Welcome to the "Ask Mr. Auto" Tip Line

Tip # 1   Everyone has heard that using SYNTHETIC Motor Oil helps your engine turn over more easily... but did you know HOW MUCH money Synthetics can save you each year??? Look HERE!

Tip # 2   Slow down and get MUCH improved Fuel Mileage. It's a PROVEN FACT! Leave earlier and resist the temptation to "keep up" with the speeders. Do it for a week and you WILL see improved mileage. Also, resist the temptation to BLAST OFF when lights turn GREEN! Ease away from the stopped position. It's sometimes difficult to change, when you have that "rushing" habit to break, but... these two things alone can save you a LOT of money over your lifetime... Just think how much money you've RUSHED down the drain!

Tip # 3   Increase the air pressure in your tires. Decreasing the "rolling resistance" of your tires by putting in more air will allow you to achieve better fuel mileage, as long as you don't waste your fuel in other ways. Yes, if you are REALLY working to achieve all the mileage you can, then putting more air in your tires will help. How much? Experimentation is a great way to find out and it's inexpensive. Add 5 to 10 pounds of air to each tire. Monitor your mileage and note the differences. Some persons who have, in the past, done "Cross Country" mileage tests have used as much as 60 PSI or more in each tire... but that is not recommended for your daily driving and we're not suggesting you do that either. But adding 5 to 10 pounds (or just a little more) can make quite a difference. Try it and see...

Tip # 4   You'll see this tip everywhere (if you're looking for tips on mileage) so it must really matter and make a significant difference... Clean out your Trunk! (or empty the bed of your pickup) Are you hauling around a lot of stuff that could be left at the dump, or in your garage or in a storage shed? Hauling around two or three hundred extra pounds of junk in your trunk (or even the back seat) will really reduce your mileage. If you don't need the stuff... throw it out! YOU WILL see quite a difference, especially if you keep records!

Tip # 5   Wash and Wax your car or truck! While listening to a conversation between a Veteran NASCAR driver and an announcer, during the pre-race chit-chat, there was discussion of things that were "legal" to do to make your car go faster and use less fuel! The resounding answer was to Wash and WAX the car so that there was the least amount of wind resistance possible. This in turn provides the least forward resistance to the engine's efforts to get along faster with less work, thus producing more laps from the same amount of fuel... You can read that as "Improved Mileage." All from applying some "elbow grease," soap & water and some time. You too can benefit in a small way from these efforts. How much? Try it and see. If nothing else, you'll have the best looking car or truck on the lot!

Tip #7   Back to the subject of TIRES for a minute... The tires you have on YOUR car right now can make a BIG difference in the mileage that you do... or do not get! If you NEED tires and have put it off because of what you perceive as HIGH prices then you're looking in ALL the wrong places. I would suggest that you take a look at the website of the company where I buy MY tires. To do that... click HERE to visit The Tire Rack's website. They give GREAT Service at GREAT prices! Get on over there and take a look and get some great tires today!

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