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HOW CAN I SAVE ON GAS? THE “EVERYTHING AUTO” FUEL ECONOMY SERIES, PART 3
American Pride Automotive • February 19, 2013
We hope you’ve been able to learn a lot these past two weeks from the “Everything Auto” Fuel Economy Series. As we close out the series this week (catch part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t already!), let’s briefly recap the tips for saving money on gas we’ve covered thus far:
- Drive Efficiently
- Check Your Gas Cap
- Maintain Proper Wheel Alignment and Suspension System Functionality
- Remove Unnecessary Items From Your Vehicle
- Check Your Tire Pressure
- Replace Your Air Filters
This week, our third and final tips are: avoid excessive idling, change your oil, and the most important of all….get a tune-up as a part of your regularly scheduled auto maintenance. Read on!
GET MOVING (AVOID EXCESSIVE IDLING)
It’s pretty common knowledge that you have to “warm up” your engine before hitting the road, and you may have heard that idling in the driveway for a few minutes is the safest, most effective way to do it. This is a myth. Along with being harmful to the environment and taxing to your vehicle’s machinery, idling wastes gas!
Did you know that idling for just 10 seconds uses more fuel than it takes to turn off and restart your engine, and idling for 10 minutes uses as much fuel as it takes to travel 5 miles? If you think you will be stopped in your vehicle for more than 10 seconds (outside of traffic, of course), turn your car off.
To warm up your vehicle in the morning, get moving right away. Just be sure to take it easy on the gas and the handling for the first 3-5 miles. By doing this you will save on gas and future auto repair costs.
CHANGE YOUR OIL
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Without it, the friction of the engine’s moving parts would cause the engine to seize up and cease to function. When oil gets old and dirty, the engine has to work harder to do its job, which means that fuel economy gets the short end of the stick.
In order to maintain good gas mileage and preserve the life of your engine, it is vital that you get your oil changed according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications as an integral part of routine auto maintenance. American Pride performs oil changes on all automotive makes and models, so if it’s that time again, gives us a call.
GET A TUNE-UP
Now, this last point may seem redundant but we can’t emphasize strongly enough the importance of regular vehicle tune-ups for fuel economy and the health of your car. Your gas mileage will lag behind if your vehicle isn’t in tip-top shape.
American Pride Automotive provides several options for and levels of routine auto maintenance, and you can trust us to give your vehicle the inspection and care that it deserves. Not sure if you’re due for a tune-up? Call us or stop in. We use state of the art diagnostic equipment to identify any potential issues and we stay on top of manufacturer recalls and industry-standard tune-up specifications.
Call American Pride at (757) 595-4100 or contact us with questions, concerns, or to schedule an appointment! And check back next week for more care tips on the “Everything Auto” blog.
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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