Fuel efficiency starts with basic maintenance

Saving fuel is not only about how you drive. Small maintenance problems can waste gas, shorten part life, and turn a simple trip into roadside trouble.

Start before the trip

An average of 13,000 Americans are killed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, some as a result of unperformed vehicle maintenance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each year, neglected maintenance leads to more than 2,600 deaths, nearly 100,000 disabling injuries and more than $2 billion in lost wages, medical expenses and property damage.

Most mechanical failures can be traced to neglected maintenance. For example, the U. S. Department of Transportation reports the leading cause of mechanical breakdown on our nation’s highways is overheating, a condition that is easily avoidable.

Other deficiencies that are simple to detect include low antifreeze/coolant, worn or loose drive belts and defective cooling system hoses.

Check the easy fuel wasters

The Car Care Council offers these fuel-saving tips:

• Vehicle Gas Caps: Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the roads suffer from gas caps that are damaged, loose, or completely missing, leading to a startling vaporization of around 147 million gallons of fuel annually.
• Under Inflated Tires: Driving with underinflated tires creates a resistance similar to driving with the parking brake engaged, resulting in the loss of a mile or two per gallon.
• Worn Spark Plugs: The spark plugs in your vehicle, be it four, six, or eight in number, endure an extraordinary amount of stress with each firing, occurring up to 3 million times every 1,000 miles.
• Dirty Air Filters: By simply replacing a clogged air filter, you can witness a marked improvement in gas mileage, saving as much as 10 percent per gallon.

Drive with mileage in mind

Aggressive driving habits, such as sudden accelerations and abrupt stops, can significantly reduce gas mileage. In fact, aggressive driving can decrease gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets.

Minimize unnecessary idling, and avoid letting the vehicle warm up for more than one to two minutes as excessive idling contributes to unnecessary fuel consumption.

Gas mileage tends to decrease rapidly at speeds exceeding 60 mph. For every mile driven above 60 mph, you can expect an additional 10 cents per gallon in fuel costs. Utilizing cruise control can also help in maintaining a steady speed, thus enhancing fuel efficiency during highway driving.

Do a 10-minute pre-trip check

A quick inspection before a long drive can catch problems early. Focus on the parts that affect safety, cooling, steering, braking, and tire life.

• Check All Fluids: Our technicians are happy to monitor and refill your engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, anti-freeze, power steering and wiper fluids.
• Check Hoses and Belts: Arizona Automotive Repair ensures that all your car’s belts are healthy, and that all of those events keep happening at exactly the right time.
• Check The Tires: Start by checking the inflation of your tires, as maintaining the correct tire pressure is essential for optimal performance.

Peace of mind matters

Not only can a pre-trip inspection help reduce chances of costly and possibly dangerous road trouble, it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home, with one’s own technician who knows the vehicle.

“While a last minute checkup is better than no checkup, motorists should plan ahead to allow time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service facility. A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even save a few dollars at the gas pumps,” said the Car Care Council’s Executive Director, Rich White.