New Year’s Car Resolutions
As the new year arrives, you promise yourself a lot or make several resolutions. Among the various resolutions, your new year’s resolutions could also include your responsibility towards your own car. It’s all about changing some of your habits in order to help your car last longer, ensure a higher resale price, as well as pollute less and burn less gasoline. Following are a few helpful tips to keep your car in a good condition:
- Keep your car clean: On this new year, include a vehicle maintenance regime. Remove unnecessary items from the passenger cabin and the trunk. It will make your car look clean as well as less weight will ensure you use less gasoline. Don’t carry the rooftop cargo carrier unless you are engaged in hauling.
- Check tire pressure on a regular basis: Your car’s tires need attention especially in winter, as cold temperature cause decrease of air pressure in tires. And low tire pressure causes the engine to work harder and to burn more gasoline. Thus, measure tire pressure regularly and keep the tires properly inflated and wheels aligned. Under-inflated tires by 8 psi can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) and increase your car’s fuel consumption by 4 percent.
- Keep up with automaker’s recommended service intervals: Remember, by idling your car, you are burning more gas. It also causes break down of your car often. Thus, it is very important to follow the recommended servicing in regular intervals.
- Be a better driver: Aggressive and fast driving can increase fuel consumption. Resolve yourself to avoid jack-rabbit starts; and sudden accelerations. Giving yourself more time and planning your routes ahead of time are just a few things you can do to save money, fuel and lower your car’s emissions.
- Opt for high-quality repair shops: Look for repair shops that have certified professionals with credentials listing of their areas of expertise.
