Summer Travel Tips For Vehicle Fuel Economy Improvement From The Pep Boys

MANNY, MOE & JACK HELP DRIVERS BEAT HIGH SUMMER GAS PRICES BY FOCUSING ON THREE KEY AREAS

Pep Boys Says Easy Maintenance, Proper Driving Habits and New Technologies Can Save Motorists Money This Summer

Philadelphia (May 22, 2012) - Memorial Day historically kicks off the summer driving season. With fuel costs topping the $4.00 per gallon mark in many U.S. cities, The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack<http://www.pepboys.com/> offer advice and technical know-how on the easiest ways for drivers to keep from opening their wallets for gas too frequently this summer.

PRACTICE GOOD DRIVING HABITS Changing your driving habits is one of the least expensive and most surefire ways to save money by getting better fuel economy.

Driving at a steady pace for long periods of time, like most people do on road trips, lends itself to increased fuel economy. If you can't drive at a constant speed because of traffic, or road conditions, there are other steps you can take including avoiding fast starts. Smoothly apply the gas pedal, gradually accelerate and ease into traffic. This is easier on the engine, it decreases wear on the powertrain of your vehicle and returns better fuel mileage.

The same can be said for stopping and slowing down. When possible, gradually slow down. Coasting to a stop and lightly using your brakes increases brake life and will increase your fuel economy by relying less on powered movement.

Whether in day-to-day driving or embarking on the family road trip, make sure your car, truck or RV is only carrying what it needs to. Heavy, fully loaded vehicles get worse gas mileage because they have to work harder to accelerate.

Air conditioning systems also put a load on the engine, which can reduce fuel mileage. Temperatures during summer months can routinely top 90 or even 100 degrees in many parts of the nation, making the AC necessary. When possible, drive with the fan on only, cracking a window for a steady stream of fresh, cooler air. If using the air conditioning system is a must, use the recirculate function so the system is cooling down pre-cooled air rather than the warmer, ambient air outside the car. Make sure that the climate controls are not accidentally left in the "defrost" mode when not needed. The defroster requires use of the air conditioning compressor to function.

PERFORM REGULAR, BASIC MAINTENANCE Performing regular maintenance is often overlooked. Making sure your car, truck or RV has been recently serviced and inspected is another relatively quick and practical way you can make sure you're getting the best fuel economy possible.

If the "check engine" or "service engine soon" light is on, be sure to have the cause investigated and repaired promptly. Often, a fault in the powertrain management system will cause automatic selection of a lower power mode that can greatly reduce fuel economy.

Properly inflated tires lower the rolling resistance of your vehicle and further increase fuel economy. Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper specification by consulting the plaque on the inside of the driver's door jam or within the vehicle owner's manual. Properly inflated tires are also safer and wear more evenly than over, or under, inflated tires.

UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY Many newer vehicles are equipped with on-board trip computers that calculate a driver's instantaneous and average mileage in real-time. These computers give immediate feedback to what a driver is doing right or wrong when it comes to getting the best fuel economy possible. Track these figures and tailor your driving style to get the most out of each drop of gasoline.

Mobile apps for cellular phones like Gas Buddy and CheapGas!, are free to download and offer users the ability to strategically find the lowest price gas in a given area. If you don't own a smart phone, some apps are also available as online sites, like Gas Buddy

Other apps like Beat the Traffic (free in the App Store) help users avoid gridlock by highlighting traffic jams and mapping the most direct route to your next stop, saving time and fuel.

For additional information on how to keep your vehicle in tip top shape visit, Pep Boys' Car Care Corner Pep Boys for free advice on simple maintenance and easy-to-understand basic diagnostics. PepBoys.com has a variety of replacement parts, accessories and performance items to make your car run better and look its best, available for online purchase and in-store pick-up.