Customers Ask Honest-1 (cont.)
Keep a Healthy Car:
Step 1: GIVE YOUR CAR SOME TLC- It's your vehicle's mechanical systems that, when properly maintained, keep your car in its best shape and keep your car the most fuel efficient. Read your owner's manual and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. A tune-up alone, when needed, can increase your fuel economy by over 4%!
Step 2: BREATHE- Did you know that a clogged air filter may reduce acceleration performance? And, just by replacing clogged filters in cars with carbureted engines, fuel efficiency is improved by anywhere from 2% to 14%! And that saves you money!
Step 3: CHANGE THAT OIL- Using your manufacturer's recommended grade of oil and changing it according to your owner's manual saves you up to $.07 a gallon and increases your engine performance! Using the wrong type of oil can cost fuel efficiency. Dirty oil gets thick, its protective additives break down, and it causes more friction which not only will make your engine run harder, but also could cause costly engine failure.
Step 4: PROPERLY INFLATE TIRES- According to AAA New York public relations manager, for every PSI that your tires are underinflated, you lose 1% in fuel economy per tire! Check your tires at least once a month and especially following a large change in temperature.
Alter Your Driving Style:
Step 5: REDUCE IDILING- If your car is going to be stopped for more than 30 seconds; turn off your car. Reducing idling not only saves fuel but decreases carbon emissions.
Step 6: TRY A NEW SHIFT- Shifting gears in a manual transmission can impact fuel efficiency. Shift when your engine "tells" you too. Shifting at the wrong time can cost you 1 to 2 MPG which certainly adds up in the long run!
Step 7: SLOW DOWN- We're always in a hurry! Research shows that the gas mileage of most cars decreases at speeds above 60mph. In fact, during a trip, driving 60 mph instead of 70 mph will save you 2-4 miles/gallon that's $.40 per gallon!
Step 8: WINDOWS UP- Having the windows down causes an engine to work harder. In fact on the highway having your windows down can decrease fuel economy by up to 10 percent. In the Phoenix summer this is rarely a problem, but on these beautiful spring days it may be hard to resist!
Step 9: LIGHTEN THE LOAD- Removing weight from the trunk saves money. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2% which is equivalent to $.04 to $ .07 a gallon. In addition, packing items on top of the car decrease fuel economy by 5%. Try one of those car carriers that attach to the hitch at the back of the car. It may help save you some money.
Step 10: COMBINE YOUR TRIPS- Spend more time planning trips to combine errands, work, activities, and appointment and less time in the car driving to them. The more you combine your trips, the less gas you will waste and you're helping keep our air clean for our children!
Honest-1 Auto Care can help you identify other easy ways to save money at the pump. Make an appointment today and ask us!