WSJ/NBC Poll Cites Gas Prices As No. 1 Economic Concern

Look around – what do you think is our main economic concern these days?

The latest survey from Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll cites gasoline prices as the economic woe that affects most Americans, according to the Auto Channel. As such, the Car Care Council warns people that putting off vehicle care and maintenance can make matters worse.

"The best way to fight higher costs at the gas pump is to keep your vehicle running properly. You can't control the price of gas, but you can control how much gas you burn by proper maintenance and how you drive," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Performing simple and inexpensive maintenance can save as much as $1200 a year in gas cost."

The Car Care Council offers these gas-savings maintenance and driving tips to make motorists save big money at the pump:

• Check your vehicle gas cap. About 17% of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
• When tires aren't inflated properly, it's like driving with the parking brake on, and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
• A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
• Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%, saving about 15 cents on a gallon.
• Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 22% on the highway and five percent on city streets, which results in seven to 49 cents per gallon.
• Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
• Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 results in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.

Yes, it is essential to take care of your car’s body parts. But maintenance should go hand in hand with safety driving.

To learn more about "Be Car Care Aware" campaign, visit http://www.carcare.org/.