Regular automotive service to keep a properly maintained and operated vehicle is definitely a win-win situation. It will decrease the pollution impact on our environment, and ensure that your vehicle will run more efficiently, last longer, and be safer. In addition to saving our natural resources, you will find that in the long run, you will save time and money that you would otherwise spend for automotive repair.

Take care of the environment and your vehicle with these automotive service tips:

Car Tune Up. Replace filters and fluids as recommended in your owner’s manual. For example, a misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%.
Tires Properly Inflated. Under-inflated tires, alignment problems, or wheels out-of-balance will make the engine work harder to push the vehicle, thereby wasting fuel. Maintain your tires so they will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires in the tire graveyard.
Maintain your A/C. Air conditioners contain gases that have been implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. Make sure your A/C is serviced by technicians certified to handle/recycle refrigerants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost one third of the gases released into the atmosphere come from vehicle air conditioners; either by leaking, or escaping during an automotive repair.
Dispose of used vehicle parts properly. Used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries should not be dumped on the ground or in open streams. Many auto shops will dispose of these used items for you, or call your local government for recycling sites.
Observe speed limits. Use cruise-control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible. Speeds above 55 mph will decrease mileage. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go’s.
Limit idling. Shut off the engine if waiting more than a few minutes. Don’t worry about those five-minute warm-ups on cold mornings as today’s vehicles are designed to “warm up” fast.
Lighten the load. Remove excess items from your trunk. Less weight means better mileage. Store luggage in the trunk (rather than on the roof) to reduce drag.
Eliminate unnecessary driving. Consolidate your daily errands. Join a car pool.
Remember: How you drive, how your car runs, and how you dispose of old parts and fluids, will have lasting consequences on the environment. Leave your mark for good!

Need quality automotive service? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at A&C Automotive & Machine by calling 651-674-4733, or go online at http://aandcautomotive.com for more information. Since 1985, our auto center has served vehicle owners in North Branch, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Harris and Stacy, MN.