| |
| With
increases in gasoline prices, most drivers can save themselves
money by following some basic driving and car maintenance
guidelines. Here are
10 easy-to-follow tips:
|
|
|
| 1.
Plan
your driving time.
- If
you can drive off-peak hours, you'll use much less fuel. Choose
the least congested route for your trip, even if it is less
direct.
|
|
| 2.
Check
your tires.
- Tires
that are under-inflated can really reduce your mileage, and can
also increase the wear on the tires while decreasing the safety.
Follow the tire-pressure rating recommended in your owner's
manual.
|
|
| 3.
Avoid
"jackrabbit starts".
- Having
a heavy foot not only wastes fuel, it's also hard on the engine,
transmission, brakes and tires.
|
|
| 4.
Use
the right fuel.
-
Most
cars are designed for use with regular unleaded gas (87 octane).
Check your owner’s manual, but typically only cars with
high-performance engines require higher grades of fuel.
|
|
|
| 5.
Avoid
idling.
- While
it is a good idea to let your vehicle warm up for a few minutes,
don't let your car idle for more than a few minutes. If you are
waiting more than a minute or two, shut your car off.
|
|
|
| 6.
Shift
into neutral when stuck in traffic.
- When
you sit still in "Drive" with your car's automatic
transmission engaged and your foot on the brake, your vehicle's
cooling system is under added strain.
By shifting into "Neutral" while sitting still
with your foot on the brake, the drivetrain is no longer engaged
and the transmission develops less heat. Keeping the temperature
down will help to avoid any damage to the fluid or internal parts
of an automatic transmission.
|
|
| 7.
Drive
the speed limit.
- Speeding
dramatically reduces your gas mileage.
On long drives, using cruise control will improve your gas
mileage.
|
|
|
| 8.
Install
a clean air filter.
- Believe
it or not, engines use more air than fuel.
A dirty air filter consumes more fuel. Install a new air
filter or have the dust blown off with compressed air.
|
|
| 9.
Change
your engine oil regularly.
- Gas
mileage is reduced if the engine oil is dirty or low.
So change the oil and filter regularly, as recommended by
the manufacturer.
|
|
| 10.
Check
the transmission fluid.
- Transmissions
are one of the most complicated and expensive repairs a car can
require.
And burnt or contaminated transmission fluids are symptoms
of transmission failure.
|
|
|
| While
you're out on the road, why not take advantage of an AAMCO
Safeguard Fluid and Filter Change? An
AAMCO transmission expert will road test your car, change your
transmission fluid, and perform an external diagnostic check to
spot any potential problems. AAMCO's Safeguard Service is a great
way of avoiding little problems that can sometimes turn into big
problems.
|
|
|
| You’ll
benefit from the quick service and expert workmanship at your
local AAMCO center. We’re
proud to be a part of the world’s largest chain of transmission
specialists—each of which is independently owned and operated--
with more than 20 million satisfied customers.
AAMCO’s track record can’t be beaten.
AAMCO centers offer nationwide warranties on all repairs
made by our centers’ certified technicians using
state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, so you can travel with peace of
mind.
|
