Cars and the Environment

Taking care of your VW or Audi is definitely a win-win situation. Besides helping the environment, a properly maintained and operated vehicle will run more efficiently, will be safer, and will last up to 50% longer, according to a survey of ASE-certified Master Auto Technicians. The following tips should put you on the road to environmentally conscious car care:

• Keep your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual.
• Replace filters and fluids as recommended.
• Check your tires for proper inflation. Underinflation wastes fuel your engine has to work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as evidenced by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the engine work harder, too. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires have to be disposed.
• Keep your air conditioning system in top condition and have it serviced only by a technician certified competent to handle / recycle refrigerants.
• Do-it-yourselfers: dispose of used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries properly. Many repair facilities accept these items. Or call your local council for recycling sites. Never dump used oil or anti-freeze on the ground or in open streams.
• Observe speed limits. Mpg decreases sharply above 58 mph.
• Drive gently. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go's. Use cruise-control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible.
• Avoid excessive idling. Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family. Today's vehicles are designed to "warm up" fast, so forget about those five-minute warm ups on cold winter mornings.
• Remove excess items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mpg. Store luggage/ cargo in the trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag.
• Plan trips. Consolidate your daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving. Try to travel when traffic is light to avoid stop-and-go conditions. Join a car pool.

Remember, how your car runs, how you drive it, and how its fluids, old parts, and tires are disposed of all have serious consequences on our environment.