How Simple Routine Maintenance Will Give You A Fuel Efficient Car
In our article this week we are going to be discussing oil and how important it is to gas mileage. We will also learn how simple maintenance on our vehicles could really make a difference in how far our gas will go. So, let's get started.
Change the oil in your car on a regular basis. When you keep the oil in your car clean you reduce the wear that is caused by friction in the moving parts of your car's engine.
Keeping track of your last oil change will save you money at the gas pump and increase your fuel consumption.
If you are reluctant or unable to change the oil in your car on your own make sure that you fuel up at a gas station that offers you full service. This way you can ask the gas attendant to help you fill your car with gas as well as take a look under the hood of your car to change the oil. Make sure that you are using the right grade of oil that is required by your car or truck. Oil grades are measured in viscosity, which determines how much the oil can resist flow. Grades of oil include: 28 0W (this is the thinnest) (�W� stands for winter)
29 5W to 25W
30 20 to 60 (60 is the thickest) Check with the owner's manual that comes with your car for more information about the grade of oil that is required by your car. Make sure that you use the right grade of oil to ensure that your car runs as smoothly as it should in all types of weather. If you find that you are always running out of oil when you need it you can buy car oil in bulk at stores such as Costco so that you always have oil available for your vehicle. If you can't change the oil in the car yourself ask a family or friend to give you a hand. Studies at FuelEconomy.com suggest replacing the air filter in your car on a regular basis. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve the mileage that you get with your car by up to 10 percent. When you calculate that 10 percent into gasoline savings, you'll be saving up to 15 cents per gallon. You can ask your mechanic to replace the air filter in your car or you can do it yourself. Studies show that not only should you be replacing the air filter in your car on a regular basis, you should also be maintaining and regularly replacing the fuel filter. The cleaner that your fuel filter is the more efficiently your vehicle is going to run, saving you more money in fuel costs. You can replace the fuel filter yourself or have it replaced when your car is in for a regular maintenance checkup. You should be paying attention to the alignment in your car. Improper alignment will cause a certain amount of engine drag, which will increase the amount of gas that you are using. The better maintained that car is the better all around performance that you'll get. Talk to your mechanic about your next alignment servicing. One of the ways that you can tell if your car is due for alignment is if there is a pulling on the steering wheel when you are driving. If you are experiencing a type of pulling action it's important that you schedule an appointment to have an alignment done. When you regularly rotate your tires and check them for uneven use and wear you will find that you are saving in both tires and gas costs. After you have an alignment done on your car most mechanics will also rotate the tires. This doesn't by any means mean that you should wait until you need an alignment to get those tires rotated. Check your tires regularly to see how they are doing on wear and tear. If your tires are showing signs of balding you'll want to replace them immediately since the better your tires are the better fuel consumption you'll see. We learned in this article how just a little routine maintenance can give you a fuel efficient car. Be sure to check out our next article with more money saving tips.
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