We are currently running spots on LAZER, STAR, and KIOA to ask a question about any automotive repair service you may have. Your response will then be broadcasted it on the radio station and we will also responded back to you by email with an answer to your question(s).
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Here in the Midwest we all know there is a certain amount of car know-how that must go along with our general driving skills. It doesn’t have to be that extensive, but since we have four seasons every year; we are aware that driving conditions in summer are not nearly the same as driving in winter.
With the summer months approaching us, it is important to remember that taking care of your car before it gets hot out is just as important as taking care of your car before it gets cold. What a lot of people forget to think about in summer is tires.
Properly inflated tires aren’t just necessary for overall car safety, but having the right tires and maintaining them well can actually save you money! According to an informal study by students at Carnegie Mellon University, most cars in the US are operating on tires inflated at only 80 percent of their capacity. And according to fueleconomy.gov, inflating your tires to their proper pressure can improve mileage by 3.3 percent. 3.3 percent doesn’t sound like much but when you really look at the bigger picture, it is a lot of money per year that you could be saving. A person who drives 12,000 miles annually on under-inflated tires, uses 144 extra gallons of gas than someone who maintains proper tire pressure. This will save you about $500 per year on gas for your vehicle. Also, each time one of those extra gallons of gas is released, so is 20 extra pounds of carbon dioxide into the environment.
You can prevent harming the environment and save on money at the same time by just having your tire pressure checked at least monthly. The correct air pressure for tires should be in the owner’s manual or inside the driver-side door. When in doubt, mention tire pressure the next time you stop at your local Car-X and the mechanic will be happy to show you exactly how to check and maintain your own tire pressure; as well as recommend what tires suit your car best for every season.
Safe travels this summer!
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During the warm summer months a typical driver will reach down and turn on the air conditioning system. Some drivers may be hesitant to do so though because they feel that it wastes more gasoline, which results in them spending more money then they would like to. Many drivers would just rather be a little hotter than have to buy more gas each week.
Fortunately, a driver doesn’t necessarily have to choose between saving money and staying cool when it’s hot. A few things, such as a complete AC checkup along with any needed repairs can help reduce the amount of excess fuel used by the air conditioning system.
Proper maintenance and repairs are one of the ways to save fuel while running the air conditioner. A leaky or plugged hose will make the air warm and less effective, which will cause the AC system to work harder. The harder the compressor needs to work, the more gas the vehicle will use turning the compressor. An AC checkup can expose any necessary AC repairs that must be done. For the most part, air conditioning problems are easy to fix and won’t require a lot of money to repair them. The vehicle can normally be fixed within a couple of hours. In the end, drivers will end up with efficient and effective AC systems in their car that don’t eat up as much gas as poorly maintained systems.
In the end, the best way to conserve gas while using the air conditioner is to make sure that the system works properly. That involves getting an AC checkup and then doing any AC repairs that may be needed. Properly maintained AC systems burn much less fuel than an improperly working system. With that in mind, all of this work can be taken care of quickly and for a relatively inexpensive price.
Lastly, drivers should focus on doing some other things to reduce the amount of fuel they burn with the AC system on or not on. Drivers should focus on driving smoothly without any sudden braking moves or excessive use of the gas pedal. Also, using the cruise control can help a car use less fuel. Drivers should use the air conditioner at a low level rather than a high one to save quite a bit of money on fuel costs. Remember the AC system is designed to be used in most newer egg shaped cars, putting down the windows causes more wind resistance then if the windows are up!
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