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Keeping Your Vehicle in Tune with the Environment
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| Keeping Your Vehicle in Tune with the Environment |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:51:45 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) |
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Description:
Car care is definitely
a win-win situation. Besides helping the environment, a properly maintained
and operated vehicle will run more efficiently, will be safer, and will
last up to 50% longer, according to a survey of ASE-certified Master Auto
Technicians. The following tips should put you on the road to environmentally
conscious car care.
Keep your engine
tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much
as 30%. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual.
Replace filters and fluids as recommended.
Check your tires
for proper inflation. Underinflation wastes fuel your engine has to
work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as evidenced
by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the engine work harder,
too. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer scrap
tires have to be disposed.
Keep your air
conditioner in top condition and have it serviced only by a technician
certified competent to handle/recycle refrigerants. Air conditioners
contain CFCs-gases that have been implicated in the depletion of the
ozone layer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost
one third of the CFCs released into the atmosphere come from mobile
air conditioners; some simply leaks out, but the majority escapes during
service and repair-so it's important to choose a qualified technician.
Do-it-yourselfers:
dispose of used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries
properly. Many repair facilities accept these items. Or call your local
municipal or county government for recycling sites. Never dump used
oil or anti-freeze on the ground or in open streams.
Observe speed
limits. Mileage decreases sharply above 55 mph.
Drive gently.
Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go's. Use cruise-control
on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible.
Avoid excessive
idling. Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family. Today's
vehicles are designed to "warm up" fast, so forget about those five-minute
warm ups on cold winter mornings.
Remove excess
items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Store luggage/
cargo in the trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag.
Plan trips. Consolidate
your daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving. Try to travel when
traffic is light to avoid stop-and-go conditions. Join a car pool.
Remember, how your
car runs, how you drive it, and how its fluids, old parts, and tires are
disposed of all have serious consequences on the environment.
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