LA Auto Club Offers Best Vehicle Maintenance Tips for Best Gas Mileage

LOS ANGELES--Oct. 1, 20043, 2004--You've emptied the trunk of golf clubs, backpacks and laundry. You've shopped around for the best price for a gallon of gas. You've formed a carpool. With gas prices soaring, what should a motorist do next to get the best fuel economy from their vehicle?

The Automobile Club of Southern California says good driving, repair and maintenance habits can help you achieve fuel savings of 5% or more based on average miles per gallon over 1,000 miles driven. (Tank to tank comparisons are not as effective because variations can occur based on weather and traffic conditions.)

"Making sure the vehicle is in good mechanical shape is one of the keys to getting the most mileage possible out of a tank of gas," said the Auto Club's Approved Auto Repair Program Manager Rick Kretsch. "And adjusting your driving style will also help with conserving gasoline. Your driving style significantly affects your fuel economy."

-- It's all about the oil. Proper oil maintenance and viscosity will help your car to operate at maximum efficiency. Heavy oil will cause the engine to work harder. Use the lightest grade oil for the Southern California climate. Check the chart in the owner's manual to find out what grade is best suited to your vehicle.

-- Let your engine coolant be cool, but not too cool. Improperly mixed engine coolant can cause your engine to run too hot or too cool and can hamper fuel economy. The right temperature makes the car run more efficiently, so make sure your engine has fresh coolant.

-- Replace the dirty air filter. An air filter works hard on Southland freeways and roads and collects dust, dirt and debris. A new and functioning air filter will provide better gas mileage.

-- Fire up the spark plugs. A tune-up is a misnomer in this day in age. Computer-driven coil packs replaced the points, condensor and distributor in most vehicles a long time ago. However, spark plugs must fire properly for the engine to run smoothly. Replace the spark plugs on time, according to your owner's manual.

-- Don't ride around on big, big tires. For those who bought bigger tires and fancy wheels for SUV's and mini-vans, it's more than likely that fuel economy has significantly decreased. If you still have the original tires, switch them back. Consult the vehicle owner's manual for the correct pressure.

-- Tires. Tires. Tires. Maintaining your vehicle's tires is crucial to fuel economy, said Kretsch. Every other fill-up, walk around the vehicle and check tires for uneven or excessive tread wear as well as proper inflation. Refer to the vehicle's doorjamb, fuel filler flap, or glove box for original equipment specifications or the manufacturer of the replacement tire for proper tire pressure inflation, he added. The Auto Club also recommends a tire rotation approximately every 7,500 miles, said Kretsch. Check your owner's manual for your specific vehicle's service recommendations.

-- Service engine light. If the engine light is on, one or more systems in the vehicle aren't working properly and can hamper fuel economy. Take the car into a reputable repair facility to be evaluated. Get a written estimate, if work is to be diagnosed.

-- Keep it not so cool. Use your air conditioner sparingly.

-- Don't stomp on the accelerator. How hard you depress the throttle will greatly affect fuel economy. Accelerate less aggressively, brake gently and stop speeding. Instead of driving defensively, go on the offense and adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style. If you're not already driving defensively, now's the time to adopt a more laid-back and fuel-efficient driving style.

There are nearly 600 Auto Club approved repair facilities in Southern California and more than 7,500 approved repair facilities in North America. The names and addresses of these shops can be located at www.aaa.com or by calling your local AAA motor club. All AAA approved shops are required to prominently display their affiliation with the Auto Club outside their place of business and many advertise Auto Club approval in the telephone directory.

Auto Club approved shops have met the association's tough requirements for employing qualified technicians, meeting and exceeding customer satisfaction requirements, using quality parts and service equipment, and following ethical business practices. AAA members are entitled to free vehicle inspections when having other work - such as an oil change - performed on their vehicles.