Owning a car is a privilege, so the maintenance of your vehicle is of utmost importance. Did you that regular vehicle maintenance such as tune ups, oil changes, air filter maintenance and proper tire inflation can save you up to 23 gallons of gasoline a year? Or that replacing a clogged air filter can improve your cars gas mileage by as much as 10% - saving up to 55 gallons of gas a year - or about 3 trips to the gas station per year! 

In today’s busy world we are all looking for ways to save time and money. Maintaining your vehicle can help you do both. Regular tune-ups, oil changes and gas cap and tire pressure checks can save you up to 20 percent at the gas pump, and can reduce traffic congestion due to vehicle break downs.

But the benefits don’t stop at the pump – keeping your vehicle in good shape is also good for the environment because it reduces emissions and cuts down on air pollution. According to Colorado’s Regional Air Quality Council, a poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicle can release as much as 10 times the pollution as does a well-maintained vehicle.

Air pollution is of great concern, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) is a helpful tool that tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the AQI, which provides information on five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. A health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard – the level EPA has set to protect public health - exists for each of these pollutants. Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in the United States.

There are several benefits to purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle, including more money in your wallet and less harmful emissions released into the air we breathe. It can be hard to know, though, which vehicles are the best for you. The Fuel Economy Guide can be a useful tool for motorists who consider fuel efficiency to be an important consideration when selecting a vehicle to purchase.

Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) produce the Fuel Economy Guide, to help motorists in choosing fuel-efficient vehicles to meet their needs. Each vehicle is evaluated for city and highway mileage, and an estimate is given of annual fuel cost for each vehicle. A note of caution: even though this guide is an excellent tool for choosing a vehicle, your actual mileage may not match exactly with the estimates given. This is because variations in vehicle usage may cause fluctuations in gas mileage.

The guide is easy to use. Vehicles are arranged by class, and alphabetically within the class, and models with different features are listed as different models. In addition, vehicles are indexed in the back of the guide, for ease of location within the publication. Some vehicles are not listed in the guide, because fuel economy regulations do not apply to SUVs and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8500 pounds or more.

In addition to information on the fuel efficiency of various vehicles, the guide has other useful information. It explains why fuel economy is important, and gives information about tax incentives for purchasing certain types of vehicles. Fuel options are explained, and there are tips on how to improve your fuel economy, no matter what vehicle you drive.

A vehicle is a big investment, and many motorists consider operating costs when deciding on a purchase.  The Fuel Economy Guide makes understanding fuel efficiency easier.