Drive Sensibly:
- Aggressive driving such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% at town speeds.
- Fuel Economy Benefit 5%-33%
- Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.18 -
$1.20/gallon
Observe the Speed Limit:
- Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mpg. Assume that each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying for an extra $0.29 per gallon of gas.
- Fuel Economy Benefit: 7%-23%
- Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$0.26-$0.84/gallon
Remove Excess Weight
- An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%
- The reduction is based on the
percentage of extra weight
relative to the vehicle's
weight and affects smaller vehicles more than
larger vehicles
- Fuel Economy Benefit: 1%-2%/100 pounds of weight
- Equivalent Gasoline Savings:
$.04-$0.07/gallon
Avoid Excessive Idling
- Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per our, depending on engine size and air condition use.
- Fuel Cost Savings: $0.01-$0.03/minute with the air conditioning off
- $0.02-$0.04/minute with the air
conditioning
on
*Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $3.65/gallon
Which motor oil and which filter is best for my car?
- For the motor oil use the manufacturer's recommended grade of oil. Also look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to make sure it contains friction reducing additives.
- There are many different makes of
air filters. Make sure it is
the right size and the air filter is clean and
carefully installed. We
will gladly search for the right size filter and make
sure that the installation will be
successful.
Will my car perform better if I put higher grade octane in?
- This is a common misconception, the answer is no, each type of car is given a recommended octane level which resides within your owner manual, other octane levels will not preform any better and may actually cause damage to the emissions system.
- A helpful tip, check the octane
rating on the yellow sticker
on the gas pump rather than relying on
descriptive labels because different gas
stations
regular, mid-grade, and premium octane levels may vary
widely.
What do these warning lights mean?
"Service Engine Light" or "Maint Reqd" light
- This light merely tells you that an upcoming service may be required and to check with your mechanic.
- The "Maint Reqd" light is in a specific spot in the photo below, please note yours may not be in the same location.
- Normally looks like a battery but can look different in any car
- This light will go on and turn off when you start your car as a self test
- If it stays on that means your alternator or its belt is faulty and needs to be replaced
- This light has a different use depending on the manufacturer, it can mean your parking brake is on or that a fluid is low. Consult your handbook and if required consult a technician.
Brake Warning Light 2
- Only in ABS (anti-lock braking system) equipped cars
- Will turn on and off when the car
is started to self-check-If it flashes, throbs, or
stays on, if it does anything
to get your
attention, get this checked out ASAP because the ABS computer has found
an
error
