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REDUCE EMISSIONS
5 Tips
on How Your Vehicle Can Reduce
Emissions. From Car Care Council
Driving technique and proper vehicle
maintenance go a long way toward
reducing emissions. The Car Care
Council suggests:
- Tire Checks –
According to the Car Care
Council, around two billion
gallons of gas each year could
be saved if the tires on every
American's car were properly
inflated. Optimal tire pressure
for your vehicle is listed in
the owner's manual. Tires that
are not properly inflated add
rolling resistance that makes
the engine work harder to move
the vehicle. All of this
increases fuel costs as much as
three to five cents per gallon,
and increases the risk of engine
damage.
- Drive Green –
Recognize that how your drive
has a lot to do with fuel
economy. Avoid sudden starts and
stops and go the speed limit.
Jerky and aggressive driving
decreases your miles per gallon
(MPG) and increases wear and
tear on your vehicle. Minimize
unnecessary miles by combining
errands in one trip.
- Get a Tune-Up –
Regular tune-ups, maintenance
and having clean air filters
will help your car pollute less
and burn less gas. With a proper
tune-up, you can save four
percent on the cost of gas and
up to 40 percent by replacing a
faulty oxygen sensor. Simply
changing the car's air filter
can improve efficiency by 10
percent.
- Lighten the Load –
Get the junk out of the trunk
and the stuff out of your car,
with the exception of emergency
items such as a spare tire,
flares and a first-aid kit.
Extra items weigh the vehicle
down and cause an increase in
gas usage.
- Gas Caps and
Fill-Ups –
Check your vehicle's gas cap.
Approximately 17 percent of
vehicles on the road have loose,
damaged or missing gas caps,
causing 147 million gallons of
gas to vaporize every year.
Topping off your gas tank when
filling up your car can also
release harmful vapors into the
environment.
Vehicle owners who do their own
maintenance should remember to
recycle or properly dispose of
fluids and other vehicle components,
including used motor oil, tires and
batteries.
More information about environmental
awareness is included in the popular
digital Car Care Guide that can be
easily accessed through the
council's Web site at
www.carcare.org and the direct link:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mercury/carcareguide/
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