Tips To Keep Your Car In Shape For Road Trips

Tips to Keep Your Car In Shape for Road Trips

Summary: "Proper car care is critical during the travel season," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "With gas prices exceeding an average $ per gallon for the first time in history, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient."

Tips to Keep Your Car In Shape for Road Trips

Article Body: With gas prices on the rise, there is no better time than now to think about vehicle maintenance.

"Proper car care is critical during the travel season," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "With gas prices exceeding an average $ per gallon for the first time in history, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient."

In light of the higher gasoline prices, the Car Care Council suggests you pay attention to these items:

Vehicle gas caps. About percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Underinflated tires. When tires aren't inflated properly, it's just as though you are driving with the parking brake on, which can cost you a mile or two per gallon.

Worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs which fire as many as million times every , miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.

Dirty air filters. An air

filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture - too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as percent, saving about cents per gallon.

Here are some fuel-saving driving tips from the Car Care Council:

Don't be an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as percent on the highway and percent on city streets, which wastes cents to cents per gallon.

Avoid excessive idling. Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.

Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above mph. Each mile driven over mph will result in an additional cost of cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, use cruise control.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" campaign, educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance and repair.