Jack Williams

Six Tips to Keep Gas Costs Down

It's inevitable. As temperatures climb, so too do gas prices! As more people venture out of doors and to the roadways, the price at the pump seems to increase by the minute. To offset the pain of the prices at the pump, the Car Care Council makes the following recommendations:

• Tune-Up: Keep your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.

• Tire Pressure: Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.

• Motor Oil: Improve gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.

• Air Filters: Replacing clogged air filters on older vehicles can improve fuel economy and will improve performance and acceleration on all vehicles.

• Gas Cap: Damaged, loose or missing gas caps allow gas to vaporize into the air.

• Fix It: Addressing a serious maintenance problem, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent, according to www.fueleconomy.gov.

Investing in small fixes (tire pressure - literally free!!), you can significant decrease your fuel budget and increase your fun dollars this summer. Identifying inexpensive and simple fixes can not only decrease your expenses now, but for years to come!