9 Tips To Get Your Vehicle In Shape To Save Money on Gas

If you can benefit from all the tips in this article, you have the potential to save a whopping 30% off your cost of gas (gasoline), which at today's prices could save you more than $1.00 a gallon! Here are nine recommended ways to improve mileage by preparing and maintaining your car, truck or van. Recommended maintenance should be done at the correct time intervals, so the vehicle is always running at its best efficiency. This will naturally give you the best gas mileage. 1- Check your tire pressure every three weeks in all four tires. Invest in a good quality pressure gauge. Tires have a recommended inflation range (eg 32 to 35 psi). Your tires should be inflated to the higher number of pounds, recommended by the manufacturer. This will give you the best mileage. Studies have found that if your tires are only 5 pounds underinflated, you will lose 2% or $.07 a gallon. Underinflated tires create more resistance and drag, causing the engine to work harder and use more gas. 2- The engine uses gas to transport every pound in your vehicle. The more weight, the more the load on the engine and the more gas is needed every mile. Take out as much excess weight as possible. We all have "stuff" in the car, like golf clubs, that doesn't have to be there all the time. The U.S. Dept of Energy estimates that we can save 2% or $.07 a gallon by simply removing excess weight from our vehicles. 3- Make sure you have a clean air filter, which allows the car to work easier. A high-flow air filter will produce the best fuel economy. 4- Change oil when recommended (3,000 to 5,000 mile intervals), to keep the vehicle properly lubricated. 5- Proper maintenance and a tune up could save 20% or $.70/gallon. Using high performance spark plugs will yield the best mileage. 6- Remove your roof rack if it is not being used, because it causes extra wind drag and reduces your fuel economy. 7- Lowering a tailgate on your pickup will give it less resistance to the wind and improve your mileage. 8- Synthetic oil can save an average of 5% or $.14 a gallon. It lasts longer than regular oil and allows your engine to work more efficiently. Once you change to synthetic you must keep using it. Synthetic cannot be mixed with regular, so it is a good idea to keep some with you if you need to add a small makeup amount. Usually, brands cannot be mixed. 9- The next time you need new tires, consider the latest high mileage designs. Goodyear's fuel-saving tread compound provides a low rolling resistance. The manufacturer says that this can save up to 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of the tires (60,000 miles). Figuring gas at $3.80/gallon and an average of 18mpg before switching, there would be a $527 saving over the life of the tires. This is almost enough to pay for the tires.

Semi Trucks For Sale: Determining A Fair Price

Today's market for used semi trucks for sale is growing rapidly every year. Drivers are increasingly choosing used vehicles in an effort to improve their profit margin. But buying a used rig can also become an expensive investment if you don't choose wisely. How can a buyer be sure that the price on the sticker is a fair one? Taking into consideration several factors that are reflected in the cost of a truck can help buyers choose a dependable vehicle they can drive for years. Start With Industry Guidelines The real value of any truck is based on how much a buyer is willing to spend, but there are several publications that offer you accurate guidelines for the value of any type of motor vehicle, including semi trucks for sale in your area. There are three valuable publications you should consult before narrowing down your search or making an offer: Kelley Blue Book, The Black Book and the NADA (National Automotive Dealers Association) Guide. Any one of these will give you a price range for what a particular make, model and year of truck is considered to be worth. Keep in mind, however, that prices are affected by several factors, including condition. When you're consulting one of these books, be sure you understand the difference between "fair" and "excellent" when you're making comparisons. A semi for sale that has rust damage around the doors isn't considered to be in excellent condition; on the other hand, one that's been well maintained may be considered to be in excellent condition despite its age. Consult Additional Sources Once you've consulted one or more of the accredited guides mentioned above, you should visit some online forums and national, as well as regional, ads. In an online trucker's forum, you may discover vital information such as frequent complaints about the poor fuel mileage of certain makes and models. These kinds of details can be crucial. For instance, if a lot of owner/operators complain about excessive rusting on a popular model, you'll want to steer clear of it if you'll be driving in a lot of rain or snow. There are also regional pricing trends for everything from semi trucks for sale to used dump truck parts for sale. You can expect to pay more for a semi in regions where they are in high demand. In general, the cost will be a bit lower in the heartland than it is on either coast. Check Insurance Costs Of Semi Trucks For Sale Every truck driver knows that they will have to insure their vehicle. Did you also know that the cost of coverage can vary considerably depending on the make, model and year? If you're considering a few different semi trucks for sale in your area, take the time to contact your insurance company. There could be a difference of several hundred dollars or more for coverage, which you should take into consideration. Paying less for a vehicle only to find out that its insurance premiums are significantly higher could mean the great deal you thought you got wasn't a wise buy in the long run. Take Damage Into Consideration A reputable used truck dealer will clearly point out any past problems such as minor damage that has been repaired, but don't take the dealer's word for it. Look for tell-tale signs such as ripples in the paint or welds, either of which can indicate that a repair has been done. Paint bubbling around chrome may be covering up more extensive rusting beneath the area. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Some repairs are perfectly safe, although you should avoid buying a used semi for sale that's had extensive work done. Safe is better than sorry, so opt for a vehicle that's got a clean record. If you do choose to buy one that's had some repairs, you should be able to get it at a lower price. Once you're sure you've picked a semi for sale that fits your needs or used dump truck parts for sale that are realistically priced, talk to the dealer about any available warranties or repair services offered. Protecting your investment is always a good idea when buying a used semi.

Top 10 Car Brands for Teens

Driving a vehicle is surely a dream to most teenagers and most anticipate for this moment with a lot of expectation. When it comes to choosing on the ideal vehicle, various factors come to mind and most importantly being what brand to choose that will make them stand out and enjoy while driving, as their safety is guaranteed. Below is a list of the top ten brands for teens. 1. Volvo S40 - This vehicle has a great look and it comes with safety features that cannot be matched by others. These features are quite important, especially when it comes to teenagers, most of whom are first time drivers. 2. Mazda 3 - There is the option of a sedan or a hatchback in this vehicle. The list of features that have been taken into consideration in building this vehicle makes it an awesome vehicle, in particularly the gas efficiency. 3. Ford Escape Hybrid - This is an awesome SUV that allows a teen to have their friends on board as they drive. This is a great vehicle especially for the long trips, offering up to 3 mpg. 4. Toyota Camry - It is quite expected that the vehicle should not be in this list, especially due to the fact that this vehicle has been around for close to two decades. The total package of this vehicle offers a combination of value that cannot be realized in any other vehicle. 5. KIA Forte - In this vehicle is value, functionality and a great look to the vehicle that is surely guaranteed to look great. The vehicle also offers good fuel efficiency and this will help a teenager in enjoying driving. 6. Honda CR-Z - This is a vehicle that is designed to appeal to the teen while giving high functionality. The vehicle has an amazing 35mpg in the city and up to 39mpg on a highway, a great achievement for a hatchback. 7. VW Jetta - This is a great looking vehicle that is guaranteed to provide you with an amazing output while assuring you of safety while driving. 8. Mini Cooper _ this vehicle comes in a great look that is perfect for a person looking for a small vehicle. The vehicle also comes with a rack on top that is quite functional when in need of carrying extra luggage. 9. Hyundai Sonata This is a great vehicle that offers good miles to the gallon, with up to 30 miles being expected when in the city. The ample capacity for additional passengers will also help you in coming to appreciate a great time. 10. Scion Tc - The build of the vehicle comes in a two door mode and offers great functionality for a teen. With 23 mpg in the city and 31mpg, this vehicle is one that is assured to help a driver derive pleasure.

7 Costly Mistakes To Avoid When Transporting Your Vehicle

It is essential to take great care when entrusting your prized possession to a car shipping agent, there are numerous issues which must be tackled before proceeding with the contract. The most common mistakes people make are easily avoidable: 1) Going with the first quote - never go with the first quote, there is no way to ascertain if the company chosen are overcharging you. Likewise, there is no way of knowing if they are significantly cheaper than other companies which in itself should also send alarm bells ringing. 2) Cheap is not necessarily best - sometimes, cheap companies are cheap for a reason and the real possibility that their service is sub-standard or that they have "cut corners" to be cheaper. This can be very costly in the end. 3) Not researching the company - this is yet another common mistake done which can prove very costly. Once you have chosen a company to transport your vehicle, take some time to research the company before entrusting your vehicle to them, this could be from past clients, website testimonials (beware of those too as anyone can make them up) - a good way of researching a company is by typing their company name on the internet and see what comes up. There are numerous forums in which people comment about these companies, you may come across independent comments from satisfied or dissatisfied past clients. 4) Not having any proof or evidence of the condition of the vehicle prior to transportation - If your vehicle arrives at your destination with damage that wasn't there before, it will be your word against theirs, this is easily avoided by taking detailed photographic evidence internally and externally, date and time-stamped, ideally signed as form of evidence by the transport company before to departure. 5) Not preparing your car for transportation - Whilst the transport company will take certain precautions and carry out a number of checks before departure, it is also your responsibility to assist them too, for example by making sure there isn't anything left inside the vehicle that shouldn't be there such as food or drinks. Your vehicle will be on the road for a number of days, the windows will be shut and it may be sunny and hot so any food left inside a vehicle will not leave a pleasant aroma. 6) Not telling the transport company of any mechanical problems - It may be that your vehicle drives but has some intermittent mechanical problems such as battery or starter-motor for example. If you fail to inform the transport company that your vehicle has some intermittent faults, when it comes to load it to the transporter, if it won't start, they may consider it as a non-running vehicle and it may not be transported therefore missing out your allotted slot. 7) Finally, failing to use the appropriate method for transporting your car - There are open and enclosed trailers in which your vehicle can be shipped, if for example you have a soft top vehicle with a faulty hood, then transporting it in an open trailer may not be the best option! These are the top seven mistakes committed most frequently which as you can see, with a little bit of thought and research can be avoided.

What Makes A Good Driving School?

Driving schools have become a mainstay of life as laws regarding both driving and classroom experience have become more stringent in recent decades. Designed to protect young drivers from accidents and the most common mistakes made on the road, these laws have prompted many parents to consider intensive driving courses when giving their son or daughter their best shot at meeting state requirements, passing their road test, and staying safe on the country's busy highways and local roads. There are some key things to look for, as well as some things to keep in mind, when looking for these professional driving schools, however, and parents might want to start making a checklist of these items before they enroll their child in any particular driving school. Ensure the Right Combination of Theory and Practical Drivers are required to have a certain number of driving experience hours logged onto a special form before they can apply to take their practical driving test and become eligible for a drivers license. At the same time, students are required to learn in-depth information about driving which spans from how to handle inclement weather to the best ways to remain safe in aggressive driving environments. For this reason, it is important to look for a driving school which clearly states how much time they will dedicate to both teaching their students about the road as well as going out with them on the highways and letting them test these skills hands-on. It is also important to understand just how many driving hours, or theory hours, a student will log when they participate in an intensive driving course. Some of these institutions might actually do all of the work themselves, ensuring that a student has all of the necessary driving time and classroom time needed after completion. Others will do a percentage of this work and hand off the rest of the driving experience and education to the parent or guardian. Before committing to driving lessons, understand the relationship of experience between the school and the parent. Check Into the Instructor's Experience in the Driver Education Field There is simply no substitute for experience when it comes to choosing a driving instructor. Any school worth its time and fees will employ only the most seasoned veterans of the road, and they will ensure that these professionals are effective at communicating their skills to novice and young drivers. That is a key part of any school, and choosing one without a proven track record of success and experience in education is a serious folly that can result in the student failing their road test or not meeting state requirements. It is also important to look into the training and certification obtained by any instructor. There are often thorough requirements mandated by state departments of transportation for these professionals, and they should be willing to freely discuss their state qualifications as well as their experience in actually teaching new drivers how to handle their newfound privilege of operating a motor vehicle. If there is no such proof that an instructor is certified and experienced, it is time to look elsewhere when preparing a new driver for the road. Research and Tough Questions are the Key to Selecting the Right School Just like finding the best school or college, the best driving school should be chosen through the use of extensive research, lots of question-and-answer sessions, and careful attention to detail. Make sure that any institution is state certified or licensed, make sure that the instructor has a wealth of experiencing teaching young drivers about the road, and understand which requirements for young drivers will be met or exceeded at the conclusion of the course.

Appealing Parking Fines: Part 1 the Process

Parking fines can be a pain, especially when you don't deserve them. But you don't have to give in and accept the parking fine if you don't believe you're entitled to receive it! You can appeal a parking fine on a number of different grounds and you must follow a certain process to appeal your parking fines. When you receive the ticket you have 14 days within to pay the amount or its doubled, or half of the original price before 14 days whichever way you look at it. For example if you pay the ticket within the first 14 days of receiving it you will only pay £60, if you pay the fine after the 14 days you will pay double this amount £120. We're telling you this because if you decide to appeal it will probably take longer than 14 days and you will end up paying the full amount for the ticket if you lose, so make sure you have good grounds for appeal. You can ask for the 14 days to be frozen whilst your appeal is processed and resolved but the council don't have to do this. The first step to appealing is writing a letter to your local council to start the process of appealing your parking ticket and you must state why you think it's wrong. There are a number of different reasons to why someone may appeal a parking ticket such as: What you're been charged with didn't happen (This covers things such as misleading parking signs, ECT) It happened without your consent (the vehicle may have been stolen) The penalty charge exceeded the regular amount You weren't the owner of the vehicle when this happened There are many more reasons for appealing parking fines but these are just some of them. The council can either accept the challenge and your fine will be dropped or they can reject the challenge. If the challenge is rejected you will then receive a notice of rejection of representation and appeal notice form in which you will have 28 days to fill out for your case to be heard at the traffic and penalty tribunal. They're independent of the local council and decide the fate of your appeal once and for all. On your driving lessons you're taught where it is and isn't legal to park so that you can try to avoid having to go through the above process if you're fined incorrectly. Private parking fines work differently and are not a criminal matter but a civil matter of law, more specifically contract law. When you park on private land you're entering a contract with the land owner. Terms of the contract are usually outlined on a board near the machine where you pay for your parking ticket or at the entrance. In order for private land owners to enforce fines on people they have to first prove that you were the driver of the car and then take you to the small claims court for the money that they claim you owe. This is something that isn't outlined on your driving lessons as most people don't even know themselves and it can be very useful information.

Good Ways to Clean Your Alloy Wheels

We all do it, when looking at a "flash" car the first thing we are drawn to is the wheels. That's why it is so important to make sure your wheels are pristine clean. You don't want them to be covered in scuffs and brake dust. After all, we all love the feeling on a summer day driving around in our shiny, clean car. Now we know our priorities when cleaning the car are to focus on getting the wheels shiny, it's time to find out how to go about doing so. The first thing to take into consideration about your wheels is that the more times you clean them the better. It is so much easier cleaning dirt that is new to the surface rather than dirt and brake dust that has been there a while and bedded in. Acid and road salts also have a negative effect on alloy wheels so it is important that you keep up with the cleaning of them. The best time to clean your wheels is the same time you clean your car, which most people seem to just forget or ignore. When you come round to cleaning your car (and wheels!) you must try not to use the same sponge for the bodywork as the wheels. If you do use the same sponge, it will just result in damage and scratches to the paintwork. For best effects, it is strongly advised you actually take the wheel off to carry out a thorough clean on them and to reach the back of the wheel. This can be a real pain every time you clean the car, so probably twice a year is the least you should clean the wheel in this way. The steps of a thorough clean: 1. Give the wheel a good wash with preferably a jet wash. This high speed and power allows surface dirt to be washed off. 2. Then go over the wheels with a sponge. Brake dust and surface dirt will be taken off at this point leaving the harsher and dirtier areas more visible. 3. Now is the part where you will need a small toothbrush or something rough enough and small enough to get between the wheels and scrub away. Scrub away like Cinderella, it's the only way to get the dirt that is bedded in off. 4. Once you feel the wheel is as clean as it can be all you need now is to give it a good dry. Leaving wheels wet often leaves smear marks on them and spoils the effect. 5. You can now apply a layer of wax if you wish, as this acts as a form of protection to this wheel surface. If you go to your local car part manufacturer you will find plenty of wheel protectors. You should now have yourself a shiny car along with pristine wheels. Heads will be turning when your driving down town! I hope you found this article informative and useful, however you may be in the situation where you want a professional to do the job for you. A specialist can do a great job for you alongside many more things you may not have the tools to do.