Saving Gas and Money

How to Save Gas and Save Money With a Few Simple ChecksBy: Scott Siegel
You may not know that your car may not be running as efficiently as it should. If your car is not running at its optimum then you are loosing fuel economy and money. If you invest just a few minutes a month you can prevent that loss.A few simple things to look for on a regular basis may prevent problems with your car can affect your gas mileage. In addition to saving gas by keeping your car running at its best, you might also be preventing costly repair bills in the future.Even more importantly you will insure that your car is as safe as it can be. You can prevent problems that could lead to critical failures that might result in an accidents causing injury.Most maintenance should be left to the professionals. However, once a month you should perform the following checks to help identify and head off problems that can cost you fuel and money down the road:1. First check your tires. Check for any objects that may have become embedded in the tire causing air leaks. Look for signs of uneven or excessive wear and check the pressure. Keep your tires at the recommended pressure as listed in your owners manual.2. Check for fluid leaks. Look around the car and especially under the car around the engine. If you see fluid then you should attempt to identify it. One way is by its color. Coolant is a bright yellowish green color, Transmission fluid is usually pink, Oil is black and brake fluids and power steering fluids are generally clear, with a slight tinge of brown . These fluids are all oily to the touch.3. Check the level of your fluids. This would entail the engine oil, the engine coolant, the transmission fluid and the power steering fluid. Make sure you top off any that are low. Check with the owner's manual to make sure you are doing this properly.4. Check under the hood for cracked or leaking radiator hoses and cracked or split spark plug wires. Also check for loose clamps and check the battery for any visible signs of corrosion.5. Check the brakes. Identifying brake problems can be done with this procedure. Find a flat and straight road that is traffic-free. Put your hands very lightly on the steering wheel. At a slow speed, put on the brakes gradually. If the car swerves to either to the right or to the left, it is an indication that your brakes need work. It could indicate uneven wear or that your brakes simply need adjustment. Don't wait, get this taken care of as soon as possible.6. Use a similar test to check for problems with wheel alignment. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and drive at an even speed. If the vehicle pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.These are just a few basic checks you can perform on your car monthly. By doing this you will keep your car running at its peak performance. If your car is running at its best, it will save you gas, money and will keep you safe!