Did you know that there is one simple and very easy way or method to get greatly increased gas mileage and fuel economy?  Its to get a tune up.  That’s right, a simple tune up could make a huge difference of up to 20% or more in your fuel economy.  It’s that simple.  Now, you must ask yourself, when was the last time that your car had a tune up?  Has your car been regularly serviced or do you put off oil changes and routine services or even get them done at all?  Well, the level of service that your vehicle gets will definitely determine how much help a tune up can and will give it.

First of all it is best to get out your car or truck’s owners manual and find out the required and recommended maintenance intervals.  Do you know what they are?  You may be surprised at what the owner’s manual states.  For one, you should never listen to new car dealerships.  They always tell you to use the maintenance requirements for severe conditions.  These so called severe conditions only apply to maybe 1 percent of cars on the road.  By using these severe condition, maintenance intervals you are severely overpaying for unnecessary maintenance and repairs and helping fatten your car dealer’s wallet.

Instead stick to the regular use intervals – both severe conditions and regular use maintenance intervals will be listed in most owner’s manuals.  Next you are better off by taking your car to a non franchised car dealer or service facility – or even better finding the same mechanics that work at the expensive car dealers moonlighting through Craigs List for huge savings on labor and parts.  They are more likely to be honest, are far cheaper and will in the end lead you to better maintenance for your automobile. 

Don't drive around with cloudy and unsafe headlights!

Now tune ups are different depending on your vehicle and its required maintenance.  For most cars nowadays, the service tech will have a hand held OBD II or OBD I code reader.  This just plugs into the OBD plug which is usually inside the car like under the dash or in the console.  This will tell them what is wrong with your car.  More advanced OBD readers will actually sync with the onboard computer and determine what could make it run smoother, better and more efficiently.

These same OBD readers can be purchased online or at your local auto parts store for as little as $100 and you can see the engine codes yourself.  A little tip here is that these same OBD and OBD II code readers can also erase annoying warning lights like the check engine light which will come on every time an oil change is due unless the tech knows how to reset it – this was the manufacturers way of trying to make customers go to franchised new car service areas for service.  For $100 or so get a coder and you can easily erase the code.

Restore foggy and ineffective headlights with the New Lite headlight restoration kit!

For a tune up your car may require some new wires, cleaning of the fuel injectors, a new air filter, etc…  It may also be a good idea with summer coming soon to have your radiator drained, flushed and checked so your engine will stay cool this summer – who wants to be stuck on the side of the road during the hot summer?  Or worse yet in a bad area of town late at night?  A tune up and proper maintenance can and will easily get you better gas mileage and fuel economy by making your engine and car work more efficiently and it will also help your car last years longer in the process!