Diamond Custom Auto Repair

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Simple and Cost Effective Ways to Save Money on Your Fuel Consumption

Avoid “jackrabbit” starts by accelerating gradually. Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33% highway and 5% around town.
If you have to idle your vehicle longer than 3 minutes, shut your engine off. Idling burns more fuel than restarting it.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items in the vehicle. That extra weight will cause you to lose fuel efficiency. An extra 100 lbs. can reduce your mpg by up to 2%.
Avoid high speeds. You can increase your fuel economy by about 15% by driving 55 mph rather than 65 mph. Each 5 mph that you drive over 60 mph is like paying $.20 more per gallon.
Use your air conditioning only when necessary. Use the “vent” mode on milder days. In the heat of the summer, once your vehicle cools down below the outside temperature, put it in the re-circulation mode.
Keep your windows rolled up rear round. You lose fuel economy because of the aerodynamic drag and this will also keep you and your passengers safer.
Use overdrive on your vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission or a higher gear with manual transmissions. If the engine knocks/detonates, jump down to the next lower gear.
For those vehicles that use premium grade fuel, you may want to try using a “regular” grade gas. But, if your engine knocks/detonates, do not continue using this regular grade gas as it will cause harm to your engine! Engine detonation will be more apparent in the summer than in the winter.
Use cruise control whenever possible. Keeping the steady speed that cruise control provides saves on fuel efficiency.
When the tires are cold (before driving it for the day) check your tire pressure. Once a month is a good rule of thumb. Use a good quality tire gauge to receive accurate readings. Properly inflated tires will help your fuel economy by around 3.3% as well as getting more miles out of your tires!
Have your engine oil changed every 3,500 miles or six months (whichever comes first). This reduces engine friction making the engine more fuel efficient. Synthetic oil will reduce friction even further and also allow you to go twice as long between oil changes. Synthetic oil is more pricy than premium grade oils, but has also been proven to make engines last longer!
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% just by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.
Wheel alignment is important to maximize your fuel efficiency and assist you in getting more miles out of your tires.
Have your car tuned up every 50,000 to 70,000 miles. Gas or oil fouled spark plugs can harm your fuel economy. Old spark plug wires, old wires and ignition components, such as the cap and rotor, can also affect your fuel economy by more than 15% though results vary based on the kind of tune-up. If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor, by replacing it may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 40%.
Replace your Air Filter every 25,000 miles or 2 years. This can increase your fuel economy by as much as 10%
If you have a pickup truck, getting a “Tonno” cover or fiberglass cover (etc.) may save you up to 10% in fuel efficiency. These can be purchased locally at East Valley Truck Accessories for $249.00 to $600.00 depending on the type you select.
Avoid placing items in your luggage rack. This will increase aerodynamic drag causing a decrease in fuel efficiency.
Keep your vehicle clean and waxed. This will assist with your vehicles aerodynamics.
Walk, bike, use public transportation and carpool whenever possible.
Combine your errands in to one trip.

Save money by learning how to maintain your own vehicle and avoid break downs:

Running your vehicle when the gas gauge reads ¼ tank or less will lessen the life of your fuel pump. That’s because most fuel pumps are located in the gas tank and need over a ¼ tank in order to cool the fuel pump. If the pump becomes overheated, it could fail, many times without warning! This repair can be costly and leave you stranded!
Check your tire pressures at least once a month! Check them before driving the vehicle for the day, and always, use a high grade tire pressure gauge so you won’t get inaccurate readings! Properly inflated tires will increase your fuel economy and lessen your tire wear. Always be sure to check the tire inflation of your spare tire!
We all know that “air bags” save lives, but they must be used in conjunction with seat belts. If you are transporting a child, elderly or person that is small in stature, place them in a seat where the air bag will not deploy causing them injury. In many cases, the manufacturer has an on/off switch to cut off the air bag in these instances. Read your owners manual to determine where to place your riders!
In our severe summer heat, your car battery will not last as long as the warranty dictates. Always install a high quality battery which may cost you slightly more, but that will keep you from break-downs and a big tow bill!
Keep your battery cables free of oxidation! Use battery clean or baking soda on them at the first sign of oxidation. If your battery cables and terminals show signs of severe oxidation, simply replacing the battery terminals may not be effective. The battery cables themselves may be oxidized meaning that the entire battery cable system will need to be replaced which is very expensive!
Replace your windshield wiper blades annually! This could save your windshield from being scratched up. Also, check your windshield wiper fluid monthly to insure that you can clean you windshield of debris when needed!
Replace you air filter every 15,000 miles. This will increase your fuel economy and keep your engine performing at its best!
Rotate your tires every 6,000 miles. Whether you do it yourself, or take it to your mechanic or tire store, check for tire wear. Are the steel belts bulging through? Is there uneven tire wear? What is the remaining tread life of the tires? Always check your spare tire to insure that it will be road ready for emergency situations!
In your vehicle emergency kit, keep a couple of flares or cones, a flashlight and extra fresh household batteries, misc. tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches as well as duct tape, electrical tape, bottled water and good quality jumper cables. Save your old belts and hoses for emergencies! These may be helpful to getting your vehicle back on the road! For longer trips, be sure to take along some fresh drinking water and snacks in case of a break down situation!
Check your transmission fluid dipstick every 6,000 miles. Your transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles in order to insure the longevity of your transmission. If you tow a trailer, your fluids should be changed every 12,000 miles. If your transmission fluid has a “burnt” smell, it should be serviced immediately. That burnt smell means that your transmission fluids not lubricating efficiently and can be causing excessive wear and tear on your transmission.
If your cooling hoses become brittle and hard, you need to replace them in order to avoid a break down situation Even your heater hoses are a part of cooling system! If a hose bursts the engine does not receive proper cooling and the engine could seize! If you have an overheat condition, stop the vehicle immediately to avoid engine damage!
For optimum engine life, change your engine oil and filter every 3,000 miles or every 3 months under normal vehicle use! Have your automotive technician check out your vehicle to insure that all other components are in good condition. Always insist that they prime your oil filter so that there is not any excessive engine wear and tear on your engine on first start up. Otherwise, the engine is starved for oil putting an unnecessary strain on the engine. Have them replace your oil drain plug gasket (if worn) and always make sure that they use the premium grade oil that the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle!
If you plan to keep your vehicle for many years to come, consider using a synthetic engine oil. This will cost you considerably more money for each oil change, but you can have longer intervals between oil changes! These synthetic oils are proven to increase the life of the engine which will save you a lot of money overall!