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Everyone is looking for ways to optimize their gas dollars. Rising fuel costs have reached their highest point in recent history and car owners are feeling the crunch. It is an excellent idea to find ways to help your car perform at its best while using as little fuel as possible to make the necessary car trips. Car maintenance has more to do with fuel usage than most people realize. The maintenance chores that are good for the car are also good for saving valuable dollars at the pump.
One of the fastest ways to save up to 15% in gas usage is to check the car’s air filter. These devices are responsible for keeping dirt out of the vehicle’s engine. When a dirty or faulty air filter allows dirt into the engine, high priced repairs are often the only fix. Obviously an engine that isn’t running at its full capability will use more fuel to do the same job at a lower rate of success. That doesn’t bode well for your wallet. A simple air filter replacement will save money at the pumps and protect the life of the car’s engine.
Most automotive experts recommend changing air filters once a year or every 12,000 miles. It is a simple, quick process if you want to perform this chore on your own. Your vehicle’s owner manual will provide the necessary details to help ensure you buy the correct type of air filter at the auto parts store. If the manual isn’t clear enough for you to get the jist of how to perform the replacement, there are plenty of websites available with step by step, detailed instructions of the process. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a reputable, honest mechanic provide this service for you. An air filter change is not a high priced service. Not like the bill that would come with major engine repair.
When considering an air filter change, many people are looking into upgrading the version of air filter they put in their car. There are washable, high performance air filters now on the market for most makes and models of vehicles. Besides the fact that clean air filters greatly improve a car’s gas mileage, the new filters are reusable, enhance the horsepower performance, and eliminate the need for replacement air filters. This type of air filter is a good idea to look into considering the fuel costs it saves and other maintenance issues they do away with.
It is a matter of simple planning and maintaining a record of recent maintenance chores to stay on top of what your car needs when. With consistently high gas prices, making sure your vehicle’s air filter is clean, working well, and keeping contaminants out of the engine is a sure fire way to save money on fuel expenses. An air filter replacement will also help your car’s engine perform at the level it was built to and avoid costly repairs due to dirt. That just a good thing any way you look at it.