Shade Tree Garage Provides Tips to Help Car Owners Save on Repair and Fuel Bills

Morristown, NJ, February 11, 2011 --(PR.com)-- With the slow economy and increasing inflation, people are looking for ways to cut back on their household expenses. In response, Shade Tree Garage is providing tips to help car owners save on their automotive repair and fuel bills.

“When it comes to saving on automotive repair expenses, the first priority for car owners is to make sure they invest in preventative maintenance,” states Dan O’Connor, Service Advisor at Shade Tree Garage in Morristown, NJ. O’Connor adds, “By paying attention to maintenance schedules and handling repair issues before they become a breakdown, car owners will find themselves saving significant amounts of money.” To save on major repair bills and fuel costs, O’Connor recommends the following:

1. Keeping the car engine tuned up by following the service schedules in the owner’s manual. Misfiring spark plugs and clogged fuel and air filters can reduce fuel efficiency as much as thirty percent.

2. Sticking to a consistent car care maintenance schedule. Oil and filter changes should be performed every 3,000 miles. It’s also important to have other fluids, like the vehicle power steering or transmission fluids, checked and replaced periodically.

3. Checking tires for proper air pressure inflation. Under-inflated tires not only hinder handling, but they waste fuel. In the winter, tires lose air pressure quicker than during the summer so it’s important to check tire pressures at least once a month. When checking and adjusting tire pressures, the “right” inflation pressures are those provided by the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the label inside the driver’s side door.

4. Avoiding excessive idling. Today’s vehicles are designed to warm up quickly, so there is no need to warm up your car for half an hour on cold winter mornings.

One last recommendation from O’Connor involves the “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” lights on a vehicle dashboard. These warning lights are designed to alert car owners to a problem with emissions. Not only is the vehicle polluting, but it will experience poor fuel mileage and reduced engine performance. O’Connor states, “When this type of warning light is illuminated on a dashboard, it’s best to address the situation right away. In doing so, car owners will be able to correct little problems before they become big, expensive repair issues.”

Shade Tree Garage is a trusted independent automotive repair shop located in Morristown, New Jersey. They work hard to accomplish their mission: “To give you peace of mind about the safety and reliability of your car.” They are located at 171 Washington Street, just past Mills and next to Golden Cleaners. For more information, visit their web site at www.shadetreegarage.com.

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