Did you know that maintaining proper inflation of your tire pressure is a major leap forward in conserving resources and saving you money? By reducing the rolling resistance of your vehicles tires, you can significantly save on gas consumption, get more miles from your tires, reduse the hazards of driving and help lessen fuel emmissions.
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Maintenance Tips!

• Composting is a good thing when it comes to yard waste and table scraps. But, when your vehicle starts to compost - rust- it can quickly decrease the value and eventually shorten it's life. Worse yet, rust can dangerously weaken structural components, affecting your safety. Wash and wax regularly and repair any little trouble spots before they grow into expensive body work. Extending the life of your car will make it an Eco-Auto.
  
• Keeping the outside clean is important, but keeping it clean under the hood is important also. An oily, dirty engine runs hotter than necessary, and the dirt makes it difficult to spot minor fluid leaks. Keep your engine clean by periodically wiping it with a damp cloth and laundry detergent. Avoid steam cleaning the engine or using a high-pressure water hose. Excessive moisture can damage electronic engine components.
  
• It's amazing how a ten dollar hose can disable your $20,000 vehicle. What's even more amazing is how that hose almost always seems to fail at the worst time. To prevent mishaps, it's a good idea to inspect your hoses once a month and before long trips. Check hoses when they 'er cool by squeezing them with your fingers and thumb near the end of the hose. If the ends are soft and spongy, cracked or bulging then replace the hose. It's a small price to pay to avoid a big inconvenience.
  
• How cold does it get in your area? Well, it's never too cold to turn on your car's air conditioning unit. Why? Because occasionally running your car's air conditioner even during the winter will help keep the seals inside the conditioner more pliable. This helps prevent the coolant from escaping into the atmosphere. Which could be the difference between good news or a hefty bill when you take your Eco-Auto in for a check-up.
  
• Your car has to work extra hard during the winter months because oil thickens as it gets colder making the pump work extra hard to get oil where it is needed in your engine. So change your oil with the proper weight for the season. Using a low weight oil, like 5w 30 in winter will allow your engine to turn over on cold days and reduce wasted fuel from slow starts.
  
• Anti-freeze should be changed every other year to keep the cooling system clean. Collect it in a deep pan to prevent spilling, and don't pour it down any sort of drain. It's toxic. More and more repair shops are collecting anti-freeze for recycling.
  
• Have you heard the saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"? The fact is, if you have a squeaky wheel it might be too late for grease. Get a chassis lubrication during regular maintenance, like an oil change; it will help extend the life of your steering and suspension components.
  
• Also, when you have your tires rotated it's a good practice to check your brakes and wheel bearings for wear. And remember, if you hear squeaks or other noises, check them out immediately.
  
• It may not be required by law in your area, but consider having your emissions control system checked at least once a year. It can help detect engine problems before they wreak havoc, saving you money and hassles down the road. So, help reduce air pollution by giving your car an emissions check.
  
• Most batteries nowadays are maintenance free. All you check is battery terminals that shouldn't be loose or corroded. Corroded battery terminals will cause all kinds of problem: blinking instrument lights, low charge, no-start, dim headlights, check engine and ABS malfunction light etc. Also, if you see any acid leaks, cracks or any other damage - replace the battery. Acid leaking from the battery destroys everything underneath. For example on VW Golf it will be the fan control module located right under the battery.
  
• Fix any small problems. If there is any problems with your engine, such as irregular noise or smell, or performance problems, leaks or smoke, or "check engine" light is on, etc., have your car inspected with a mechanic. It's always better to fix any small problem right away before they can cause engine damage. Be aware, some mechanics will try to scare you because they always want to sell you more job than your car really needs, so always ask to explain everything, to show you what exactly is wrong and why.
  
• If you want to find more technical information about you car such as all kind of diagrams (transmission diagram, engine diagrams, vacuum line diagram, electrical diagram, etc.) repair information, specification, fluids type, maintenance schedule, component location, service bulletins and so on, there is a website which for a small fee allows you to browse all such an information for almost any car model on-line. To learn more visit this page: Where to find technical information about your car.
  
• Check the engine oil regularly, at least once a month or even more often if the car has high mileage.
  Driving with extremely low oil level (less than min.) or with low oil pressure warning lamp on may cause serious engine damage

  If you note, that oil pressure gauge indicates extremely low oil pressure - have your engine inspected as soon as possible.
  - While checking the oil level, look at its condition. Check the image at the left. If the oil is black like on the right image, it needs to be changed.
  - Always use only appropriate engine oil type (usually you can find it on oil cap or in the owners manual).- Check your parking space for leaks. If you find any, fix it before it results in more serious vehicle problem.