How to Save on Gas Through Proper Automotive Maintenance
If you have to drive even somewhat regularly these days, it is a sure bet that you are as sick of high gas prices as the rest of us.
However, there is very little that any of us can do to directly affect the price of gas itself. Therefore, we are forced to turn our attention to things we can do to limit the amount of gas that we use ourselves. I used to train new truck drivers for a major national carrier, and one thing which surprised me was how many complained about the price of fuel but drove as if it were free!
Like those students of mine, you may or may not be aware that there are some very easy and simple methods for increasing the gas mileage you get in your car, van, truck or sport utility vehicle. In fact, many of the ways that you can help your vehicle’s gas mileage are through simple, but regular, maintenance that you should be performing on your vehicle anyway!
Sadly, many who are attempting to escape high gas prices have turned to costly products that claim they can help your vehicle get more gas mileage. Of course, it often does make a little sense to spend money in order to save money, but not when many of these products are largely unproven to begin with.
That is why, when you are trying to dramatically increase your vehicle’s gas mileage, it is better to stick to the more reliable, more basic methods instead. These time proven methods definitely include performing the regular maintenance that your car requires already.
REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND....
Many drivers are fairly diligent about getting oil changes regularly for their vehicle. After all, regular oil changes are among the most fundamental (and cheapest) ways to maintain your vehicle’s performance and condition for years. I have been reading Popular Mechanics, Car and Driver and similar magazines since my mother used to take to Mr. Bragg's barber shop in Warrington, Florida back in the 50's. I cannot recall how many articles I have read in the last half century where someone had owned a car for years which was still in excellent mechanical condition.
Again and again, the most common thing these people had done was to get their oil, and other lubricants, changed regularly.
What any people do not know, however, is that regular oil changes also help to limit fuel consumption!
This means that you will save money in the end on fuel and maintenance costs, even if you have to spend a little money up front to perform regular oil changes yourself or have one done for you. Also, while you’re at it, make sure that your car is using the appropriate grade of oil. This simple check can reduce your fuel consumption by one or two percent.
If you are willing to pay a little more up front to save a lot later, here's another tip about oil changes, and...
In the last few years, synthetic lubricants such as those offered by AMSOIL have become popular with many car owners. The reason is simple. While you pay a little more initially, the oil cnange intervals are much longer, resulting in fewer oil changes, thus reducing costs. Additionally, a good synthetic motor oil will retain its ability to lubricate effectively much longer than standard, petroleum based lubricants.
This means that your car's engine runs more efficiently between oil changes.
IT ALSO MEANS LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR ENGINE!
The longer life and improved lubricating ability of synthetic motor oils means that your automobile engine, and its components, are not breaking down as rapidly as with standard motor oils. In fact, over the last few years, special formulations of synthetic motor oils have been developed for diesel engines, trucks, motorcycles, and even chainsaws and snow plows!
So, regular oil changes using high quality synthetic motor oils can not only increase fuel economy, but also increase the life, and value, of your vehicle while reducing common maintenance costs.
IS THAT WHAT THE "AND..." WAS ABOUT?
No, not quite.
I have been talking primarily about synthetic motor oil and regular oil changes. However, technology has also provided us with high efficiency synthetic gear lube and grease as well. Combining regular oil changes with regular lubricant changes in other parts of the vehicle, such as in transmissions, with the use of the most effective synthetic lubricants, can result in vast savings.
In the trucking industry, large fleet owners and independent owner-operators have both recognized this as the way to cut fuel costs, cut maintenance costs, and maintain the value and effectiveness of the expensive assets which are their bread-and-butter. That's the "AND..."
HOWEVER, I AM NOT "TIRED" YET!
Sorry, couldn't resist a pun.
However, "no joke", as we used to say in high school. One excellent way to easily increase your car’s gas mileage has got to be one of the easiest.
The next time you pull up to a convenience store, gas station or car wash that has an air pump, check the air pressure in your tires and add air, if necessary. By the way, many of these facilities do not have air gauges or have ones that are questionable at best. If you are still willing to pay a little up front to save a lot later, invest in a good tire gauge which you can carry in your car. At many gas stations or car washes, airing up your tires will not cost you anything. Even if the only machine you can find is a pay machine, it will still likely only cost you as much as fifty cents. The price (or lack thereof) and simplicity of this method makes it a great way to help keep yourself away from the gas pump.
Also, you should know the recommended tire pressure for YOUR tires and keep it there. Basic recommended pressures are usually on a sticker on the door frame, and recommended pressures are also on the tires themselves. One estimate is that simply maintaining proper tire pressure can increase fuel economy by approximately 3.3 percent.
As Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story. Maintaining proper air pressure will help your tires (expensive little dudes) last longer. You car will also handle better and you and your family will be safer with properly inflated tires, and THAT beats money any time!
JUST SO WE'RE ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC....
Sorry, another joke!
Seriously, another type of regular maintenance that your car requires consists of regular tune-ups.
A proper tune-up helps to ensure that your car is performing as well as it should be, including in respect to the gas mileage you hope to get out of it. Also, a properly conducted tune-up will often include a check of many important areas, which you might not associate in your mind with the word "tune-up".
These checks may reveal a problem with your car that is costing you valuable gas mileage, or simply allow the mechanic to let you know about potential problems which can be taken care of now (pay up front to save later), or which can be watched to keep them from becoming more expensive issues later.
Fixing many of these problems, or potential problems, may result in drastically improved performance and gas mileage, so that is a side benefit of having your car tuned up.
ARE YOU OUT OF BREATH YET?
One simple vehicle maintenance act which will net you improved gas mileage is definitely that of checking and replacing dirty, clogged air filters.
Your car is luckier than you in some ways. If your cars air filters are filthy, you can switch them out with clean, new ones right away!
Wish we could do that with our lungs!
Did you know that changing your car's air filters can boost your gas mileage by one-tenth! That is a pretty significant amount when you consider today’s rather high gas prices. Think about one-tenth of a gallon of gas where you live. That’s how much you can expect to save, per gallon, if you drive with clean (rather than a dirty) air filters.
SORRY ABOUT THE JOKES.
However, saving money through proper automotive maintenance is no joke. These few relatively simple vehicle maintenance acts prove once and for all that it is not necessary to buy costly products to increase your gas mileage.
Simply do the maintenance that you should already be doing for your car, and you will reap the benefits!
==============
HOW TO BECOME AN AMSOIL DEALER
However, there is very little that any of us can do to directly affect the price of gas itself. Therefore, we are forced to turn our attention to things we can do to limit the amount of gas that we use ourselves. I used to train new truck drivers for a major national carrier, and one thing which surprised me was how many complained about the price of fuel but drove as if it were free!
Like those students of mine, you may or may not be aware that there are some very easy and simple methods for increasing the gas mileage you get in your car, van, truck or sport utility vehicle. In fact, many of the ways that you can help your vehicle’s gas mileage are through simple, but regular, maintenance that you should be performing on your vehicle anyway!
Sadly, many who are attempting to escape high gas prices have turned to costly products that claim they can help your vehicle get more gas mileage. Of course, it often does make a little sense to spend money in order to save money, but not when many of these products are largely unproven to begin with.
That is why, when you are trying to dramatically increase your vehicle’s gas mileage, it is better to stick to the more reliable, more basic methods instead. These time proven methods definitely include performing the regular maintenance that your car requires already.
REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND....
Many drivers are fairly diligent about getting oil changes regularly for their vehicle. After all, regular oil changes are among the most fundamental (and cheapest) ways to maintain your vehicle’s performance and condition for years. I have been reading Popular Mechanics, Car and Driver and similar magazines since my mother used to take to Mr. Bragg's barber shop in Warrington, Florida back in the 50's. I cannot recall how many articles I have read in the last half century where someone had owned a car for years which was still in excellent mechanical condition.
Again and again, the most common thing these people had done was to get their oil, and other lubricants, changed regularly.
What any people do not know, however, is that regular oil changes also help to limit fuel consumption!
This means that you will save money in the end on fuel and maintenance costs, even if you have to spend a little money up front to perform regular oil changes yourself or have one done for you. Also, while you’re at it, make sure that your car is using the appropriate grade of oil. This simple check can reduce your fuel consumption by one or two percent.
If you are willing to pay a little more up front to save a lot later, here's another tip about oil changes, and...
In the last few years, synthetic lubricants such as those offered by AMSOIL have become popular with many car owners. The reason is simple. While you pay a little more initially, the oil cnange intervals are much longer, resulting in fewer oil changes, thus reducing costs. Additionally, a good synthetic motor oil will retain its ability to lubricate effectively much longer than standard, petroleum based lubricants.
This means that your car's engine runs more efficiently between oil changes.
IT ALSO MEANS LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR ENGINE!
The longer life and improved lubricating ability of synthetic motor oils means that your automobile engine, and its components, are not breaking down as rapidly as with standard motor oils. In fact, over the last few years, special formulations of synthetic motor oils have been developed for diesel engines, trucks, motorcycles, and even chainsaws and snow plows!
So, regular oil changes using high quality synthetic motor oils can not only increase fuel economy, but also increase the life, and value, of your vehicle while reducing common maintenance costs.
IS THAT WHAT THE "AND..." WAS ABOUT?
No, not quite.
I have been talking primarily about synthetic motor oil and regular oil changes. However, technology has also provided us with high efficiency synthetic gear lube and grease as well. Combining regular oil changes with regular lubricant changes in other parts of the vehicle, such as in transmissions, with the use of the most effective synthetic lubricants, can result in vast savings.
In the trucking industry, large fleet owners and independent owner-operators have both recognized this as the way to cut fuel costs, cut maintenance costs, and maintain the value and effectiveness of the expensive assets which are their bread-and-butter. That's the "AND..."
HOWEVER, I AM NOT "TIRED" YET!
Sorry, couldn't resist a pun.
However, "no joke", as we used to say in high school. One excellent way to easily increase your car’s gas mileage has got to be one of the easiest.
The next time you pull up to a convenience store, gas station or car wash that has an air pump, check the air pressure in your tires and add air, if necessary. By the way, many of these facilities do not have air gauges or have ones that are questionable at best. If you are still willing to pay a little up front to save a lot later, invest in a good tire gauge which you can carry in your car. At many gas stations or car washes, airing up your tires will not cost you anything. Even if the only machine you can find is a pay machine, it will still likely only cost you as much as fifty cents. The price (or lack thereof) and simplicity of this method makes it a great way to help keep yourself away from the gas pump.
Also, you should know the recommended tire pressure for YOUR tires and keep it there. Basic recommended pressures are usually on a sticker on the door frame, and recommended pressures are also on the tires themselves. One estimate is that simply maintaining proper tire pressure can increase fuel economy by approximately 3.3 percent.
As Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story. Maintaining proper air pressure will help your tires (expensive little dudes) last longer. You car will also handle better and you and your family will be safer with properly inflated tires, and THAT beats money any time!
JUST SO WE'RE ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC....
Sorry, another joke!
Seriously, another type of regular maintenance that your car requires consists of regular tune-ups.
A proper tune-up helps to ensure that your car is performing as well as it should be, including in respect to the gas mileage you hope to get out of it. Also, a properly conducted tune-up will often include a check of many important areas, which you might not associate in your mind with the word "tune-up".
These checks may reveal a problem with your car that is costing you valuable gas mileage, or simply allow the mechanic to let you know about potential problems which can be taken care of now (pay up front to save later), or which can be watched to keep them from becoming more expensive issues later.
Fixing many of these problems, or potential problems, may result in drastically improved performance and gas mileage, so that is a side benefit of having your car tuned up.
ARE YOU OUT OF BREATH YET?
One simple vehicle maintenance act which will net you improved gas mileage is definitely that of checking and replacing dirty, clogged air filters.
Your car is luckier than you in some ways. If your cars air filters are filthy, you can switch them out with clean, new ones right away!
Wish we could do that with our lungs!
Did you know that changing your car's air filters can boost your gas mileage by one-tenth! That is a pretty significant amount when you consider today’s rather high gas prices. Think about one-tenth of a gallon of gas where you live. That’s how much you can expect to save, per gallon, if you drive with clean (rather than a dirty) air filters.
SORRY ABOUT THE JOKES.
However, saving money through proper automotive maintenance is no joke. These few relatively simple vehicle maintenance acts prove once and for all that it is not necessary to buy costly products to increase your gas mileage.
Simply do the maintenance that you should already be doing for your car, and you will reap the benefits!
==============
HOW TO BECOME AN AMSOIL DEALER
Labels: amsoil, amsoil dealer, automotive maintenance, car maintenance, how to become an amsoil dealer, synthetic motor oil
posted by Donovan Baldwin at 6:15 AM
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