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Tire Pressure
According to U.S. government's website on fuel economy, properly inflated tires can improve your gas mileage by as much as 3%. "Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires." Proper tire inflation also helps your tires last longer. A 3% savings may not seem like much, but it equates to about 10 cents per gallon - the same level of discount we often seek out to lower our gasoline costs!
By the way, did you know that state laws mandate that air be offered for free for the purpose of inflating tires? If your service station is charging money, simply ask the attendant to turn the air on for you!
Air & Gas Filters
Replacing your air filters regularly can save you the most of any car maintenance tip: you can boost your gas mileage by 10% or about 35 cents per gallon. A clogged air filter not only lowers your gas mileage, but it also decreases the life of your engine. And you can save more by replacing it yourself: purchasing an air filter will set you back about $5, but having it professionally installed will run closer to $15.
Fuel filters are a little more difficult to replace yourself, but replacing them is important to your car's ability to burn fuel efficiently. Contaminants in your gas can restrict fuel flow. Check to see if your car is using disposable filters or if you have a specially designed filter that can be removed, cleaned, and reused. A good rule of thumb is to replace or clean the fuel filter once a year.
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