7 money-saving car maintenance tips

Slow down your gas consumption by taking good care of your car's engine.

When you’re filling up at the gas station, have you ever noticed how much faster the numbers that show how much you owe move than the numbers that show how much you’ve pumped? The “THIS SALE $” gauge seems to spin at the speed of light, while the “GALLONS” gauge plods along at a maddeningly slow pace. There’s not much we can do about the price per gallon of gas, but you can do something about how much gas you use. The key is to keep your car in good condition. Here are 7 car maintenance tips to save you gas, and, therefore, money:

1. Keep your tires tip top
A lot is riding on your tires – a lot of gas money that is. Making sure all four tires are properly inflated and aligned can improve your gas mileage by about 3.3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To find out the ideal tire pressure for your car, check your owner’s manual.

2. Get enough air
Little known fact: if your car was built after 1980, then there’s probably something called an oxygen sensor in your exhaust pipe. If it’s not working properly, then your engine is not working as efficiently as it could. Getting it fixed could improve your gas mileage by a whopping 40 percent, says the Energy Department.

3. Get enough air, part 2
It’s not the jackpot that a fixed oxygen sensor might be, but replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by 10 percent.

4. Keep the sparks flying
Worn or misfiring spark plugs will make your engine work harder, using more gas. Have a mechanic replace or adjust any plugs that have lost their spark.

5. Make the grade the right one
Always use the grade of motor oil recommended in your owner’s manual. According to the Energy Department, using the wrong grade can shave 1 to 2 percent off your fuel efficiency.

6. Avoid bad brakes
Keeping your brakes in good condition is not just a safety issue, it’s a money issue. Brakes that need new pads or other repairs can drag, eating up excess gas every time you slow down.

7. Keep your gas in the tank
The National Car Care Council estimates that in the U.S. we lose 147 million gallons of gas annually to evaporation due to damaged, loose or missing gas caps. Use a locking gas cap to make sure you’re keeping every precious drop that you pump.