Power Steering, Great Ways To Save Gas

Power steering is not just a convenience, it is also a great way to save gas. You already know that power steering makes it far easier to make turns in your car. However, a steering system also removes weight from your car by reducing the weight of your car. Power steering can be a great gas saver, but only if you maintain your steering system properly. Luckily, maintaining your steering system is a very easy thing to do at home. Taking care of your power steering system will not only save money on gas, it will also reduce your repair bills in the long run.

Your power steering system requires that you maintain the proper fluid levels at their optimum levels at all times. If you over fill the fluid, you create excess pressure in your steering mechanism which decreases horsepower and increases that likelihood that you will damage your power steering pump. If levels are too low, you create friction drag in your steering mechanism which also decreases horsepower and could lead to damaging your power steering pump.

You can have a mechanic check the fluid level next time you take you car for a tune up or oil change, or you can do it yourself at home. There are many different types of steering fluids on the market, with many claiming to have different chemical compositions that make them more effective than other brands. The best way to choose the right power steering fluid for your vehicle is to consult the owner’s manual that came with your vehicle to see what it recommends. If you can’t find that information, try contacting the car manufacturer to ask what they recommend. A final option is to consult your local auto repair shop and ask what the best fluid for your vehicle is.

To change the fluid, you will need to look at your owner’s manual to determine where the fluid should be added. Never put fluid into your car unless you are certain that you know where it goes. This can lead to damage to the engine that is so severe you will spend thousands to fix it. However, once you know where to add fluid, it is as simple as adding fluid, then checking the level. This simple step will save you money on repairs and improve gas mileage. If you ever notice that your vehicle is leaking fluid, you need to address this right away to prevent further damage to your car. This is a situation that will require help from a mechanic, so be sure to take your car to the shop right away if you see leaking fluid.

Maintaining your power steering fluid is just one of many ways to save money at the pump. Ensuring that your engine is tuned up and all the fluid levels are correct will improve your gas mileage, as will filling your tires to the proper air level. If you drive often, installing a fuel saving device can save you hundreds of dollars each year. Also, make sure to purchase the fuel recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer to get the most out of your vehicle. Good maintenance doesn’t just save you money on gas, it can prevent you from spending on unnecessary repairs.

When it gets warm outside, your air conditioner becomes your best friend. This is most definitely true in your car, where temperatures can sky rocket to 170 degrees under direct sunlight. But most people these days are under the impression that the more you run your air conditioner the more gas your car will guzzle. Now that gas prices are higher than the cost to eat at McDonald’s, people are starting to take precautions and do what they can to help with their cars fuel economy. The assumption that running your air conditioner burns way more gas is somewhat untrue. Leaving your air conditioner off makes barely any difference in the amount of gas you burn. With the advent of modern, more fuel efficient cars, this myth is busted!

The air conditioner draws its power from the engine which uses some gas, but with today’s cars, this use of gas is minute. The air conditioner can decrease the fuel economy of your car up to 20% in some vehicles, but it depends on the type. Driving with the air conditioner is more fuel efficient than driving with the windows down. Driving with the windows down creates drag which means that your engine has to work harder to keep your car at the current speed; this burns more gas than if you just ran your air conditioner.

In the long run, using your air conditioner is far better than any other means of cooling yourself off in the car, unless you’re driving in traffic. When you drive in traffic you aren’t going very fast so the drag on the car is minimal. In these cases, you burn more fuel running the air conditioner than having the windows down. That makes sense. When you drive on the highway you can use either the air conditioner or the “window down” method to cool yourself, because, honestly, there is no noticeable difference in gas usage at those speeds.

Here are some tips about you and the heat in your car. Before you get into a hot car, roll down the windows and let it air out. There is nothing worse than getting into a hot car, sitting on a lava hot seat, touching a super hot steering wheel, and breathing stuffy super heated air. Your car needs some time to cool down for itself and for you. Once you believe it is cool enough to actually sit on the seat, turn on the car and run the air conditioner on recirculation. This will help the car cool down much quicker, and you can be on the road fast without sacrificing a layer of your precious skin.

So now that you know the air conditioner can be your fuel efficient friend, maybe you won’t be so quick to turn it off or ignore it in favor off putting the windows down and choking on bugs. The air conditioner in your car burns much less gas than your window method, so give your air conditioner a chance and be cool in the heat.