"These three easy, low-cost routines can help motorists
save quite a bit of money at the pump," said Jay Buckley, Honeywell's
technical training manager. "The last thing we want is for our vehicles
to work harder than they have to . . . it's just throwing money down
the drain."
For example, the performance of a spark plug is directly related to how
much fuel is being consumed. Research by the National Institute for
Automotive Service Excellence shows that old, worn, and dirty spark
plugs are prone to misfires, reducing fuel efficiency as much as 30
percent. "When changing spark plugs, consider upgrading to ones that
provide a faster, more efficient burn," said Buckley. Buckley suggests
plugs -- such as the Autolite XP Xtreme Performance spark plugs--
"ignite the gas and air mixture inside the cylinders more efficiently,
resulting in improved throttle response and acceleration. This, in
turn, helps improve fuel efficiency, thereby saving money for
consumers."
Another way to improve a vehicle's fuel economy is
by changing a clogged air filter. The U.S. Department of Energy claims
that replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by
as much as 10 percent. "Most FRAM air filters feature bright white
fibers that make it easy to spot when a replacement may be necessary,"
said Buckley.
Research from Honeywell suggests that the motorist
who changes the air filter when clogged can saves as much as $173 in
gas annually.
Finally, if a vehicle has intake valve and fuel injector deposits, the
engine has to work harder to run. Using a fuel additive like Prestone
Complete Fuel System Cleaner every 4,000 miles helps improve
acceleration and fuel economy by unclogging fuel injectors and cleaning
intake valves and combustion chambers.
"Clean fuel injectors help ensure more complete combustion and maximum fuel benefit," said Buckley.
Maintaining
vehicles with good quality spark plugs and air filters in addition to
utilizing a fuel additive can help consumers increase their vehicle's
fuel economy. For more information and gas-savings tips, motorists can
log on to www.honeywellcpg.com.
By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com editor