“Some people put off repairs—they hear a squeak or rattle and decide to save some money by not having their car serviced,” says Frank Walsh, owner of William Michael Automotive in Santa Clara. “That’s usually a mistake, because if you continue driving your car in that condition, what was a simple and inexpensive problem can become very difficult and costly.”
When it comes to the frequency of scheduled services, Mr. Walsh doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all schedule. “Today’s cars are more complex and can often go five or six thousand miles between oil changes,” he says. “The best thing to do is talk with your service advisor. They can help you determine how often you should be servicing your car.” For a general idea of how and when to service your vehicle, consider the following tips:
• Regularly replace the spark plugs in your engine—the air and fuel mixture will burn cleaner.
• Improve the intake/output system. By allowing gas to enter and exhaust to exit your vehicle, you’ll improve its overall performance and gas mileage.
• Reduce friction. Use high-quality or synthetic motor oil.
• Check your oil. Low oil makes your engine work harder.
• Change your filters. Dirty filters can sometimes increase the amount of fuel your vehicle uses by as much as 10 percent.
• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Check regularly to ensure your wheels are fully inflated and your alignment is good.
• Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks.
Tips for improving gas mileage
• Keep your car clean. Mud on the undercarriage can weigh a significant amount and slow you down.
• Consolidate your daily trips and errands. This will also save you the cost of restarting your engine, which uses a lot of gas.
• Avoid air conditioning when possible. However, when driving at higher speeds, remember that having your windows open creates drag.
• Don’t throttle the gas or brake pedal. Sudden starts or stops use more gas than gradual changes in speed.
• Don’t idle for too long. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait.
• Limit car warm-ups in winter.
• Clear out the trunk. More weight equals more drag.
• Avoid high speeds. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 15 percent driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
• If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing, use it as soon as your speed is high enough.
• Use cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed is ideal for improving your gas mileage.
