Fuel Economy: Routine Maintenance Improves Fuel Economy

Fuel Economy

Motorists are increasingly performing routine vehicle maintenance procedures to improve fuel performance.

As high fuel prices have taken a toll on drivers’ wallets across the nation, many drivers have responded by reducing or eliminating unnecessary driving.

In fact, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 2007 marked the first year since 1980 that overall travel on roads and streets declined, while 2008 travel numbers are shaping up to be even lower.

As of the end of April, vehicle miles traveled in 2008 were 2.1 percent lower than 2007.

Of course, driving less is not always an option, especially for those people who rely on their vehicles for work.

Performing proper vehicle maintenance is another way to effectively stretch fuel dollars, and many drivers are taking notice.

In fact,surveys show that 31 percent of AAA Chicago members and 27 percent of AAA Michigan members are performing routine maintenance on a more frequent basis in order to conserve fuel.

“We’re promoting complete tune-ups on the counter to the do-it-yourselfers and on the phone and on the road to the installer shops.

The installers do their customers a favor when they talk them into a full, complete job, because at $4 a gallon, if you save them a few gallons of gas a month, they’re way aheadof the game.”

According to Mike Farling of M&C Foreign Car Parts in Mechanicsburg, Pa., customers demand convenience. “Convenience means a lot to customers today,” he says.

“They do not want to be taking their car to the garage every three months. If they can take it every six months, depending upon how many miles they’re putting on it, that’s what they want. They want to get it all done at one time, at one place, and they want it to be cost-effective.”

AMSOIL Dealers offer customers what theywant: quality, cost effectiveness and convenience. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils notonly provide the best lubricating protection and performance money can buy, but the extended drain intervals offer significant cost savings in the long run over standard drainintervals and the convenience associated with less trips to the quick lube or oil change center.

To learn more about how to improve fuel economy, click here.