Routine Maintenance

Improves Fuel Economy



Motorists are increasingly performing routine vehicle maintenance

procedures to improve fuel economy.

As high fuel prices have taken a toll on drivers’ wallets across the nation, many drivers

have responded by reducing or eliminating unnecessary driving. In fact, according to the

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 2007 marked the first year since 1980 that

overall travel on roads and streets declined, while 2008 travel numbers are shaping up to

be even lower. As of the end of April, vehicle miles traveled in 2008 were 2.1 percent

lower than 2007.



Of course, driving less is not always an option, especially for those people who rely on

their vehicles for work. Performing proper vehicle maintenance is another way to effectively

stretch fuel dollars, and many drivers are taking notice. In fact, surveys show that

31 percent of AAA Chicago members and 27 percent of AAA Michigan members are performing

routine maintenance on a more frequent basis in order to conserve fuel.



“At $4 a gallon, it seems like a pretty good time to promote all the things that help your

engine run more efficiently and improve your gas mileage,” says Marty Gold of S&G

Imported Car Parts in Farmington, Mich. “We’re promoting complete tune-ups on the

counter to the do-it-yourselfers and on the phone and on the road to the installer shops.

The installers do their customers a favor when they talk them into a full, complete job,

because at $4 a gallon, if you save them a few gallons of gas a month, they’re way ahead

of the game.”



According to Mike Farling of M&C Foreign Car Parts in Mechanicsburg, Pa., customers

demand convenience. “Convenience means a lot to customers today,” he says. “They do

not want to be taking their car to the garage every three months. If they can take it every

six months, depending upon how many miles

they’re putting on it, that’s what they want.

They want to get it all done at one time, at

one place, and they want it to be cost-effective.”



AMSOIL Dealers offer customers what they

want: quality, cost effectiveness and convenience.

AMSOIL synthetic motor oils not

only provide the best lubricating protection

and performance money can buy, but the

extended drain intervals offer significant cost

savings in the long run over standard drain

intervals and the convenience associated

with less trips to the quick lube or oil change

center.



Surveys show that 31

percent of AAA

Chicago members

and 27 percent of

AAA Michigan members

are performing

routine maintenance

on a more frequent

basis in order to conserve

fuel.