Many Americans are looking for new and effective ways to cut fuel costs and reduce the negative impact cars have on the environment. Some are buying fuel efficient vehicles such as hybrids or cars that run on biodiesel or clean-burning natural gas or have low-emission engines (PZEV and ULEV). If you don’t have an energy efficient vehicle, have no fear because there are several things you can do for your car to keep it green and save money.
Think Green, Drive Green
The factors that have the most impact on fuel economy are tire pressure, engine performance, oil and air filters and emission controls. By maintaining your car and driving it safely and defensively can help cut greenhouse gas emissions and save you gas mileage and money. Driving just 10 mph over the speed limit can cost one mile per gallon. Aggressive starts and stops greatly reduce fuel efficiency by 33 percent on the freeway and five percent on surface streets. Not to mention that aggressive driving puts unnecessary wear on a vehicle and could end up costing you more money on maintenance.
Keeping your car tuned can increase fuel efficiency by four percent. That means it only takes one misfiring spark plug to cut fuel economy. Another important green maintenance you can do is to change your air filters regularly. Driving with clogged air filters can decrease gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
Maintaining Pressure
One simple thing vehicle owners can do is to check their tires frequently. Properly inflated tires increase fuel efficiency by three percent and reduce greenhouse gases by 1.42 to 0.69 percent. Under inflated tires also wear easily and will decrease the lifespan of your tires. If a tire has too much pressure, the tread will wear more easily or the tire could blow out, depending on conditions. Blow outs cause accidents, so be sure that you are not overinflating your tires.
The side of the tire will indicate the maximum tire pressure. Be careful, because this is not the recommended amount that you should use for your tires. Many people overinflate their tires because they believe that this is the correct amount. Check your Owner’s Manual or ask your local dealership.
Free Green Check Ups at Valencia Acura
Valencia Acura’s award winning service department is now offering free Green Check Ups during the month of November. The Green Check Up includes checking motor oil, oil and air filters, brakes, engine light, tires for wear and pressure, and transmission. Bring your car in today!