Your Guide To Green

Your Guide to Green has made a New Year's resolution to provide you with more brief and practical tips for living "the green life."We are looking to the experts for solid green tips on every topic from food, the body, kids, pets, and bedding to the home, office and car. This week, Howard J. Fleischmann, Majority Partner and Manager of Community Tire & Auto Service Specialists, provides the Top 10 things we can do to reduce our vehicle's impact on the environment.

Tire Pressure: Follow vehicle manufacturers' recommended tire pressure. Check tires at least once a month to provide better gas mileage and longer tire life, which in turn, improves emissions and safety. You will find proper inflation tables for your vehicle on your door panel and vehicle handbook, or call your tire and repair specialists.

1. Nitrogen: Fill tires with nitrogen. This will reduce the loss of air due to outside temperature, heat build up etc. and help keep your tires at the manufacturers' recommended pressure during travel. It also helps reduce air loss. Check tires with nitrogen at least every quarter.
2. Fuel: Always use the fuel that is recommended for your vehicle, this will provide you with the most power and best fuel economy. If it calls for premium use it, if not do not. You will find the octane rating of your vehicle on the refueling door or in the vehicle handbook.
3. Fueling: When the fuel trigger clicks, STOP. Today's automobiles are equipped with evaporative emission systems and over filling can cause raw gas to be drawn into the vapor lines and cause damage to the system. Do Not Top Off.
4. Air Flow: There are many products on the market to help your engine “breath.� Having better air intake will help with fuel economy, emissions and power. If you choose not to up grade your intake filter, at the very minimum check and change your air filter on a regular basis.
5. Follow the Speed Limit: Traveling at the posted speed limit will provide you both a savings in fuel economy and emissions not to mention speeding tickets. Traveling at 55 miles per hour as opposed to 65 mph can provide a 10% plus savings on fuel AND emissions.
6. STOP-and-GO DRIVING: W hen ever possible, plan trips outside rush hour and peak traffic periods. Control your driving by accelerating and decelerating gradually, anticipating stops and starts for traffic lights, changing traffic speeds, and so on. Quick starts and stops are NOT fuel efficient.
7. Proper Vehicle Maintenance . Paying attention to your owner's manual is invaluable. You can reduce your vehicles' emissions and improve performance by following the vehicle manufacturer's recommended maintenance guidelines. Changing the oil regularly, checking spark plugs, belts and fluid levels all insure that you are taking proper care of your car. You will likely extend its life, increase its resale value, and optimize its “gas mileage� or fuel economy along with helping the environment.
8. Avoid Idling : You will help reduce fuel consumption and emissions by idling as little as possible. If you expect to idle for more than a minute you will save gas by turning the engine off and restarting it again. Obviously you want to choose the proper times and situations for this action – it not recommended when at a stoplight. Try parking your car and going into restaurants, banks, and the like instead of idling in drive-up lanes.
9. Caution: Be cautious about your car-related purchases. T here are many products on the market that offer great fuel economy and emission benefits, but remember if it sounds to good to be true it probably is. If you are persuaded to look at some of these products ask your mechanic to evaluate them before you spend your hard-earned dollars possibly for nothing.

Finally, Howard reminds us to use common sense when driving. He says, “ Even a perfectly maintained car will pollute more than necessary if it is driven carelessly.� All studies prove that your car's fuel efficiency will be higher and emissions lower if you apply common sense to your driving and follow the basic rules of the road.