Franklin Sussex Auto Mall Blog

The increasing prices of gasoline has become a problem faced by all of us. Since it doesn’t look like the price of gasoline is going to come down anytime soon, it has become quite necessary to understand how to improve the gas mileage so that we can try and save some money!

The first and most logical way is to purchase a fuel efficient vehicle. It’s probably impractical to replace your current car for something that costs less to run, but if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, keep fuel economy in mind. The Chrysler Corporation has a full lineup of vehicles to choose from with the Jeep Compass, Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Caliber ranking as some of the best gas-sipping vehicles available.

A quick and simple way is to keep your tires properly inflate. Not only are underinflated tires dangerous but they cut your overall gas mileage by as much as 25%. Keeping your tires balanced and in alignment can also help keep those MPG number much higher!

GasBuddy.Com is a great website that can help you find the lowest gasoline prices in your neighborhood through its network of over 180 gas price information websites. Buying gasonline from wholesale clubs like Costco or Sams Club can save you upwards of nearly 10 cents per gallon!

Here are a couple more tips that you may not know …

1. Consolidate your trips by combining multiple trips into one
2. Take out the extra “stuff” you store in your car to lighten the load it must carry
3. Remove items that increases drag on the vehicle (luggage racks, bike racks, etc)
4. Be sure that your gas cap is on tight to prevent evaporation
5. Accelerate slowly and brake over a longer distance
6. Use cruise control as much as possible to maintain a steady speed
7. Don’t let your vehicle idle for more than a few minutes

With the spring season fast approaching, you might be wondering what you should do with those bulky winter tires. Living in the northeast, we deal with these conditions every year. If you’ve ever wondered how to properly store those tires when you aren’t using them, here are a few handy hints to help take out all of the guesswork.

1. Make sure you store the tires in a cool and dry place that is well ventilated
2. Try to keep the tires away from motors, generators, furnaces and other devices that create ozone as they can cause harm to your tires after an extended period of time
3. Never place your tires on the ground when storing them. Place something underneath and set the tires on top
4. Try not to store your tires on their sides as they can become distorted and will cause the tire to wear unevenly. The best way to store them is upright as if they were on your car
5. Keep the tires away from areas where water can reach them. Water can damage a tire if left in contact with it for a period of time

Remember Murphy’s Law? Anything that can happen … will happen. Doesn’t it seem that these things always happen at the most inconvenient time and place possible?

In the event that you have a vehicle breakdown, making sure that your car has these basic items tucked away can help keep you and your family safe and out of harm’s way!

Here are a few things you should tuck away …

• A Cell Phone with Delayed Text Delivery
• A Cell Phone Charger Adapter
• A Standard Screwdriver
• A Phillips Screwdriver
• A Roll of Duct Tape
• An Exacto Knife (or similar blade)
• An Adjustable Wrench
• A Red or Orange Sweatshirt
• One Quart of Motor Oil
• One Gallon of Distilled Water
• One Pair of Queen Size Pantyhose
• Two Motor Vehicle Flares
• One Sealed Packet of Food
• Chemical Hand Warmers
• One Vehicle Jack
• One Spare Tire

While this may sound like a lot to pack away, take into consideration that most of these items are small and can easily fit into a small bin inside your trunk.

So what do you do with all of this if you do break down?
When your car breaks down in an urban area, there is usually a phone nearby and with that phone comes a place which is warm (or cool) to wait. Outside of the urban areas, a cell phone becomes a much more important survival tool. Even if you can’t get a signal where you are, text a message to someone you trust to respond and choose the option which allows the phone to continue looking for a signal and deliver the message when possible. Allow the phone to use its full battery capacity before recharging it from your car battery. When it is fully recharged, unplug the adapter so that no charge from the car battery or the phone is wasted.

Great! But what about that bright colored sweat shirt?
Ever see a car that was broken down with a red or orange flag on it to alert other motorists of a problem? Well, that is where the sweat shirt comes in handy … but it does have a few other purposes. If you break down somewhere cold, or in a high altitude area, you will need the warmth. In a pinch, you can still tie the sweatshirt around the end of a load that hangs out the back of  your vehicle!

… And The Pantyhose?
Pantyhose (like duct tape) has many extremely useful uses! From replacement fan belts to air filter covers to adding a little traction to your step by placing them over your shoes. Never leave home without it!

Keeping a gallon of distilled water in your trunk is always a good thing as well. If you are stranded in the desert, drink it. If your coolant springs a leak, fill it (after covering the hole with duct tape). If you run your vehicle through a mud hole, fill the window washer fluid with it. If you cut yourself while patching a hose with duct tape, use the distilled water to wash the wound. Its a very useful tool!

However, basic tools required for basic repairs are always a good idea. For example, suppose you are on a poorly traveled road, your car breaks down. You pop the hood and can see that there is a key hose which has come undone. Most hoses are held in place with clamps which require a turn or two from a screwdriver in order to keep them in place. Using an exacto (or similar) blade to make a clean cut on the end of the hose and a screwdriver to tighten the clamp on the fresh end of the hose can do wonders in terms of getting you down the road to the next service station.

So what are you waiting for? Go start packing!