is important to keep the buses running.

The authority that is responsible for the bus companies’ welfare, that is the Land Transport Commission (SPAD), must do the correct thing for now. The bus operators on the other hand, must work out a long term solution. If the present bus woes is done right, the number of commuters will, without a doubt increase. The money will then flow in.

The pipe dream of an efficient and profitable bus service will then become a “reality”! The public would then be the ones to benefit tremendously from this success.

Everyone has to bring up his vehicle to a proper pitch to make it more fuel efficient. Motorized vehicles especially need this attention. The tuning up task has to begin with replacement of filters.

The more often you tune up your vehicle, the result will be more positive. According to experienced motor mechanics, the tune up is essential when a vehicle runs over 100,000 km. The priority has to be on engine air filter. The location of the air filter is above the carburetor in the old type cars or in the air box in the new ones having fuel injected motors.

Fuel filter requiring replacement will normally lie between the engine and fuel tank. If not replaced, the clogged filter may weaken the performance of the engine. If the engine light is on many times during the check on the engines, it is an indication of mal- functioning of the O2 sensor.

The normal tendency is to replace it when it fails totally, but remember that they would not last long. This is another opportunity for you to replace your transmission filter failing which, a transmission filter after running a lot of miles, the transmission could be slipping. Unless you have proper expertise, it is advisable to attempt these checks and replacements by a mechanic.

Normally the location of the filter in a vehicle will be under the transmission pan. The transmission filter can be pulled out straight after screwing it down. Another area of priority attention is the ignition system. Even before a vehicle completes 100,000 km, the spark plug wires are likely to be worn out.

Hence when your car has been driven for quite a distance, do some parts replacement to save money and avoid unexpected troubles. If the spark wires are worn out, your car start running rough and consume more fuel. When going to replace the car plug, consider changing the distributor cap and the rotor.

It is easy to change the distributor cap which is usually resting on two screws. Always remove the distributor cap first to keep the wires running to the correct spark plug. On remover of the cap the rotor will appear under it with a push in tab for its release. On installation of the distributor cap, go removing one spark wire.

The next phase of action is replacement of spark plugs which will usually have 5/8” or 13/16” socket. The spark plug has to be replaced with a new compatible plug and the gap checked with a feeler gauge, until it reaches the gap between .030” and .045” depending on the type of vehicle.

Follow by checking the wire distributor cap and trace the wire back to where it needs to be on the new cap and all wires and plugs are to be similarly connected without mixing up. The ignition timings should be advanced around 8 to 12 degrees or zero in new cars, after checking and connecting the timing light to #1 spark plug wire.

Any excessive oil found in the air filter needs to be replaced with the positive crankcase valve, which can be found in the head, valve cover or cleaner. The PVC valve will be fine, if no oil is detected in the air filter. Once all these checks and replacements are completed, your car will run with power and smoothness helping you to achieve fuel economy.