How To Save Cash on Gas

	It's that time of year again. Sure there's long weekends galore, but when Friday roles around, gas prices go through the roof. Before you know it, it cost's you 80 bucks to get to the cottage! That's why we wanted to remind you of a few helpful ways you can make your gas, and your money, go the extra mile. If you have any unanswered questions about how to make your vehicle efficient, feel free to contact the Parts Pros at your local PartSource. They're always ready to help. Let's go!
	A Few Things Before You Begin
	In case you need them, you can always find free print outs of specific vehicle instructions and torque specifications from Mitchell on Demand at your local PartSource store. Everything you need for this job can be found at your local PartSource store. Ask a Parts Pro about what you'll need for the job. It's better to have extra spare parts ready for anything that might need to be replaced. The last thing you want to do, is go shopping when you have the car up on the jack. When taking parts apart, be organized. Keep similar parts together in a safe place where they won't get lost and layout parts in a way that will allow you to put them back in the same order.
	Make Safety Your Top Priority
	Every vehicle is different. When it comes to maintenance and repairs always follow the vehicle's owner's manual. Make sure you have all of your tools and supplies before you begin – the last thing you want to do is go shopping when you have the car on the jack. Safety should be your number one priority. Don't smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or wear a necktie while working on the car. And watch out for hot objects, sharp instruments, hazardous materials and other potential safety hazards in and around your workspace. Always wear your safety glasses, a dust mask and latex gloves. Don't work with a Philips when the job calls for a flat. Substituting tools can compromise your safety or your vehicle's performance. Finally, when the fun turns to frustration or if the job requires specialized knowledge beyond your abilities, seek the assistance of a Parts Pro, professional mechanic or installer. The last thing we want is someone getting hurt.

Keep Up On Regular Maintenance

Make sure that your engine is running smoothly. Check your spark plugs, wires, and fuel injectors on a regular basis and perform the necessary service. A smooth running engine will result in a much more efficient burning engine versus one that may be misfiring or plugged due to overdue maintenance.

Minimize Extra Weight and Resistance

The more you have loaded on a vehicle, the harder it has to work and the more gas it will consume. Don't haul around extra weight; unhitch the trailer and remove the unnecessary baggage. Remove extra racks for used for bicycles and equipment to improve the vehicles wind resistance.

Keep Your Car Rolling

You can improve fuel economy by up to 20% by ensuring that your car rolls smoothly. Make sure that your wheels are aligned and your tires are properly balanced and inflated. Also check for any resistance from brakes dragging or from tires that have not been adjusted properly.

Replace Air and Fuel Filters Regularly

A clogged or dirty air filter may reduce fuel mileage by up to 10-20%. A clean air filter ensures that the engine breathes freely, preventing the engine from over-working unnecessarily. For even better gas mileage and improved performance, consider switching to K&N or FRAM Air Hog. Changing your fuel filter at scheduled intervals will insure all deposits are being filtered from the gas.

Check your O2 Sensor

Faulty O2 sensors are not only common, but they play a very significant role in your car's overall fuel consumption. O2 sensors essentially inform your engine's computer system how much fuel to send to the engine. Often, faulty or worn oxygen sensors send more fuel than necessary to the engine resulting in inefficiency. A new O2 sensor may improve gas mileage by up to 15%.

Use Fuel Injector Cleaner

A good fuel additive such as Lucas Fuel Treatment can not only significantly improve performance, but also improve your fuel efficiency.

Switch to Synthetic Oil

Synthetic motor oil reduces drag and allows the engine to operate more freely, thereby improving fuel economy.

Synthetic motor oil, when compared to conventional motor oils, offer critical performance benefits, including:

Superior protection in low temperatures, enabling easier and faster start-ups in cold weather (as low as -40°F)
Enhanced high-temperature durability, reducing oxidation and wear on critical engine parts (up to 400°F)
Reduced oil consumption under high-speed conditions
Superior performance under heavy engine loads/stresses, such as hauling and towing and
Increased stability and better control of deposits that can impede flow and lead to more wear.

If you work your engine hard, drive in extreme heat, or have cold weather starts, then synthetic oil will protect your engine better.

Get a Locking Gas Cap

As crazy as this may sound, with fuel prices as high as they are, fuel theft is on the rise. Yes, people actually siphon fuel out of other cars right in the driveway or parking lots. This petty theft can easily be averted with the use of a locking gas cap.