Niper's Auto Repair

Servicing Your Vehicle Replace the spark plugs in your engine regularly. This way, the air and fuel mixture will burn cleaner and more efficiently. Improve the intake/output system. By allowing gas to get in and exhaust to get out of your vehicle you will improve the vehicle's overall performance and gas mileage. ... Reduce friction. Use high-quality or synthetic motor oil. Check your oil! Low oil makes your engine work harder. Change your filters. Dirty filters can sometimes increase the amount of fuel your vehicle uses by as much as 10 percent. Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Check regularly to ensure your tires are fully inflated and your alignment is good. Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks. A lot can go wrong with a car. Damaged spark plugs or transmission problems can also contribute to poor gas mileage.

How To Improve Your Car's Gas Mileage Here are some of the things you can do to ensure improved gas mileage for your car: Driving Habits... Keep your car clean. Mud on the undercarriage can weigh a significant amount and slow you down. Consolidate your daily trips and errands. This will also save you the cost of restarting your engine, which uses a lot of gas. Avoid air conditioning when possible. However, when driving at higher speeds, having your windows open also creates drag. Don't throttle the gas or brake pedal! Sudden starts or stops use more gas than gradual changes in speed. Don't idle for too long. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. Limit car warm-ups in winter. Clear out the trunk. More weight equals more drag. Avoid high speeds. We know this is almost impossible to resist but you can improve your gas mileage by up to 15 percent driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph. Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing use it as soon as your speed is high enough. Use cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed is ideal for improving your gas mileage.

How to Save Money on Gas: Keep your engine properly tuned (Fuel economy benefit 4%) Fixing a vehicle that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emission test can improve gas mileage by 4%.... Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%! Keep tires properly inflated (Fuel economy benefit 3%) You can improve your gas mileage by 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi drop in pressure in all 4 tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer too. Dirty or substandard engine oil (Fuel economy benefit 1-2%) You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% by changing your oil according to your vehicle manufacturer's service schedule and using the correct grade of oil. Drive Sensibly (Fuel economy benefit 5-33%) Aggressive driving (Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Observe the speed limit (Fuel economy benefit 7-23%) While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. By observing the speed limit you can help save gas. Remove excess weight (Fuel economy benefit 1-2%) Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. Avoid excessive idling Idling gets 0 mpg. Generally the larger your engine the more gas you are burning while idling. Use cruise control Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. Use overdrive gears When you use overdrive gearing, your vehicle's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine ware.

"Spring" Into Vehicle Maintenance Checklist Now that winter is just a memory, millions of Americans will take to the roads to enjoy the warmer weather. Spring is the perfect time of year to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming travel season. Whether you're driving across the country or driving across town, we recommend checking the following vehicle components before embarking on your next trip:...Continue reading

10 Auto Tips for a More Reliable Car: 1. Check Your Tire Pressure once a month against the number on the inside of your driver-side door. Also, check your tire pressure in the morning when the tires are cold. Proper tire pressure can save you money at the pump and extend the life of your tires. Don't forget your spare! 2. Change The Air Filter every six months -- it's the lungs of your car. Replacing a dirty air filter can improve your fuel economy.... 3. Replace Your Wiper Blades every six months. Eight percent of your driving decisions are based on visibility. If you live in colder climates, use winter wiper blades that will keep the blades on the windshield when you need it most. 4. Recognize the Check Engine Light. This can cause your automobile to pollute and can destroy a fuel economy by as much as 40 percent. When that light is flashing, pull over immediately, shut off the engine and call a technician. It's serious. 5. Change Your Oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. Your engine works very hard and is the heart of your car, so be sure to visit your mechanic and get your oil and oil filter changed. Also, check your oil once per month. . 6. Use Coolant or Anti Freeze to keep your car cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It also has rust inhibitors to protect the inside of your engine. Have your mechanic check all fluid levels when your oil is changed and replace standard coolant/anti-freeze every other year. 7. Check Your Lights. Have you noticed your headlights aren't as bright as they used to be? Headlight bulbs should be replaced every other year, and are low cost and easy to replace. As they dim over time, you can even lose your night vision. Don't forget to check your tail lights so you can also be seen. 8. Keep an Emergency Safety Kit in your trunk in a box or duffel bag. The kit should include items such as: Jumper cables or battery jump starter Flashlight with new batteries Tire inflation product First aid kit Flare and safety triangle Road service card - especially good if you travel Maps Extra washer fluid Basic tools 9. Extend the Life of Your Car. Cars are your second most expensive investment. By following the owner's manual, your car can be counted on to last 10 or more years and well beyond 100,000 miles. Routine maintenance can help your car achieve its potential. 10. Get the Right Technician. With many years experience in servicing the maintenance needs of his customers, Niper's Auto Repair can be trusted to provide you convenient, expert service.