Jan 5, 2008 6:22 pm US/Central
Car Maintenance Can Save Money As Gas Costs Rise
(Car Care Council )
As the New Year begins, gas prices are expected to continue to rise and they are expected to reach $4 per gallon this year.
Here are some tips from the Car Care Council to save big money at the pump in 2008, maybe as much as $1,200 per year.
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Check your vehicle gas cap. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
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When tires aren't inflated properly, its like driving with the parking brake on, and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
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A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
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Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents on a gallon.
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Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 22 percent on the highway and five percent on city streets, which results in seven to 49 cents per gallon.
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Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
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Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 results in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the Be Car Care Aware consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.
For a copy of the councils Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.(Don't know if we need this last one, but never know.))
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