We have discussed plenty of ways to improve your fuel efficiency over the past few months but we have not elaborated on the need for routine maintenance. While some of our Tuesday segments featured discussions of changing oil and tires regularly, the need for new spark plugs and air filters has not been discussed. You can keep your car or truck running efficiently by maintaining a regular maintenance schedule with your local mechanic.
You should replace spark plugs more frequently than the recommended 30,000-mile interval offered by most automakers. If your spark plugs begin to misfire, your engine will jerk or stall as you press down on the gas pedal. You can keep your car moving along smoothly by replacing your spark plugs at the same time; if you replace plugs haphazardly, you will notice uneven performance as you hit the road.
The fuel efficiency of your vehicle depends on a clean stream of fuel from the gas tank to the engine. Your car’s fuel filter has to be replaced every 12,000 miles to keep debris from making its way into your engine. You should ask your mechanic to check the fuel lines and pumps for leaks while adding a filter to ensure the integrity of your entire fuel system.
If you have any experience with routine auto maintenance, you know about the importance of a clean fuel filter. Many people overlook the importance of replacing engine air filters every time they change fuel filters. The primary purpose of an air filter is keeping debris from the outside away from the precisely calibrated parts in your engine. The amount of debris that collects in your air filter over 12,000 miles is significant enough to ensure that your investment in a new filter is worthwhile.
AutoZone and other auto shops recommend that drivers look at their transmission fluid levels to complete routine maintenance checks. The dominance of automatic transmissions in the United States means that most vehicles rely on clean fluid to stay in gear. Your car’s transmission needs fluid to transfer mechanical energy from the engine to the wheels as gears shift. If your transmission fluid begins to collect dirt and lose its integrity, your car will get sluggish as each shift of the gears takes longer to complete. There is no hard and fast rule for changing transmission fluid but you should get comfortable checking your own levels to keep your engine from straining to shift from one gear to the next.
