A Women’s Point of View: Helping Your Car Go Green

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

The politically correct thing to do these days is to go green by buying and using all things that are environmentally friendly and natural. Buzz words such as ‘recycle’, ‘save the forest’, and ‘black mold’ have been around for a long time, but I think we are finally beginning to “get it”. Moving into an era of saving the planet by going back to basics has merit.

Now, most of us can’t afford to rip up our hardwood floors and replace it with Bamboo, but there are quite a few things we can do with what we have to be more “green”. Let’s talk cars.

Fuel economy is on most of our minds, what with the price of gas going up. Again. So let's look at a few easy ways to cut fuel consumption by getting better mileage.

- Rapid acceleration and going over 60 mph can use up to 33% more gas.
- Regular tune-ups can save about 4% in gas usage.
- Keeping tires rotated and at the proper pressure can save about 3.3%.
- Using the recommended grade motor oil can save you 2%.

All in all, that's over 42% saving per tank of gas. Cha-ching!

Changing a dirty air filter can also improve fuel mileage up to 10%. A little maintenance now can save you big bucks later. Cleaning your fuel system by getting rid of those nasty carbon deposits every 15,000 miles will save you costly repairs in the future and help save money at the gas pump now. A transmission flush removes deposits and buildup and lets the shifting process work more efficiently which will add to the longevity of the transmission and better fuel economy.

These fuel economy and car maintenance tips are just a few suggestions that will allow you to not only "go green", but to keep your car longer. Because that's what we're all about: cars for keeps!