In a time when gasoline costs $2.50 per gallon or more, here a few things you can do to get most out of your fuel dollar.
- Inspect your tire pressure regularly (or have us inspect it for you!) Having the correct tire pressure reduces "rolling resistance" and increases the number of miles you can travel on each gallon of gasoline.
- Inspect your car's air filter. A contaminated air filter reduces the ability of your car's engine to "breathe" and changes the air/fuel ratio, reducing overall fuel economy, sometimes dramaticly. An easy way to inspect your car's air filter is to remove the filter from the car and hold it up to a bright light such as the sun or work light. If you can see light radiating through the filter it is probably okay. But can still be "dirty" enough to cause a drop in fuel mileage.
- Have your wheel alignment inspected.
A vehicle that is out of alignment can "drag" or "scuff"
the tires, much like dragging your feet. This causes excessive tire
wear, like your shoes, and forces the engine to work harder and use
more fuel.
These next Car Care Tips are just as important, although not quite as easy or inexpensive and should be performed by an automotive service professional.
- When was the last time you had your ignition parts inspected for wear, condition and performance? Worn ignition components cannot perform efficiently and consequently causes more consumption of fuel and reduces overall engine performance.
- Have you had your vehicle's fuel induction system: fuel injectors, intake manifold and valve train components, inspected for "coking" and carbon build up recently? Modern fuels are known to leave excessive deposits under some driving conditions. These deposits can cause poor fuel economy, performance and can cause engine damage.
- Resist the temptation to run your gas tank down to Empty. Most vehicles today are fuel injected with the fuel pump "living" in the gas tank. Running the tank below 1/4 may cause the fuel pump to over heat and fail prematurely.
- Have your vehicle serviced by a professional regularly. We understand that many people enjoy servicing thier own vehicles, whether for the cost savings or simply because they enjoy the "hands on" care they can provide. However a qualified service professional has the tools, equipment and experience to "catch" what the do-it-yourselfer might overlook.
These are just a few things you can do to insure you are getting the most out of your cars and trucks. And the most out of your money! They do not take a lot of effort and in many cases are inexpensive. But they can result in significant savings.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call, write or e-mail us. Or just stop by!
