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First Edition - 05/01/2006.
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Seems like fuel prices are the talk of the town lately. I hear it on
the radio, in the shop and in casual conversation with friends and
family. I see it all over the internet and on television.
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We should all be concerned about our energy on several levels. The
first priority seems to be our own budgets/wallets since it hurts the
most. Several things can be done to help reduce the amount we use,
therefore saving us money. Most of us have heard the common things
that can be done: checking and adjusting tire pressure, keeping the
air filter clean and the oil changed when due, no hard acceleration
or braking, keeping the windows up (especially on the highway), not
using the air conditioning, long idle time (letting the car run while
you eat your lunch) driving less or taking alternate transportation
and much, much more.
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Tire pressure may be the easiest thing we as drivers can do on a
regular basis and under-inflated tires are considered the most common
car problem. I recommend you invest in a tire gauge and develop a
habit of checking your pressure and fluids on a regular basis.
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There are several styles of gauges from stick, dial to digital readouts
and prices from $.99 to $20.00. I think you should buy one that fits
your need. You don’t need the most expensive, unless you will use it
regularly on a variety of applications that pressure is critical,
like Lance Armstrong’s bike. Seriously, buy a good quality gauge for
each car or motorcycle and use it regularly. Take several readings
before and after adjusting the pressure. Check the pressure when
cold (meaning less than a mile or two of driving). Add 4psi when
adding air to warm (several miles of highway driving) tires to
correct for the increase in pressure due to the heat.
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I would only rely on the self serve air stations gauge in an
emergency, you know, the one built into the air hose at the service
stations. Those things go through hell everyday being dropped and
run over. A burr on the edge could drastically affect the reading
and you may end up putting too much air in. Yes, that would be bad.
Too much air could damage the tire and could cause it to blow-out.
I recommend you always fill car or motorcycle tires to the pressure
indicated in the owner’s manual, not on the tire. The number
embossed directly on the tire is the maximum pressure the tire can
handle, generally not what the manufacture of the vehicle wants.
That information is located in the owner’s manual, or the manual
will tell you where to find it on the vehicle. If ever in doubt,
most passenger cars will do fine with about 30psi until the proper
information can be obtained. You can always stop by the shop and
we can help you find the right pressure and fill the tires
accordingly. Most technicians would recommend you check tire
pressure once a week or every time you fill the fuel tank. Let’s
be realistic. Most of us don’t think about it unless there is a
problem. Generally, I don’t even want to touch the fuel handle at
the station let alone get dirty checking the tires, when I am
filling up. Some cars have tire pressure monitors built in to
warn us if the pressure is low or that give you actual tire pressure
readings. It is a good idea, especially if you have no pressure
monitor on your car, to develop good habits of checking the tire
pressure. Having the proper tire pressure could increase fuel
economy by 1-2 miles per gallon.
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