7 Easy Ways to Save at the Pump

With the constant rise in gas prices and the downfall of the economy, even the most wasteful consumers think twice. Conserving our natural resources is not only important to the well-being of the human race but also our wallets. Regardless of whether you do it for the environment, our well-being, or your wallet, here are some gas-saving tips to help you out.

Check your tires. Every time you drive your car you should take a quick stroll around it to check for low or flat tires. The actual pressures should be measured monthly especially when the outside temperature starts changing drastically. Low tire pressure will decrease your fuel mileage significantly. Having properly inflated tires will not only give you optimum mpg's (miles per gallon), but extend the life of your tires.

Lighten up. Remove any unnecessary items from the car and the trunk. Decreasing the weight of the car will increase your mpg's.

Tire Safety: A Simple Way to Keep the Roads Safe

With many years of experience in this field you come across a lot of upset customers when it comes to tires. How can you blame them though? It seems like they don't last as long and are more expensive than they used to be. No one enjoys spending money on tires. However, they are the only thing that allows our vehicle to hold the road. Knowing what is safe and what is not is in your best interest.

The Penny Test - The general rule growing up has been that if you stick a penny upside-down in the tire tread and it doesn't come up to the top of President Lincoln's head, than you must replace your tire. This is a good tool to use for the average consumer who may or may not have a tire tread depth gauge. The actual measurement as described by the department of transportation is 2/32 of an inch. Below this tread depth your vehicle is at high-risk for hydroplaning during wet seasons. However, numerous studies by major companies such as Michelin have shown that even with double that tread, your chances are still exponentially greater than usual.

Easy Car Care Tips for the Busy Women

The life of your typical woman has gotten increasingly hectic through the years. A lot of women today are still responsible for child care and household duties, while maintaining full-time positions in our nation's workforce. Many women even take on the role of "car care manager" in their families. Typically thought of as a "man's work", research by the Car Care Council suggests that women actually account for more than 60 percent of the auto service customers today. In fact, according to American Women Road and Travel (AWRT), women spend over $300 billion annually on maintenance, repairs and purchase of used vehicles.

According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2002 almost four out of five mothers of children attending school were also in the paid workforce. In 2003, nearly 3.7 million of these women were working multiple jobs. More astonishingly, the number of employed women in the workforce has risen from 18.4 million to over 65 million from 1950 to 2011. In addition, 63 percent of women work 40 or more hours per week according to the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Which Brake Pad Is Best For You?

In my last article titled "What Are You Using to Stop Your Car?", I went over the different compounds used in brake pads as well as provided a brief description of their advantages and disadvantages. Some brake pad applications work better with some vehicles while others are superior in other cars. With all these choices available today, it can be a bit mind-boggling trying to decide which is best for you. Usually the type of vehicle you have and what it's used for will determine the answer.

Light compact cars - It doesn't take as much force to stop a compact car as a truck. For applications such as the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit, organic compound brakes would work just fine. They have enough stopping power, will be much quieter than other brake pads available, and are inexpensive. If you will be bothered by potential brake dust build-up you can also substitute in a ceramic brake pad for more money.

Synthetic Oil or Conventional Oil? Let the Environment Decide

We are all educated on the risk factors of oil on the environment. In the perfect world we would all have viable transportation without the adverse effects of it. Unfortunately, this is not the world we live in, at least not yet. Between synthetic oil and conventional oil, which product has less of an impact on our environment? 5 key items come into play when determining how our maintenance habits impact the environment.

1) How often do you dump and fill your oil? The average consumer changes their oil every 3-5000 miles with conventional or standard oil. Most car manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 5-7500 miles. Increasing that mileage increment from 5000 to 7500 will result in a 33% decrease in the quarts of oil dumped per year. Furthermore, this mileage can be increased significantly with the use of these new and improved synthetic oil products in the market today. Some claim to be able to go up to 35,000 between oil changes which would suggest potential savings in your pocket and a positive impact on the environment.

How Do You Use Jumper Cables?

If your vehicle is unable to start due to a dead battery then jumper cables can be a real saviour. If you turn on your car's engine and the vehicle makes a click but fails to start then this is usually a clear indication that you need jumper cables. Question is; how do you use them? A brief checklist to talk you through the jump-start procedure while you're in your hour of need...

    * The first factor to the jump-starting procedure is to get a car with a fully charged battery to help you out.

    * Straighten out the jumper cables and make sure there are no knots or ties in either cable.

    * Make sure the vehicle with the fully charged battery is parked right next to your vehicle so that the jump cables can reach both engines. You could also park both vehicles with both engines facing each other. Next, open both bonnets in order to expose the engines.

Heated Seats Are Awesome In Cold Weather

Heated seats in a car or truck can be a nice warm comfort in the cold winter weather. They are easy to operate and can keep you warm on your cold winter drive to work.

Most often people consider this a luxury that is only available in higher end vehicles. With today's automotive advances, you can find heated seats on more vehicles than you did ten years ago.

Now days, many vehicles come with heated seats. For an example, the Subaru Outback offers this feature in all its standard models.