subject: You And Your Houston Auto Repair Can Help Save Fuel [print this page] Your Houston auto repair service can do a lot to help your car run better and as a result, get better mileage. But, even having the best people working on your car will get you so far. Theres only so much that your Houston car repair shop can do; the rest is up to the driver.
Car owners waste millions of dollars worth of gas each year, according to the Car Care Council. Some is due to neglect or poor maintenance. Some of it is wasted due to bad driving habits. Either way, it adds up lost money for hard-working car owners. Keep these tips in mind next time you have to fill your tank. They could save you some cash.
Maintenance Issues
If we arent sabotaging our own gas mileage with bad driving habits, were forgetting to take care of the simple maintenance tasks that keep our cars running well. Its no wonder that so many drivers need BMW, Audi and Porsche repair. Houston drivers would do well to remember a few of these maintenance tips to improve your fuel efficiency.
Fuel caps. Without a fuel cap, you gas is just evaporating into the air. A loose, damaged or missing gas cap is cheap to replace but very expensive to leave unattended.
Dirty filters. Without oxygen circulation your car cant breathe. A dirty, clogged filter prevents the air from entering the engine and makes the fuel mixture too rich. That means too much fuel is being burned for the amount of air and that kills your mileage. Replace dirty filters and let your car breathe easy again.
Spark plugs. Worn out spark plugs should be replaced. They can cause misfires which serve no purpose other than to burn fuel.
Underinflated tires. When tires are not inflated to the proper pressure, they cause drag. This additional drag can cost you as much as a mile or two per gallon. Its like driving with the parking brake engaged.
Driving Habits
Sometimes, its our own driving habits that cost us at the pump. A few modifications in our driving behavior can alter the mileage our cars get.
Speeding. Simply stated, the faster your car goes the more fuel it uses. Speeding can really eat up the fuel. Observe the speed limits for your own safety as well as for better gas mileage.
Aggression. Aggressive drivers who speed up just to hit the brakes at the next light are using up fuel faster than more moderate drivers. All that stop and go is hard on the engine as well as the fuel efficiency.
Idling. Your car only needs about 2 minutes to sufficiently warm up the engine. After that, youre just throwing money away. Dont let your car idle for long. Trim your morning warm up time back and cut the engine when youre waiting in the pick-up line at school for more than a few minutes.
Examine your driving habits and do a little preventative maintenance on your vehicle. It might just pay off at the pump.
by: Jeff Anderson
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