Fuel economy is a great buzzword these days – we’re all looking to get the most bang for our buck when it comes to filling up our tanks, but sometimes it can seem like we’re filling up more often than we’d like. That’s where this blog comes in! We’ve got some great proven tips for improving your fuel economy easily and getting a few more miles to the gallon as you drive around town!

The first and most important tip is to not speed. A great way to combat any lead-footed tendencies is to use cruise control on the highway when it’s safe to do so. This gets rid of the acceleration and deceleration that come with speeding, and also keeps you safe from getting pulled over (speeding is, after all, illegal). Lower speeds = higher MPG’s!

Maintaining your vehicle is instrumental in getting good gas mileage. With properly inflated tires, correct alignment, and regular oil changes, your vehicle will perform beautifully and efficiently! Low tires create drag, which makes your vehicle work harder to perform the way it should. Next time you need to get new tires, you should ask for low rolling resistance tires to help your vehicle that much more. Winter tires are a great idea for areas where there’s snow accumulation, because your engine won’t have to work so hard to overcome snow and ice.

When going out and running errands or traveling, try carpooling and combining all your trips into one journey. This will save gas, cut down emissions, and save money for everyone! If you need to stop, turn your car off completely. Idling for one minute uses just about as much gas as starting your car does, and it creates exhaust gases that are harmful to the environment. (And when you carpool, you can use the HOV lane!)

When summer comes, park in the shade and use your garage if you have it. When your vehicle is out in the sun, it damages your paint and clearcoat, and it causes your gas to evaporate inside your tank, leaving you with less to drive with.

Finally, clean out your car! If you have a lot of junk in the trunk, so to speak, clean it out so that you can carry what you need in your vehicle. If you have roof mounted storage, try and fit those items into your vehicle – or switch to a rear-mounted storage solution. This will reduce the drag of your vehicle overall and save you gas!

We can’t guarantee a massive improvement in your MPG’s – these tips won’t get you from 20 to 70 MPG but it will help get a couple more miles out of each gallon if you work hard. Try them out!

Out of all the people in the United States, 60% own pets. 73% of those pet owners own dogs. And do you know what? A lot of those dog owners like to travel with their dogs in the car. If you’re part of that population, we’ve got some great tips for you on how to safely travel with your dog – keep reading!

Only travel with your dog if they are healthy. If your dog is looking sick, bring them to the vet! If you need care for your dog while you’re away, then find a dogsitter or a place for you to board your pup if you’re going to be away for a while.

In the car, your dog needs to be restrained so they don’t wander and hurt themselves. The two options you’ve got are a crate (which needs to be big enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, lie down and turn around inside of) or a harness tie-down. When you’re on the road, only give your dog water to drink. Food is a no-no while you’re driving just because dogs can get carsick too. That water should be distilled/filtered or the regular water from your tap that you give them at home.

Don’t let your dog ride on your lap or stick their head out the window. The former because they can impede your ability to drive properly and potentially cause an accident, and the latter because debris, dust, and other nasties can fly into your dog’s eyes, ears, and mouth from the road and cause injury.

The final piece of advice is to stop frequently for potty and exercise breaks. Not only can your dog use the exercise, but you can as well!

Your headlights are essential for safe night driving. Without them, you won’t be able to see the road, you will present a hazard to other drivers, and most importantly you’ll be breaking the law by driving at night without headlights on. Of course, if your headlights are broken, it’s no fault of yours – but you will need to get them fixed.

If only one of your headlights is out, you still need to get it fixed. It could be due to a burned out bulb or a broken headlight component that needs to be replaced.

If neither of your headlights work, well, why aren’t you at the shop right now?! There is a very slight chance that it’s due to both of your headlights being burnt out, but it is much more likely that it’s a broken relay or a control switch that needs to be repaired.

If your headlights both work but just aren’t as bright as they should be, try cleaning them with a clean microfiber cloth and some cleaning solution. If after the cleaning they are still dim, take a good close look at the plastic of the headlights themselves. If it is yellowed, scratched, and pitted then you should ask us about headlight reconditioning or replacing your existing headlights with brighter bulbs.

Finally, if your headlights work fine but go dim in certain situations, such as when you accelerate, you could have a problem with your charging system. Talk to us about getting that checked out!

You might think that you know how often you should get your oil changed, but the fact of the matter is that every vehicle is different. There are a lot of different factors that go into how frequently your oil needs to be changed, such as:

• The age of your car

• The type of oil you use

• How many miles are on your car

• What conditions you usually drive in

• How hard you drive your car

The general rule of thumb is that you should get your oil changed every 6 months or 3,000 miles – but that might not be right for your vehicle. Depending on the above factors, you might need oil changes more frequently or even less frequently. Who knows the answer? We do! Come see us when you’re due for your next oil change and ask us to check everything out and give a recommendation for how often you need your oil changed. You might be surprised!

When you’re driving, one inevitability no matter where you’re going is construction. Whether it’s just a stray traffic cone or a full-blown work zone, you need to stay safe. Check out our failproof tips for driving safely and obeying the law in a construction area!

First, expect the unexpected. Never assume that everyone is going to follow the rules or drive safely. This is why YOU should follow the rules and drive as safely as you have ever driven in your entire life.

Always pay attention. Not only will it help you to drive more safely if you do, but it’ll also help you notice signs, flaggers, and more. Pay attention specifically to the signs, because they’ll tell you speed limits and upcoming work areas. Flaggers are just as important as signs, though – if you ignore a flagger, you could face the same ticket that you’d get for ignoring a sign.

Merge as soon as you can instead of waiting until the last minute. Not only is waiting rude, especially if you use the closing lane to speed past others, but it can hold up traffic and you risk getting into an accident.

If you see that the speed limit is being reduced, slow down immediately. If you’re going 60mph, you’re moving about 88 feet per second. If you see a sign that says there’s a work zone in 1,500 feet, you’ll get to that work zone in about 17 seconds. So, go slow!

Tailgating is always a no-no. Does this even need to be said? Stay far away from the person in front of you. Space is safe!

Always stay in the center of your lane. This is part of paying attention – when you are focused, you won’t swerve in and out of your lane. If you can’t stay in your lane, you’re likely to hit cones, barriers, and even workers.

The work zone is not over until you see a sign that says it is. Even if there’s no work happening, you’re still subject to speed limits and fines until you see the sign that says the work zone has ended.

Do you chronically drive your car when the fuel gauge says that you have little to no gas? If you answered yes, you need to break that habit immediately. Bro. Listen. Look at me. This is a problem and I’m here to help you overcome it, just like that time that you helped me when my mom accidentally washed my snapback in the washing machine. Okay? First, let me tell you the bad things that come from driving with an empty tank. I can’t believe I have to say this to you. You know better, bro. You do.

So first you can wear out your fuel pump. If you don’t have enough gas then the pump starts pumping air. This is because gas acts as a coolant for the fuel pump motor. The air makes heat and then the pump wears out and breaks and then I have to loan you like a hundred bucks. Not cool, man.

Secondly is that the gauge is not accurate. Like, it’s close? But the thing is that it’s more of an approximation than anything. So like, don’t trust it all the way. My dad said not to let your tank ever get below three-quarters empty. I feel like that’s a solid plan, right? Just start doing that. I got you!

The last thing is that there’s all kinds of gunk and stuff in the bottom of everyone’s gas tank. Even yours, bro! But when you’re mad low on gas then all that sediment gets stirred up and then goes through all your pipes and hoses and such and will make you need to get a flush. Like, a full engine flush. And because I’ve hypothetically already loaned you a hundo, you’ll have to ask your dad for money. Again. Don’t stoop that low, bro! I got your back. Bros for life.

It’s a common fact that Volkswagen owners love their VW’s. That’s just something that we have all known for forever and it’s not something that’s going to change any time soon. But, even the most die-hard Volkswagen fans might find some new information in this list of our top 10 favorite Volkswagen fun facts: check them out!

1. The VW Beetle’s original name was the Volkswagen Type 1.

2. The name Volkswagen translates directly into English from German as “People’s Car,” because it was designed to be an affordable car for the German people.

3. Ferdinand Porsche (yes, that name sounds familiar!) designed the original prototype for the Volkswagen Type 1 in ten months.

4. The VW Beetle was produced from 1938 to 2003 – that’s 65 years!

5. Volkswagen used to give savings bonds to babies who were born in Beetles – though giving birth in a car is never anyone’s top choice, at least they got some compensation for it!

6. The first Volkswagen vehicles to arrive in the US came stateside in 1949.

7. The world record for the most people to fit inside of a VW Beetle at one time is 57. How this was done remains a complete mystery to me.

8. New Volkswagens are named after global wind currents. “Golf” is actually the German name for the Gulf stream.

9. The most famous Volkswagen in the world is “Herbie,” from the 1968 movie The Love Bug.

10. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest employers, with over 600,000 employees worldwide.

Do you suffer from blind spots in your vehicle? Sometimes it’s a burden we all have – but did you know there are some quick and easy ways to completely eliminate your blind spots for good? Sure, it does involve careful driving and making sure to look in your mirrors when you’re changing lanes or backing up… but you should be doing that all the time anyway. Check out our two tips for getting rid of your blind spots once and for all!

The first tip is the easiest. Get a couple of aftermarket stick-on convex mirrors and stick them to the outer corners of your side mirrors. They help you see pretty much everything around your vehicle, eliminating rear blind spots.

If you don’t want to spend money, adjust your mirrors. There’s a trick to it. Here are the steps:

• Adjust your rearview mirror to give you a view directly to the rear. Make it so that it best covers your rear window view. Don’t tilt it to get side views – just straight back through your window.

• Lean your head until it almost touches your driver’s side window. Adjust your left side mirror so you can just barely see the side of your car – no more.

• Lean your head to the passenger side as far as you can comfortably while still sitting up and adjust the right mirror so you can barely see the right side of your car.

• You shouldn’t be able to see the side of your car when your head is all the way upright!

Are you planning some road trips this holiday season? And by “road trips,” of course I mean “getting the family into the car and to Grandma’s with minimal drama” which is an important distinction to make. Anyway, it’s important to have the right supplies with you when traveling, especially when it’s not exactly the first thing on everyone’s list of things they’d want to do if they were given the choice. We have put together a list of important things that should live in your car if you travel with family a lot, and we know it’s a bit overboard but please feel free to pick and choose to build your perfect kit/tote bag/backpack/whatever for your road trip supplies!

In The Car

• Blankets and pillows

• Music

• Folding chairs

• Reading material

• Camera

• Cash for toll roads

• GPS

• Binoculars

• Wet wipes

• Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids

• Pen, pencil, notepad

• Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper

• Small bags for garbage

Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs

• First aid kit

• Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic toolkit)

• Gallon jug of water

• Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid

• Rags, workshop towels, old blanket

• Gloves

• Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

• Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel)

• Duct tape and WD40

When it comes to your vehicle, one of the most important things to keep an eye on and monitor is your tires. Seriously – tires are the key to everything from getting better gas mileage to staying safe in hazardous conditions. This means making sure that they are at the correct pressure and that the tread depth is still good. The great thing about this is that checking both of these things is super duper easy!

First, to check your tire pressure, all you’ll need are the tires and a tire pressure gauge. The gauge can be bought at pretty much any auto store (or store that sells auto supplies and accessories) for super cheap. Put the gauge on the valve stem and it should tell you what your pressure is. To find out what it should be, check in your owner’s manual, the sticker inside the door jamb of the driver’s side door, or the sidewall of the tire itself. If you’re low, pump your tire up with an air compressor. Easy!

Second is checking the tread. This will cost you approximately one cent and is a great use for your pennies, which are basically useless. The way to use a penny to check your tread is to put the penny into your tread with Lincoln’s head facing directly down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires. That’s all there is to it!

Your tires should be lasting you at least five years, so if you find them wearing out faster than that, you might want to be more vigilant about your tire pressure as well as the way you drive. You should see an improvement in the longevity of your tires!