Tips to Keep Your Car In Shape for Road Trips
With gas prices on the rise, there is no better time than now to think about vehicle maintenance.
“Proper car care is critical during the travel season,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “With gas prices exceeding an average $2 per gallon for the first time in history, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient.”
In light of the higher gasoline prices, the Car Care Council suggests you pay attention to these items:
* Vehicle gas caps. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
* Underinflated tires. When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s just as though you are driving with the parking brake on, which can cost you a mile or two per gallon.
* Worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical...