AGC Collision Center

How to Be a Greener Car Owner

The U.S. only makes up about 5% of the world's total population, but we are responsible for 45% of the world's automotive emissions. Although that statistic might be shocking, don't worry, because there’s plenty you can do to diminish your contribution to that scary number. Fortunately, none of those options involve purchasing a brand new vehicle. A few simple tricks offered by  AGC Collision Center will help you in Los Angeles, CA to enhance the way your vehicle runs, reduce your spending on gas, and improve the environment in general.

Always Check Your Tires and Replace Accordingly

Checking your tires is a fairly simple step and works surprisingly well to keep your vehicle rolling along smoothly. Continually check your tire pressure with a gauge and then add air if your wheels are slightly low. Underinflated tires cause your engine to work harder, which in turn burns more fuel. You'll get more mileage out of your gas when you monitor the pressure in your tires and keep them fully inflated.

Keep Your Car Neat and Organized

Everyone tends to amass junk in their vehicle, but yours may be reaching  its tipping point. The more stuff you've jammed into your car, the more gas you're wasting. Heavy objects stored in your vehicle will make your engine work much harder, which burns up a lot of excess gas. So, streamline your cargo and get rid of anything that might be adversely affecting your fuel efficiency.

Know When to Stop

Topping off your gas tank always seems like a smart idea, but it's actually quite harmful. That little extra bit of fuel increases the chance that you'll release harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Topping off your gas tank fills up the emissions canister that's built into almost all of today's vehicles, so overfilling your gas tank renders this canister completely ineffective. Topping off unintentionally causes more harm for the environment, so please refrain from that practice and be a greener driver overall.

Schedule Regular Tune-Ups

Regular tune-ups and oil changes will really help your vehicle to run better and keep you on the eco-friendly path. To see a discernible difference in the amount of gas you burn, replace your motor oil and all of the air filters in your engine once every 6-8 months, and regularly check your spark plugs to see if they need to be completely replaced. But, please note, when changing the oil remember to dispose of it correctly. Never pour it into the ground or your plumbing system—take it to the appropriate waste management facilities in your area. In addition, you can also switch to a reusable air filter to reduce your car waste and take the green approach one step further.

Sources: DoItYourself.com, AAA and AARP