Easy tips for better gas mileage 

The U.S. Department of Energy offers the following fuel saving tips: 

• Stay within posted speed limits.
• Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 20 cents per gallon for gas.
• Remove unnecessary items from your trunk.
• An extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by 2%.
• Avoid putting items on top of your vehicle the wind resistance of a loaded roof rack can reduce fuel economy by 5%.

Maintain Your Vehicle 

• A properly tuned engine can increase gas mileage by 4%.
• Properly inflated and aligned tires can increase gas mileage 3%
• Replace air filters regulatarly. Clogged filters can reduce gas mileage 10%.
• See www.fueleconomy.gov for more savings tips.

The following tips will help keep your car running efficiently, while reducing harmful emissions:

Change your oil and oil filter

• keep tire pressure and alignment correct
• make sure your car is properly tuned up
• check emissions control devices
• when warning lights appear, service engine promptly
• use the correct type of oil and fuel for your car
• change your fuel filter
• check wiring, hoses and belts
• check crankcase breather elements
• change your air filter

Smog Tips:

Get your Smog Check early:
Don't wait until the last minute. The sooner you get your Smog Check, the more time you'll have in case you need to make repairs.

The new test may take a little longer and cost a little more:
Specially trained smog technicians will test your vehicles on a new dynamometer - a treadmill for cars - while it's "driving in place." It's a more comprehensive test on new equipment. It may take a little longer to perform. As a result, the smog shop may charge a little more for the smog technician's time and for the use of the new equipment.

For best performance - and healthier air - keep your vehicle running up to Smog Check standards year-round. Perform regular maintenance, including oil changes, tune-ups and tire pressure checks.

Tires: Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.

Tire Pressure and Fluids:
Every three months (more often, however, if specified by your vehicle owner's manual) and prior to leaving for and upon returning from a trip, check (or have Roesbery Car Care check) the tire pressure and the other fluids that include:

• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Radiator coolant (check the clear plastic bottle)
• Windshield washer fluid

Why is it important to keep the fluids at their full-level marks? The fluids lubricate moving parts to reduce fiction, heat, and wear. Therefore, they are the single most important factor for extending the life of a vehicle.

Check the Anti-freeze:
Prior to winter, have Roesbery Car Care check the antifreeze in the clear plastic coolant bottle with a hydrometer (a device that takes a sample of antifreeze and specifies how cold the temperature can become before the antifreeze freezes). The antifreeze should be able to withstand (i.e., not freeze) temperatures of at least 30 degrees "below the coldest" winter temperature. If the antifreeze is too weak, have additional antifreeze added to the coolant bottle.

Purchase the type of antifreeze as specified in the vehicle owner's manual (i.e., usually a type that is suitable for "aluminum and all types of metals" that are used today's engines). To avoid frozen antifreeze because it can crack an engine's block, which could result in possibly thousands of dollars for the repair.