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A Little Car Maintenance Goes a Long Way

With the price of gas now exceeding a dollar a litre in many parts of the country, maintaining your vehicle properly is essential for keeping fuel costs down. Improperly maintained vehicles use more fuel as well as create more wear and tear. It just makes good sense to revisit the basics.

Getting pumped about tires

Seventy per cent of vehicles on the road have at least one tire with an inflation problem. Could your car be one?

Measure your vehicle's tire pressure once a month. It will save money on your fuel bill and keep your tires in better shape longer.

Improper tire inflation means your vehicle isn't driving as efficiently as it should, which drains your gas tank more quickly. In fact, driving your vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by eight pounds per square inch will increase your vehicle's fuel consumption by four percent and can reduce the life of your tires by a whopping 15,000 kilometres.

To properly maintain and inflate your vehicle's tires, consider the following tips:

• Measure your vehicle's tire pressure once a month.
• Find the recommended tire inflation pressure on your vehicle's placard by consulting your owner's manual for its exact location.
• Measure the air pressure when your tires are cold, meaning your tires need to be stationary for at least three hours or driven fewer than two kilometres.
• Inflate each tire by removing the cap from the tire valve, press the tire gauge onto the valve and take the air pressure reading.
• Add air to achieve recommended tire air pressure. If you overfill, simply release air by pushing on the metal stem in the centre of the valve, and then recheck the air pressure.
• Replace the valve cap and repeat with each tire, including the spare (you never know when you might need it).

Maintenance tips to save you money

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s “Be Car Care Aware” campaign estimates there is $2 billion in unperformed automotive maintenance work in Canada that could result in increases in fuel consumption, vehicle breakdown and personal injury.  

Reviewing these maintenance tips will keep your vehicle in top condition and lower those gas bills:

• Drive smart: Avoid rapid acceleration and heavy braking. Driving aggressively can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets. In other words, slow down and ensure you have proper time to reach your destination; you can save between 2 and 15 cents per litre.
  
• Tighten the cap: Car Care Canada estimates that 22 million litres of gasoline vaporize into the atmosphere each year in Canada as a result of improperly tightened or missing gas caps. It is also a common cause for failing an emissions test, yet it is simple and inexpensive to fix.
  
• Keep the sparks alive: Replace worn out parts such as belts, hoses and sparkplugs. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which in turn leads to decreased fuel efficiency. Regularly replacing your spark plugs means your car will run healthier. Consult your vehicle's manual for a proper maintenance schedule.
  
• Minimize drag: Remove roof and rear-mounted racks when they are not needed. A loaded roof rack can increase fuel consumption by up to five per cent. Even empty racks increase aerodynamic drag and boost fuel consumption. Likewise, rid your trunk of clutter and heavy items, as this adds to the total weight of your vehicle and also increases drag.
  
• Plan ahead: Even if your automobile is serviced regularly, be sure to have it inspected before a major road trip and advise your technician of your travel plans, i.e. in the mountains, towing a trailer, distance.

Related Links

Car Care Canada
Be Tire Smart