Gas Cap

One way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is small potatoes compared to a big helping of inconvenience if you break down many miles away from home, according to the Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council suggests you “green your routine” when it comes to your car and offers five ways you and your vehicle can help protect the environment and save at the pump.

“Basic vehicle maintenance goes a long way toward protecting the environment, and it can keep more ‘green’ in your wallet through better fuel economy,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Vehicle owners who do their own maintenance should remember to recycle or properly dispose of fluids and other vehicle components, including used motor oil, tires and batteries.”

Gas pump prices remain on their roller-coaster ride, with more ups than downs. They’re hard on the budget and beyond consumers’ control. With some changes in our daily habits, however, we can compensate, at least partially, for rising fuel costs. Adhering to your errand list, thereby eliminating an extra trip to the store for a forgotten item, saves miles and dollars. (U.S. Department of Transportation reports 63% of all trips are 5 miles or less)

As they make the rounds to select their new vehicle, many shoppers recoil at sticker prices. With cars now averaging well above $20,000, some buyers reevaluate their needs and desires, reluctantly settling for the no-frills, "plain vanilla" model. With time, however, these same motorists may find themselves with a few extra dollars they can invest in their vehicle. Is it time to buy another car, even though there still are payments to make? The Car Care Council says instead of replacing your vehicle, consider repairing and upgrading what you already have.

Loose gas caps, under inflated tires, faulty thermostats, worn spark plugs, malfunctioning engine controls, poor wheel alignment and the list goes on. These are among the conditions that daily cost consumers millions of dollars in wasted fuel.

The Car Care Council’s short Gas Saving 101 Quiz is a reminder to all motorists that the number of miles per gallon (mpg) a car gets is directly related to driving behavior and vehicle maintenance.  

“Motorists can very easily save money on gas by driving smarter, and keeping an eye on a few of the vehicle components that affect fuel economy,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.  

TRUE OR FALSE

Q. 1 – Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage?  

With no end in sight to rising gas prices, consumers should take control of how they drive their vehicle to get more miles per gallon. The Car Care Council recommends the following ways to drive smart and save money:

New sections on Fuel Economy and Environmental Awareness have been added to the Car Care Guide to show consumers how to get better gas mileage and make their vehicle environmentally friendly. Published by the Car Care Council, the guide is a popular consumer give-away at repair shops and retail stores.  

The Fuel Economy section covers the parts of the car that need proper maintenance in order to maximize efficiency and save money at the pump. It recommends typical service intervals and includes questions to ask the automotive repair technician.  

When Mother Nature casts a sparkling spell, turning the landscape into a winter wonderland. It’s time to put your favorite ride away. Do you love your vehicle so much that we wouldn’t even think of driving it in the snow let alone in the rain? Many people are storing their dream cars, do you know the proper way to store your vehicle. Doing it right will save you expenses and aggravation later. These 8 steps will assist your auto to sleep better through the winter.

“My customer asked me how much he’d have to spend for a pair of shocks,” said a repair shop owner. “I told him there are ‘good, better and best’ prices, but I install only the good and, preferably, the best. Labor is the same.”

His customer agreed that the minimal cost difference did not justify opting for less than the best. What price is peace of mind? It’s a factor that plays a big part when investing in auto repairs. Once a component is installed you’re likely never to see it unless it fails.