As fuel prices continue to rise, there are several things that you can do to reduce your fuel consumption and get better gas mileage.  There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight and it looks like the time of $3 a gallon gas (or less) is long gone and now being written into the history books.  So what steps can you take to save gas, and money?

The first step you want to take is to make sure that your vehicle is in top running condition.  Even though today’s cars are much more dependable, they still require periodic maintenance in order to run efficiently.  Some items that you should check into are:

• Spark plugs (in most cars these will now last about 60,000 miles).
• Air filters (this should be inspected every time you get your oil changed).  A vehicle with a clogged air filter is like a person with asthma, it makes it harder for the engine to breathe.
• Fuel filters should be replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles (these are metal and cannot be inspected to see how dirty they are, replace based on mileage since last replacement)
• Engine oil should still be changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles.  By keeping the lubrication at its best, you will reduce friction in the engine and save gas.  Synthetic oil should be considered if the vehicle is used primarily for towing and for heavy use vehicles like taxi, ambulance and delivery applications
• Don’t let you engine idle excessively.  This isn’t to say you should shut your engine off at stop lights but maybe consider going inside rather than sitting in the drive-thru.
• Avoid “jack-rabbit” starts.  Try to accelerate smoothly when starting off from a stop.  The more aggressively you drive, the more gas you use.
• Coast when possible.  Keep your eyes looking ahead and when you see a traffic light change (or one that is already red), let up on the gas or coast (DO NOT take your vehicle out of gear) up towards the light.  Often times, the light will change to green while you are coasting and you can smoothly accelerate back up to speed rather than starting from a stop again.
• Plan your trips.  Rather than making one trip to the store, another to the post office, another to the cleaners, plan your trips together and try to make a “circle” driving from one place to another thereby reducing the amount of miles you need to drive.
• Replace that gas guzzler.  If you have an older vehicle that isn’t very fuel efficient, consider replacing it with a newer, more fuel efficient vehicle.  With today’s computerized engine management systems, fuel mileage has been greatly improved.  They also burn cleaner which is better for the environment.
• Keep your tires inflated.  This one is a real gas guzzler.  In the US, over 4 million gallons of gas are wasted each day due to underinflated tires.  Tires will naturally lose air through the sidewall of the tire (about 2-3 lbs. per month) and changes in outside air temperature as the seasons change will also have an effect.  Your tire pressure should be checked at least once per month.  Nitrogen tire inflation is one way to help mitigate this air loss.  The nitrogen molecules are larger and this natural air loss is much less.  This will also help your tires to last longer.
• Wheel alignments. With the tires aligned properly, this helps reduce the friction between the tires and the road.  A properly aligned vehicle will get better gas mileage and your tires will last much longer.  We recommend wheel alignments every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

For most drivers, the recommendation is still 3 months or 3,000 miles.  Conventional motor oils begin to lose some of their lubricating qualities and more importantly, start to become dirty due to engine wear, contamination and moisture.  The oil filter accumulates particulate and contaminates and may become clogged or have the flow restricted. 

Synthetic oils are very good for severe duty applications such as taxis, ambulances, police and delivery vehicles.  Vehicles that idle for long periods of time or work under severe loads are also good candidates for synthetic oils.  Using a synthetic oil for the sole purpose of extending your interval between oil changes is not recommended and really doesn’t do anything to save you money.

For drivers who don’t drive their vehicle often enough to travel 3,000 miles within 6 months, we recommend bi-annual oil changes.  With the moisture and condensation in the crankcase and other possible contaminations, we recommend you change the oil at least twice per year.

 Another benefit to regular oil changes is that the ASE certified technician is able to inspect your vehicle on a regular basis, helping to prevent unnecessary breakdowns by indentifying parts that may be worn or close to failure.  This allows us to make “elective” repairs and maintenance rather than emergency repairs after you have been stranded.

Tapp’s Garage has a new oil change program that will help to keep your vehicle maintained and in top running condition.  The CARS (Comprehensive Automotive Repair Services) Lifetime Oil Change Program will change your oil every 3,000 miles at no charge for as long as you own your vehicle.  Each service includes a 35 point maintenance inspection and tire pressure check.  The cost of this program is only $239.95 (less than the cost of 6 oil changes).  Call us at 303-752-2880 or stop by to schedule your appointment today.

Did you know that a manufacturer (i.e. Ford, GMC, Honda, etc.) cannot require that you use only genuine Ford/GMC/Honda parts on your vehicle in order to maintain your warranty?  Any qualified repair facility may perform maintenance and repairs on your vehicle and not affect the vehicle warranty.

 While the dealership may try to get you to think you risk losing your warranty if someone else works on your vehicle, there could be nothing further from the truth.  Of course, the repairs must be completed properly so you should always look for the ASE logo and ask your shop if their technicians are ASE Certified.  All the technicians at Tapp’s Garage are ASE Certified and half of them have achieved Master Technician status (think of this as a Phd in vehicle repairs!)

A repair shop should also be able to help you with the proper maintenance schedule on your vehicle.  This maintenance is required to keep your vehicle is dependable operating condition.  Your vehicle is a machine and maintenance is required (more on vehicle maintenance in another post).

In the wake of the bridge collapse in Minnesota, many people have spoken about how underfunded the Federal Highway System is.  For two years, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission has been looking into our nations’ highways and the plans to perform maintenance on the roads and how to pay for it.

The study recommends that the tax we pay on each gallon of gasoline be increased by 40 cents/gallon over the next 5 years.  But it doesn’t stop there!  The recommendation also calls for an annual increase in the tax that is indexed to inflation to continue after the initial 5 years.  Jack Schenendorf, the commission’s vice chairman claims that failure to act on this will be “catastrophic to this nation”.

In the wake of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, this is probably going to be a popular subject.  What is your opinion?  Let me know how you feel. 

Welcome to the Tapp’s Garage blog.  My name is Chris Lechman and I’m the blog-master.  Please keep checking back for more information, vehicle maintenance tips, ways to save gas and other helpful factoids as we help to provide helpful information.

 Have a Great Day and feel free to leave your comments or questions.