Maintain Your Car Properly

You will reduce your car’s emissions and enhance its performance if you follow

the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance guidelines. By taking proper

care of your car, you will also extend its life, increase its resale value, and optimize

its "gas mileage" or fuel economy.

The owner’s manual that comes with your car contains a wealth of information.

It outlines recommended maintenance intervals, product specifications, and

operating procedures. The manual also explains the manufacturer’s warranty of

the emission control system. Contact the manufacturer or a nearby dealer to

obtain a copy of the owner’s manual if you do not have one.

Every car has some items that need to be checked on a regular basis and others

that need to be replaced periodically. These include the air filter, vacuum and

coolant hoses, oil, oil filter, fluids, belts, and so on. It’s also important to keep the

tires inflated to the recommended pressure. This will minimize tire wear and

help your car get the best possible fuel economy.

Be sure to have your car serviced by a skilled technician who understands modern

emission control systems. If a modern car has high emissions, it is usually

due to a defined malfunction that needs to be fixed. The type of simple adjustments

that once occurred during tune-ups will no longer correct the problem.

Finally, be aware that pollution will increase dramatically if you tamper with

your car’s emission control system or use leaded gasoline in a vehicle designed

for unleaded gasoline. These activities are illegal — for individual vehicle owners

as well as for fleet operators and auto technicians.

Today’s vehicles are designed with emission controls as integral components of the powertrain. Any tampering with this system will not only drastically increase emissions but is likely to have a negative effect on vehicle performance and durability.

Use of leaded gasoline in a vehicle designed for unleaded gasoline can irrevocably

damage the emission control system. Fortunately, such fuel-switching practices

are becoming increasingly rare as leaded gasoline becomes harder to find.

It is now illegal to manufacture or sell new vehicles requiring leaded gasoline.

Sale of motor vehicle gasoline containing lead or lead additives will be prohibited

in the United States beginning January 1, 1996.

Many drivers ask about use of "premium" or "super" grade gasolines. These fuels

contain additives to increase octane. Octane is a measure of how much a fuel

can be compressed in an engine before it spontaneously combusts. It is not a measure of fuel power or quality.

Only a small percentage of vehicles require high-octane gasoline for optimum performance (these are generally turbocharged or high-performance vehicles). Check your owner’s manual to see what type of fuel is recommended for your car. Unless your car needs high-octane gasoline, use of "premium" will not improve performance or emissions — it will just cost you more.