Archive for May 2020Pinch Petroleum Pennies! (Fuel Saving Tips)Posted May 31, 2020 10:28 AMIf you saw a dollar bill on the ground, you'd pick it up, right? Well, whether you find that dollar on the ground or in savings at the gas pump, money is money, and here are some ways to hold on to more of it. Slowing down is the easiest way to save fuel, especially for every speed increase over 50 mph/80 k/hr. Tone down the speed, turn up the cash savings. Drive smoothly (not like a race car driver) and you'll also save money in fuel. Aggressive, fast-start, jerky-stop habits are just pulling the bucks out of your wallet about a third more than if you drove just a little more gently. Oh, and cruise control can help with that smooth, steady speed, so use it on the highway. Bonus! Are you hauling around a set of dumbbells or a box of books? That extra weight is costing you dough. Store them somewhere else. When's the last time you checked to see your tires were inflated properly? That's another money saver and makes your vehicle safer. An idle thought… don't idle any longer than you have to. If you will be idling for more than 30 seconds you'll save money by turning off the engine and re-starting it. More and more of the latest vehicles now do this automatically. Some like it cold. But air conditioning uses a lot of extra fuel. If you can live with the cabin at 72 on a hot day rather than turned down to arctic freeze levels, you'll save some cool cash. Turn off the A/C all together can save you from 5-20 percent The key to a fuel-efficient vehicle is keeping it well maintained. If your spark plugs are old, your belts frayed and your brake pads worn, you're just throwing away fuel. Try a few of these gas-saving suggestions and while you're at it, you'll be helping to reduce your carbon footprint that will help everyone on Planet Earth. Matt Davis Auto Dashboard's a Funny Name (Instrumental Panel Warning Lights)Posted May 24, 2020 7:30 AMEvery day you drive, you're sitting behind the dashboard. But how in the world did it get that name? Back in the days of the horse-drawn carriage, horses would kick up dirt and mud on the driver and passengers, "dashing" debris against the carriage. So those who built carriages began installing a board to protect them. So, dash-board. Dashboard. The dashboard is still there, though changed quite a bit from the early days. Now its main purpose is to house the controls and instruments for your vehicle's systems. Of course, you have the speedometer, tachometer and gas gauge. But there are four warning lights you need to pay attention to on your dashboard and instrument panel. Some of these may even be gauges, depending on your model of vehicle. Regardless, paying attention to them is a good idea if you want your vehicle to keep going as long as possible. Oil pressure—The oil pressure light will come on if your engine doesn't have enough pressure in its system. Low oil pressure means engine parts aren't getting lubricated properly. This can cause really serious damage and do it quickly. If your oil light goes on, call your Matt Davis Auto service advisor immediately if you can. Even driving a short distance may ruin your engine. Check Engine light—If a light that looks like an engine comes on, it's not necessarily signaling a catastrophe. But it means one or more sensors in your vehicle have detected an abnormal situation. Have your vehicle checked soon. There will be a code stored in your vehicle that a technician can read and use it as an extra clue as to what's going on. Brake light—If this lights up, first check if your parking brake is on. If it isn't, you could have serious brake issues. It's a sign you should get the brakes checked soon at Matt Davis Auto. Tire pressure—Tire pressure monitors are built in to newer vehicles. They let you know if any of your tires are over or underinflated. Both conditions need to be checked out. That could prevent a blowout or premature tire wear. The dashboard isn't what it used to be. In fact, it's much better now… and much more informative. Take advantage of that information and keep your vehicle running the way it's meant to. Matt Davis Auto | ||
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