Motorists given some winter-weather fuel saving tips

Fuel prices may be down from what drivers suffered through this past summer ($1.10/litre anyone?), but with gas prices still at the mid-to-high-80s and belowfreezing temperatures only a couple of months away, we should all be observing a few simple fuel-saving rules:

* Keep your gas cap tightened. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps account for over 25 million litres of gas evaporating per year.

* Keep your engine tuned up. Replace filters and fluids as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.

* Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. Under-inflated tires can cause up to a 6% increase in fuel consumption.

* Remove excess weight. Roof-top carriers seem like a good space saving idea when traveling over the holidays, but in fact they decrease fuel consumption due to the additional aerodynamic drag. Keep items in your trunk whenever possible.

* Avoid idling whenever possible. Even on cold days, no more than one or two minutes is necessary to warm up the vehicle.

* Follow the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases at speeds over 100 km-h. Try using cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant speed. * Keep your air filters

clean. A clogged air filter will burn too much gas and cause the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by almost 10%. * Pay attention to the

road. By not tailgating and avoiding sudden starts and stops, you can improve your fuel economy by up to 10%.

Brought to you by John Barbaro of Albion Hills Auto Collision Centre Inc.