All posts in Auto Care

Optimizing Your Vehicle’s Gas Mileage

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%

Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15/gallon

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Or see the pressure specification printed on the tire’s sidewall.

Fuel Economy Benefit: Up to 3%

Equivalent Gasoline Savings: Up to $0.11/gallon

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%

Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04-$0.07/gallon

Data and content provided by www.fueleconomy.com

Preventative Maintenance

Keeping your vehicle up to date on preventative and scheduled maintenance will increase its longevity, boost performance, and keep you safer. Below is a list of preventative maintenance tips to keep in mind that will help keep your car running smoothly.

Oil Change Service

One of the most effective ways to help protect the life of your engine is to change the oil and the oil filter regularly. Oil has several functions including: reducing friction, lubrication of engine parts, cleaning dirt and sludge, and cooling the engine. However, over time and usage, oil breaks down and its effectiveness suffers.

Petroleum Oil

Most cars use petroleum-based multi-grade oil, which is efficient in both cold and hot weather.  Multi-grade oil is rated by two numbers, such as 5W-30. Our mechanics can select the appropriate grade for your vehicle.

Synthetic oils
Not all motor engine oils are 100% petroleum. Synthetic oils, which are primarily chemically compounded lubricants, are also available. They can provide:

• Higher viscosity stability over a wider temperature range
• Reduced oil thickening
• Reduced wear and increased load-carrying ability

Oil filters
Oil filters remove contaminants from the engine oil and prevent these particles from getting to the engine bearings and other parts. Oil filters should be replaced at every oil change in order to maintain proper filtering of engine oil.

Air Filters
Air filters trap airborne particles before they enter the intake of your engine, these abrasive particles can cause wear on moving parts. A Clean air filter can increase engine performance and boost fuel mileage. Some vehicles may also have a cabin air filter. Cabin air filters can minimize airborne contaminants that pass through the air condition vents into the passenger compartment.

Automatic transmission fluid
Automatic transmission fluid lubricates and cools the transmission, and it also provides hydraulic pressure to shift gears automatically. Transmission fluid—just like oil—breaks down over time and should be replaced. Check your vehicle’s specifications to see when it’s time for replacement.

Brake fluid
Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid which transmits pressure from the brake pedal to the brake pads. It’s essential to have well-maintained brake fluid because overly dirty fluid could cause brake failure.

Coolant/Antifreeze
Coolant is used in an engine cooling system to dissipate heat and maintain the engine’s temperature throughout its operating range. In colder conditions, it prevents freezing

Timing belts
Timing belts are toothed belts that drive the camshaft via a sprocket to a crankshaft. They ensure the synchronization of the engine’s camshaft, crankshaft and distributor. A timing belt failure could cause several thousand dollars in engine damage.

Serpentine belts
Serpentine belts transfer power from the crankshaft to all of the engine accessories such as the power steering pump, water pump, alternator, and A/C compressor. Our mechanics inspect these belts for signs of cracking, splitting and slipping.

Coolant hoses
Coolant hoses transfer antifreeze throughout the engine cooling system, including the radiator and the heater core. Many coolant leaks are a result of aging hoses. Our mechanics inspect the hoses for cracking, splitting and soft spots.

With an oil change service at Zych’s Certified Auto Service, our mechanics select the right oil for your vehicle, inspect your car’s air filter and check the levels of vital fluids for brakes, power steering, automatic transmission and coolant/antifreeze.

Keeping your vehicle up to date on preventative and scheduled maintenance will increase its longevity, boost performance, and keep you safer. Below is a list of preventative maintenance tips to keep in mind that will help keep your car running smoothly.

Oil Change Service
One of the most effective ways to help protect the life of your engine is to change the oil and the oil filter regularly. Oil has several functions including: reducing friction, lubrication of engine parts, cleaning dirt and sludge, and cooling the engine. However, over time and usage, oil breaks down and its effectiveness suffers.

Petroleum Oil
Most cars use petroleum-based multi-grade oil, which is efficient in both cold and hot weather.
Multi-grade oil is rated by two numbers, such as 5W-30. Our mechanics can select the appropriate grade for your vehicle.

Synthetic oils
Not all motor engine oils are 100% petroleum. Synthetic oils, which are primarily chemically compounded lubricants, are also available.
They can provide:

• Higher viscosity stability over a wider temperature range
• Reduced oil thickening
• Reduced wear and increased load-carrying ability

Oil filters
Oil filters remove contaminants from the engine oil and prevent these particles from getting to the engine bearings and other parts. Oil filters should be replaced at every oil change in order to maintain proper filtering of engine oil.

Air Filters
Air filters trap airborne particles before they enter the intake of your engine, these abrasive particles can cause wear on moving parts. A Clean air filter can increase engine performance and boost fuel mileage. Some vehicles may also have a cabin air filter. Cabin air filters can minimize airborne contaminants that pass through the air condition vents into the passenger compartment.

Automatic transmission fluid
Automatic transmission fluid lubricates and cools the transmission, and it also provides hydraulic
pressure to shift gears automatically. Transmission fluid—just like oil—breaks down over time and should be replaced. Check your vehicle’s specifications to see when it’s time for replacement.

Brake fluid
Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid which transmits pressure from the brake pedal to the brake pads. It’s essential to have well-maintained brake fluid because overly dirty fluid could cause brake failure.

Coolant/Antifreeze
Coolant is used in an engine cooling system to dissipate heat and maintain the engine’s temperature throughout its operating range. In colder conditions, it prevents freezing

Timing belts
Timing belts are toothed belts that drive the camshaft via a sprocket to a crankshaft. They ensure the synchronization of the engine’s camshaft, crankshaft and distributor. A timing belt failure could cause several thousand dollars in engine damage.
Serpentine belts

Serpentine belts transfer power from the crankshaft to all of the engine accessories such as the power steering pump, water pump, alternator, and A/C compressor. Our mechanics inspect these belts for signs of cracking, splitting and slipping.
Coolant hoses

Coolant hoses transfer antifreeze throughout the engine cooling system, including the radiator and the heater core. Many coolant leaks are a result of aging hoses. Our mechanics inspect the hoses for cracking,
splitting and soft spots.

With an oil change service at Zych’s Certified Auto Service, our mechanics select the right oil for your vehicle, inspect your car’s air filter and check the levels of vital fluids for brakes, power steering, automatic transmission and coolant/antifreeze.