Save A Little At The Gas Pump

As the temperature rises, so do gas prices. While motorists cannot change the cost of gas, they can save money by following a few simple auto care steps.

To get maximum fuel economy, experts at the Car Care Council suggest the following:

*Underinflated tires can impact fuel economy. When tires are not inflated properly, it is similar to driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.

*Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power. An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust, and bugs chokes off the air and creates a rich mixture, which is too much gas being burned for the amount of air.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as ten percent, saving about 15 cents per gallon.

*Worn or dirty spark plugs can cause misfiring, wasting fuel. Vehicles can have four, six, or eight spark plugs that fire as many as three million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion.

Spark plugs that are replaced per the owner’s manual will lead to a better performing vehicle.

*Vehicle gas caps that are damaged, loose, or missing waste gas. According to the council, about 17 percent of the vehicles on the road have gas cap problems, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize yearly.

“Fuel economy is directly related to vehicle care, but when gas prices rise, many motorists hunker down and don’t take proper care of their vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “What they don’t realize is that they can save money by simply checking the tires, air filters, spark plugs, and vehicle gas caps. These items can make a significant difference in the vehicle’s fuel economy and it takes very little time and money to check them.”

For more tips, visit CarCare.org.