MY LIBERTY DEPENDS ON ME!

1. Read through the owners manual, this booklet is the first and best source of information on your car and its maintenance schedule.

2. Label a new file folder with the following information: the car's year, make, model, mileage and the date the vehicle was purchased. This folder will hold every single bill, invoice, dealer warranty work invoice, or receipt that pertains to your car. On each statement make sure you have the date AND the mileage at the time of service. When my car was totaled in an accident I was able to get a little more from the insurance company because I could prove, for example, that I had just purchased tires prior to the crash.

3. Put your registration, proof of insurance and a little notebook in the glove box. The reasons for the first two items are obvious; but the little notebook is not for phone numbers! This notebook will help you track your "miles per gallon." Recording the mileage and number of gallons every time you buy gas will, at a glance, give you an idea of how your car is performing.

4. Develop a consistent routine for visual and under-the-hood checks. Inspect:

• Fluid levels and color clarity: oil, transmission, power steering, brake, coolant(antifreeze) and windshield washer solvent


• Belts and hoses


• Battery


• Air filter


• Tires, tire pressure and wear patterns (don't forget the spare tire!)


• Head and tail lights, brake lights, signal lights, emergency flashers


• Window wiper blades


• Seatbelts


• Liquid puddles under the car

5. Keep your car clean inside and out.

The frequency of your checklist will depend on your lifestyle and driving habits. As my son pointed out one day, "oil changes are recommended every so many miles, but those are odometer miles. Your oil still travels through the engine even when the car is stopped at a light, held up by traffic, or sitting there idling." You might want to have oil changes done more frequently if you do a lot of stop and go driving.

Fueling Tips
1)Fill up your car in the early morning hours when the ground temperature is still cold.
2)While filling, do not squeeze the nozzle to fast mode.
3)Fill up your tank when it is half full.
4)Do not fill up your car when the fuel tanker is pumping gasoline into the underground tanks.

Hypermiles
What is hypermiling, you might ask? According to CleanMPG, the term was coined by Wayne Gerdes ". . . to describe a driver who strives to exceed their vehicle's EPA fuel economy rating. In conventional vehicles they can often match the mileage of an average person driving an equivalent hybrid. Hypermilers driving hybrids tend to achieve tremendous mileage, with some even exceeding 100 MPG . That being said, anyone can learn a wide variety of these skills." His article, Beating the EPA - The Whys and Hows to Hypermile, is one of the most comprehensive I've read on the subject.
Some of his basic techniques include these tips:
*Do not use quick accelerations or brake heavily
*Do not idle excessively
*Do not drive at higher speeds
*Cold weather and frequent short trips reduce fuel economy
But it's Mr. Gerdes' advanced hypermiling techniques that hold a wealth of information! This article is well worth the read!!!

Ecodriving Tips
The EcoModder Forums has a list of 105 driving tips to save on fuel. In fact, some of their tips might surprise you, like these:
5) Let the most efficient driver drive
11) Take the road less traveled
63) Avoid parallel parking
78) Wait for the snow plow
92) Maintain an appropriate following distance
and my personal favorite
105) Listen to slower music!
For the full list, visit 105 hypermiling/ecodriving tips

Given the many stories of late regarding car travelers being caught in some pretty intense weather related incidents, car maintenance should also include a few emergency preparedness supplies along with a written schedule to update certain items. The little notebook kept in the glove box would work great for that purpose along with keeping track of the car's gas and mileage consumption. There are quite a few car emergency kits on the market, but a home-made kit can be put together easily enough. Having locked myself out of the car in a horrific thunder storm, one particular piece of equipment I would highly recommend is that spare car key - those magnetic boxes work extraordinarily well. (My spare does not start the car, only unlocks the doors.)