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(NAPSI)-If your automobile could talk, it might tell you it wants frequent trips to the car wash, traffic-free commutes and fill-ups with high-quality gasoline. And if it could choose a place to live, it would probably pick The Big Easy.
A recent study commissioned by Shell Oil Products U.S. unveils the country's auto utopias-where cars would most want to live if they had their way. The study names New Orleans as "America's Autopia," followed by St. Louis; Atlanta; the Kansas City, Mo., area; and Phoenix.
The company commissioned the "Shell America's Autopias" study to better understand how vehicles are cared for and maintained in the United States. To identify which of the largest metro areas are best-suited for automobiles, the study evaluated a variety of factors, including traffic congestion, road conditions, use of quality gasolines and motor oils and routine car care practices.
"While some factors that impact vehicle wear and tear are out of our control, such as traffic and road conditions, drivers can help protect their vehicles by performing routine maintenance and using quality products," said Dan Little, manager of fuels marketing for Shell. "In fact, most people don't realize that all gasolines are not created equal, and choosing a fuel with added cleaning power is important."
Approximately 45 percent of the gasoline sold today contains the minimum amount of cleaning agents required to meet government standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, but Shell research indicates that this minimum level of detergency is not enough to keep critical engine parts free of carbon deposit buildup.
Four of the world's top automakers-BMW, Honda, General Motors and Toyota-agree that carbon deposits left behind by minimum detergency gasolines can decrease the performance of a vehicle's engine and increase emissions. To raise the bar on fuel quality, these auto manufacturers recently introduced the new Top Tier Detergent Gasoline standard, which requires added detergency above the minimum government standards. Little said all Shell gasolines meet the Top Tier standard.
For more car care advice or information on the study, visit www.localshell.com.