Seven Tips to Help Save on Gas

Looking for ways to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to fuel? There are ways to help maximize each tank for a longer period of time. Some are well-known, and others you may not have realized.  Some of these 7 tips only help a tiny bit, but everything counts!

1. Lighten up - Empty your trunk and back seats of any items you don’t need. Also, not keeping your fuel tank completely full may also help, as toting less fuel will also make your vehicle lighter. A lighter car should get you better MPG.

2. Cool off - It is okay to turn on you AC. Consumer Reports says that Air Conditioning's gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. Furthermore, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt on gas miles by increasing drag.

3. Stay straight - Staying in one lane as much as possible will also help with fuel consumption, as weaving in and out of lanes uses up more fuel.

4. Tighten up - Your gas cap, that is!  Gasoline evaporates readily, and a loose gas cap can let it escape Scott-free!

5. Shift up - Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, which saves you gas money. Check your owner's manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive.

6. Just cruise - Go ahead and use cruise control when you're on a flat highway, where it can increase gas miles by 7%. However, don't use it on uneven roads with lots of inclines and declines; cruise control isn't as efficient on those.

7. Shut off - Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won't have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas miles.

12 Car-Related Jargon Terms That Everyone Should Know

There's a lot of car-related lingo used in the industry, and some of it can be very important to you as a consumer!  It will pay dividends to know what these mean the next time you're looking to purchase a new car or service one you already own.  Here are a few common terms that you may or may not be familiar with:

 

ABS

An Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a safety feature that helps you to avoid skidding when braking suddenly. An ABS prevents your wheels from locking, allowing you to maintain control of the car.

Alloy Wheels

Technically, an alloy is a mixture of two or more metals.  Although steel itself is an alloy of iron and carbon, "alloy wheels" is a generic term used to describe any non-steel road wheel. The most common alloy wheels are cast aluminum. These wheels are known for their light weight and strength.

Chassis

The chassis is the metal frame that holds all the main parts of car together.

Differential

The gear assembly connected to the drive shaft that permits the wheels to turn at different speeds when going around a corner, while transmitting power from the drive shaft to the wheel axles.

Four-Wheel Drive

A four-wheel drive system allows the engine to power all four wheels simultaneously, instead of the standard two wheels.

Hybrid engine

A hybrid engine is typically a combination of a traditional gasoline engine and a zero-emission electric engine. They can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.

RPM

RPM stands for Revolutions Per Minute, and is an indicator how hard your engine is working.  More specifically, it's a measurement of how many times per minute your engine completes one full crankshaft rotation.  The higher the RPM, the faster your engine's internal parts are moving.

Spoiler

An aerodynamic device, normally on the rear of the vehicle, that changes the direction of airflow. A spoiler either reduces drag or creates a downward force on the car. It is called a spoiler because it "spoils" the normal air flow over the car.

Suspension

A car’s suspension is a system of springs and other parts that sits between the wheels and the frame, allowing the wheels to move independently and absorb the shock of any bumps or unevenness in the road.

Torque

In technical terms, torque is defined as a force used to turn or rotate things. In a car, it can define the power of the engine. In other words, it’s the stuff that rockets you away from the stoplight and forces you back into your seat.

Transmission

The transmission in a car is the gearbox and other mechanical parts that drive the wheels and allow the engine to accelerate through a wide range of different speeds.

Tread

Tread refers to the patterns cut into the rubber on your vehicle’s tires. Tread helps provide grip on the road, particularly in wet weather.

Why Proper Wheel and Tire Alignment is Important

Improper wheel alignment can effect driving performance as well as cost you money. Total alignment sets all four wheels positioned straight ahead and parallel. Yearly maintenance is recommended. The following are some benefits of wheel alignment:

• Improves gas mileage. In the recent economy and a year of outrageous gas prices, everyone is looking to better their gas mileage to save money. By having your vehicle aligned properly, it decreases any resistance while rolling which increases your gas mileage. It is also important to make sure that your tires are properly inflated as this will help gas mileage as well.

• Reduces tire wear. Premature tire wear can be costly. One of the signs of wheel misalignment is excessive or uneven tire wear. If your vehicle is not aligned properly, your tires can show wear more quickly due to their not rolling straight and being dragged in the wrong direction. You will have to replace them more often, costing you more. Proper alignment can save you money in the long run.

•  Improves the handling of your vehicle. Other signs of improper alignment pertain to the handling of our vehicle. These signs can be if your steering wheel pulls to the left or right, if it is not centered when driving straight ahead or if it vibrates or shimmies. Steering wheel vibration can also indicate tire wear or if they have not been inflated properly. While driving, your vehicle can also have a feeling of looseness or wandering. All of these signs can be corrected with total alignment which can absorb any road shock and provide a smoother ride.

• Improves safety. Proper wheel alignment can help you drive more safely by improving steering and tracking problems. The improved handling and control of your vehicle can help you prevent or avoid accidents.

How to Hand Wash Your Car!

Go off-roading last weekend?  Or perhaps you've noticed all of that road salt accumulating all over your car?  Or maybe you just like the sight of a freshly waxed vehicle?  It doesn't matter which is the case, the reality of the situation is simple:  You need a car wash!

Now, you could take it to an automatic wash-- it's certainly the most convenient option.  But brushed automatic washes can scratch your paint, and touchless washes have a tough time getting all of the grime off of your car.  Hand washing is the more time-consuming option, but the results are thorough and can be in a league of their own.  So, what's the best way to hand wash your car?  Let's start with the basics!

Step 1:  Choose the right tools
First Never wash in direct sunlight. Pick a shady spot. Second it’s very important to choose tools that are gentle on the paint, yet still effective at removing contamination. As a rule of thumb, sponges and mitts that are plush or have a deep nap are better than flat weave towels or dense sponges. For example, a natural sea sponge has numerous deep compartments where dirt and debris can accumulate. The natural fibers themselves will not scratch the paint and they will essentially pull contamination into the sponge’s openings, away from the paint. Always use the softer side of the sponge for washing. Rinse new sea sponges thoroughly before use to remove any shell fragments or sand.

Another option is a sheepskin wash mitt. Sheepskin is extremely soft and plush. The fibers are gentle on the paint while the nap is deep enough to accommodate loose dirt and sand so they do not rub against the vehicle. Because wool is natural, it does not last as long as a Microfiber mitt. However, for luxurious softness, you can’t beat the texture of wool.





Step 2:  Start washing!


1. Some folks like to clean their wheels first as to prevent the excessive grime that builds up on your tires and in your rims from spraying up onto your paint while you're scrubbing them.  Others like to wait until the end to avoid getting the wheels dirty (again) with dirt being rinsed off of your car.  Either way works.

2. Now you’re ready to wash the car itself.  It’s important to use a car wash that is rich in lubricants. The purpose of the car wash is to remove contaminants and lubricate them so they do not scratch the paint as they slide off the vehicle. Dish detergents are not ideal because they remove protective coatings.

3. How do you prevent swirl marks? Use two buckets. Fill one bucket with soapy water and fill the other with clean water. Each time you’re ready to reload your sponge with soapy water, dip it in the clean water first, to rinse out the grit and contamination you’ve just removed from your vehicle. Then dip it in the soapy water and continue washing.

4. Always rinse your vehicle thoroughly before you begin washing in order to remove loose debris. Then begin washing at the top of the vehicle. Wash down the vehicle as opposed to front to back. Remember that the lower panels are dirtiest. You want to clean the windows and the upper panels before cleaning the lower half of the vehicle so that you don’t transfer grit to the top half of the vehicle. Rinse and reload your Sponge often to prevent cross-contamination. Rinse your vehicle frequently as you work, especially in hot weather.

5. When rinsing, you don’t have to blast your car clean with the water hose. Free-flowing water (no nozzle) will allow the water to sheet off of your vehicle for a more thorough rinsing.


Step 3:  Drying your car
Never skip drying! Drying your vehicle after washing is necessary to prevent water spots. Water spots are caused by mineral deposits that etch the outline of a drop of water into your vehicle’s paint. All water has minerals, whether it’s from the hose or the sky. As the water evaporates, the minerals remain on the surface and they will eventually, invariably create water spots.

Your tool of choice for drying should be a "jelly blade", a chamois, or a detailing vacuum.  We'll just assume you're using the blade or the chamois.

1. Dry the windows and mirrors first. A series of careful firm strokes with your chamois will remove any remaining water.

2. Once the outside is dry, wipe down all your door jambs. Open the trunk and hood to wipe the jambs.

3. Dry your wheels using a towel or chamois that is designated just for this purpose. Don’t use this towel on your paint to avoid cross-contamination. You may also use this towel to wipe off surfaces under the hood. Wash this towel before you use it again.

Step 4:  Apply wax or sealant
This one is easy but varies widely depending on each product.  The general idea, though, is to use a spray wax or spray sealant to rejuvenate the shine of your existing wax. Skip this step if you are going to apply another coat of wax.

10 Features You Almost Never See in Cars Anymore!

It’s hard to picture what today’s teenagers will wax nostalgic about 30 years from now when they reminisce about their first car (perhaps the fact that it still required gasoline). Who knows how automobiles will change in the future; what we do know is how different they are today from 30 or more years ago. If you fondly remember being surrounded by two or three tons of solid Detroit steel with a whip antenna on the front from which you could tie a raccoon tail or adorn with an orange Union 76 ball, and enough leg room that you didn’t suffer from phlebitis on long road trips, then you might also miss a few of these.

 Feature 1:  Bench Seats

Remember these?  Back before seat belts were even included in cars—much less mandatory to wear—three passengers could fit comfortably in the front of most cars, or four if one was a child or a skinny relative. Many sly males took advantage of the seat design while driving with a female companion; a quick, unexpected sharp turn made with his right arm resting on the seat back sent the lady sliding right into his embrace.  Smooth!

Feature 2:  Tail Fins

Tailfins were the brainchild of General Motors design chief Harley Earl. The first fins appeared on the 1948 Cadillac, inspired by the WWII Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter plane. By the late 1950s, most folks had shrugged off the war and were fixated instead on all things space-age. Tail fins grew to enormous proportions, both in terms of physical size and in popularity, giving cars a futuristic look.

Feature 3:  Ash Treys

Ashtrays were commonly found in the dashboard (along with an electric lighter), mounted on the back of the front seat, and in the armrests on opposite sides of the back seat. Even if you weren’t a smoker, the tray in the dash was handy for storing coins, and the rear ones were handy receptacles for candy wrappers and discarded chewing gum.

Feature 4:  Pointlessly Huge Trunks

Back in the good old days you could easily fit a week’s worth of groceries, the spare tire, and a Mafia snitch in the trunk and still have room for that old TV set with the blown picture tube you’ve been meaning to take to the repair shop.

Feature 5:  A Full-Size Spare Tire

The advantage with a full-size spare was that you could put it on, stow the flat tire in your trunk, and go on your merry way with no particular urgency to get it repaired (unlike today’s donuts, which are designed to be used for limited distances at speeds under 50 miles per hour). The disadvantage was that sometimes you went on your merry way for many months … until one day you got another puncture, only to discover that the tire in your trunk was just as flat as the one on the axle.  Oops!

Feature 6:  Floor-Mounted Dimmer Switch

In the old days, your high beam switch was actually a button in the general vicinity left of the brake pedal, so even in an unfamiliar car all you had to do was tap around with your toe a few times to find it.

Feature 7: Vent Windows

Vent or “wing” windows were popular in the pre-air conditioning era of automotive manufacturing. But they were convenient for many purposes that are still valid today. For example, on those days when it’s temperate enough to open windows rather than run the A/C, the vent windows allowed air to circulate freely without blowing street grime in your face and messing your hair. Smokers also appreciated being able to flick their ashes out the “no-draft” without the fear of them flying back inside the vehicle.

Feature 8:  Horn Rings!

Horn rings were originally considered a safety feature as well as a convenience device. Previously, the driver had to completely remove one hand from the steering wheel to depress the button in the center to honk the horn. The horn ring was designed so that both hands could remain on the wheel and just a stretch of a finger or thumb would be able to beep a warning sound. As driver side airbags started entering the market, horn activation was relocated to a button in the steering wheel spokes.

Feature 9:  Audible Turn Signals

How many fewer drivers would drive for miles and miles with their turn signal flashing if the indicators still made an audible noise as they blinked? In the old days, the sound was more of a tinka-tinka high-pitched tone, but even this late '90s audible click might keep a few folks from appearing to be making their way around the world to the left.

Feature 10:  “Suicide” Doors

Rear-hinged doors got their macabre name in the pre-seat belt era; if such a door wasn’t closed tight while the car was in motion, the road wind would fling it wide open and the passenger would most likely be tossed to the pavement. But they were popular for quite a while up until the 1960s because of the convenience—there was no pillar separating the front and back seats when both side doors were opened, so there was plenty of room to daintily climb inside (especially in a time when women regularly wore dresses and high heels).

3 gifts that your significant other would love for Valentines Day!

The countdown is on. There are only a few days left until Valentine's Day. If you're one of those significant others who are procrastination pros, don't worry, we're here to help. Here are three great gift ideas for the car enthusiast in your life:

• Fuzzy Dice - A classic choice.  These bad boys are tried and true, and still awesome enough to outweigh any possibletackiness that might come along with them!  Just make sure they match the color of your car!
• Steering Wheel Cover - A great way to showcase your personality.  They're not permanent and they come in all kinds of cool colors, designs, and materials!
• 3D Race Track Sculptures from Linear Edge - The perfect contemporary art for anyone interested in racing!  They also sell some really neat coasters!

These are just a few ideas. If you have some cool suggestions, share them in the comments below. And before you head out for your Valentine's Day festivities, be sure to stay safe on the road and schedule a service appointment with us online!

Car Care Tip of the Week: Use Your Headrest!

Looking for ways to reduce driving fatigue?  Try this!  Before you hit the road, sit up straight, raise your head as high as you can, and press it into the headrest. Hold it there for five seconds, then relax.  Repeat four or five times.  Doing this will improve your posture and put muscles like your multifidus to work, which helps to hold your spine in a normal load-bearing position. This, in turn, will reduce the strain on your neck and make driving that much more comfortable!