Improving fuel economy is a matter of changing your driving habits. The benefits range from environmental to personal and financial. Here are some easy and effective tips on maximizing your fuel economy.
Drive Conservatively – Rapid acceleration and hard braking can reduce your fuel economy by 15-30% at highway speeds (10-40% in stop and go traffic).
Use Cruise Control – Cruise control reduces the fluctuations in speed keeping your car at a consistent pace helping to saving gas.
Avoid unnecessary Idling – Between 1 quarter to ½ gallon of fuel per hour is used when idling. Turn off your engine until you’re ready to get on your way, restarting your engine only uses 10 seconds worth of fuel. Only shut off your engine when it is safe to do so.
Practice Proper car Maintenance:
Remove any extra items from your car – More weight = more fuel your car needs to use
Change your oil regularly
Check your tire pressure
Check your engine air filter and replace if needed
Choose to roll down your windows instead of using AC
Ask yourself this: If you were stuck with a flat tire, a dead battery, an empty gas tank, a blown gasket or any number of other car troubles, would you be prepared? Most drivers try not to think about the possibility of being in any of those situations, but the fact is it happens more often than what we would think. Throw in the factor of bad weather, especially come the winter months and that probability of getting stranded increases.
When these events occur having an emergency kit can make a
large difference in your experience. Having some of these items can help you
get yourself back on the road sooner than later or at least can help keep you
safe until someone can come to the rescue.
There is no limit to what you can have in your emergency kit
but there are some things that are essential to have. Below is a list of those
essential items to keep in your vehicle:
No. 1 on your emergency kit
checklist should be lighting. Reflective lighting triangle and flares will help
notify other drivers of the roadside hazard. We suggest getting Led battery-operated
flares, they are longer lasting and reusable. A flashlight is also very
important to have on hand to help you investigate the issue with your car. It
is important to keep extra batteries as well.
Jumper Cables/ Jump Starter
Car batteries often die or lose
juice at the least opportune moments, having jumper cables can be the
difference between waiting for 10 minutes to find another driver to jump your
car or hours for a tow truck to get out to you. Another option is having a jump
starter. This device acts like the battery of another vehicle with jumper
cables directly attached. The instructions are the same procedure as jumping
your battery with another person’s vehicle. Often these devices have
multipurpose uses, some come with an air compressor and a flashlight attached.
The only thing that you must make sure to do if you decide to get a jump
starter is to make sure to charge it. Without a charge it will be useless, so
it is always good to have a separate set of regular jumper cables.
First Aid Kit
The first aid kit is a must have
item for your emergency kit. You can find prepack kits that will have all the
essentials for small to more serious injuries. It is easy to injury yourself
while trying to get your car back up and going. Be prepared for the worst and
always hope for the best.
Blankets/Warm Clothing
These items are more essential in inclement
weather conditions. If your car loses power completely and leaves you stranded
on a winters day or evening the temperature in your car will decrease at a very
fast pace. Make sure that you keep these items easily accessible to avoid
leaving your car door open for longer than necessary, letting in the cold air
Spare Tire & Tools
Most of our vehicles have a spare
tire or at least should. You should always double check to make sure you have a
spare and to make sure that spare is properly inflated. A flat tire and a flat
spare tire a recipe for disaster or having a properly inflated spare tire but
no tools to switch out the tires. Ensure that you have the proper tools to use
your spare tire when the time comes.
If the weather turns frightful is your vehicle ready for winter driving? Stay safe & keep your vehicle in good working order this winter with the following tips:
Battery test-If the battery is not checked, there is a chance the particularly cold nights will be too much, making the battery unable to power on the next day.
Antifreeze-Another serious issue that often comes up in the winter is lack of enough coolant, which can cause the engine to freeze and possibly crack, causing detrimental harm.
Charging system check-Your charging system needs to be tested to ensure it can handle running multiple items such as your defrosters, headlights, and heater at once.
Belt & hose inspection-Cracked or worn belts are a big reason why cars break down. Similarly, hoses need to be inspected for leaks, bulging, etc. These should be checked annually before the winter months, so there is no chance of getting stranded out in the cold unnecessarily.
Brake check-Having brakes in good condition is imperative for slippery winter roads. Having your brakes and ABS system checked each year ensures you will be able to come to a stop easily should you happen to slide.
Oil change-Important year-round, having your oil changed for the winter months is a step you should not forget. Be sure to refer to your car’s owner manual, as some car manufacturers suggest using a different grade of oil for colder temperatures.
New wiper blades-It is necessary to have windshield wiper blades in good condition for when you get caught driving in the snow. There are even a variety of specialty wiper blades made specifically for snowy weather.
Tire maintenance-It is of utmost importance to make sure your tire pressure is at a good level. Tires should be inspected, as well as rotated if you have not done so recently.
Other helpful tips:
Run your air conditioning roughly once per month. This will help decrease the time it takes your windows to defog.
Keep your gas tank at least half full. The added weight helps in slippery conditions, and it also helps prevent moisture from forming.
Do not forget to keep a snow brush/ice scraper in your car.
Car-X provides a wide array of winterization products and services. Find a location near you, and let us take the worry out of winter driving.
Battery test-If the