Environmental Awareness
Your choice of vehicle can go a long way toward protecting the environment and so can how well your maintain and drive your car. Routine tune-ups, properly inflated tires, regular oil changes and air filter replacement, cooling system maintenance and checking the condition of the gas cap can maximize fuel economy and minimize the amount of pollutants from your car. Its is also important to properly dispose of used fluids and components.
Drive Green. Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Jerky and aggressive driving decrease your miles per gallon and increases wear and tear on your vehicle. Also drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions and calling ahead.
Tune-Ups. Regular tune ups, maintenance and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Save 4% on a proper tune-up, up to 40% on replacing a faulty oxygen sensor. Changing the car's dirty filter can improve efficiency by 10%. Using the oil specified for your car saves up to 2%.
Lighten Your Load. Get your stuff out of your car and junk out of the trunk. This does not mean that you should not keep important emergency items such as spare tire, flares and a first-aid kit. However, items that are not needed weigh the vehicle down - causing an increase in gas usage and unneeded wear and tear on the vehicle.
Tire Checks. If every American's tires were properly inflated, we could save around two billion gallons of gas each year. Tire pressure should be checked at least monthly, including the spare. Tires that are not properly inflated add rolling resistance that makes the engine works harder to move the vehicle. All this increases fuel costs as much as 3 to 5 cents per gallon, and increases the risk of engine damage.
A/C Maintenance & Use. The A/C system should be inspected annually, during which a technician check pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures. Use the window to keep the car cool. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in.
Gas Caps and Fill-Ups. Approximately 17% of the vehicles on the road has loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 millions of gallons to evaporate every year. Topping off your gas tank can also release harmful vapors into the environment.
Seven out of 10 consumers believe the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance will improve the environment, while nearly all believe it will increase fuel efficiency.
