Seven Tips to Help Save on Fuel

Looking for ways to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to fuel? There are ways to help maximize each tank for a longer period of time. Some are well-known, and others you may not have realized; however, try these 7 tips to get the most of your next fill-up:

1. Lighten up. Empty your trunk and back seats of any items you don’t need. Also, don't fill up your tank until you're close to empty, as toting less fuel will also make your vehicle lighter. A lighter car should get you better MPG.

2. Cool off. It's okay to turn on your AC. Consumer Reports says that Air Conditioning's gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. Furthermore, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt on gas miles by increasing drag.

3. Stay straight. Staying in one lane as much as possible will also help with fuel consumption, as weaving in and out of lanes uses up more gas miles.

4. Tighten up. Your gas cap, that is. You don't want to let any of that precious fuel evaporate.

5. Shift up. Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, which saves you gas money. Check your owner's manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive.

6. Just cruise. Go ahead and use cruise control when you're on a flat highway, where it can increase gas miles by 7%. However, don't use it on uneven roads where it's not efficient.

7. Shut off. Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won't have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas miles.

The Best 5 Road Trips in the USA!

We wanted to present to you some ideas for a great road trip!

1. The Pacific Coast Highway:
 

1,700 miles along the Pacific Coast from southern California to Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The scenery is breathtaking with stops that include Hearst Castle, Big Sur, San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Olympic National Park. Open the windows and enjoy the fresh air as you drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and watch giant container ships glide underneath. 

 2. Florida State Highway A1A and the Overseas Highway:

 

This 600-mile trip traces Florida's Atlantic coastline from northeast of Jacksonville to Key West. Interesting stops along the way include St. Augustine, the oldest town in the U.S. (sort of); Daytona Beach, where you can drive on the beach; Canaveral National Seashore; and the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Highway A1A meets U.S. Highway 1 in Miami. Thus begins the scenic 127-mile drive on the Overseas Highway that boasts 42 bridges, including famed Seven Mile Bridge.

3. Newfound Gap Road/Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive:
 

This seamless, leisurely drive through three national parks offers some of the East Coast's most scenic landscapes. Newfound Gap Road (32 miles long) cuts across Great Smoky Mountain National Park and connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles), which connects with Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive (105 miles). This wonderful drive is void of billboards, traffic lights, roadside trash, and speeding 18-wheelers.

4. U.S. Highway 2: 

The northernmost U.S. highway zigzags through mountain ranges, traverses the northern Great Plains, and swings around lakes as it connects Everett, Wash., with Houlton, Maine. The entire route, including a 700-mile stretch in Canada, covers 3,300 miles. In the West it crosses the North Cascades and the Rocky Mountains. In the East it meets the Green and White mountain ranges. In between it passes through small towns with local museums and inviting coffee shops. 

5. U.S. Highway 395: 

Connecting southern California with the Canadian border, this 1,300-mile drive traverses high deserts and mountain valleys through a large portion of the scenic West. The highway runs in a north-south direction through some of the most beautiful, but uncrowded sections of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The best portion is arguably California's Owens Valley, which bisects two major mountain ranges.  

Courtesy of USA Today: http://usat.ly/1l5LsuP

A History of the Automobile

Ever wonder who first planted the seed for the idea behind your speedy coupe or beastly SUV? The history of the automobile takes root in humble origins:

It all began with several Italians who recorded designs for wind-driven vehicles. First among them was Guido da Vigevano in 1335, who created a windmill type drive to gears and thus to wheels. Vaturio designed a similar vehicle which was also never built. Later, Leonardo da Vinci designed a clockwork-driven tricycle with tiller steering and a differential mechanism between the rear wheels.

In 1712, Thomas Newcomen built his first steam engine. It had a cylinder and a piston and was the first of this kind to use steam as a condensing agent to form a vacuum and with an overhead walking beam, pull on a rod to lift water. The steam was not under pressure, so Newcomen's lift would have only been limited by the length of the rod and the strength of the valve at the bottom. It was not until 1765 that James Watt developed the first pressurized steam engine, which proved to be much more efficient and compact than the Newcomen engine.

The first recorded vehicle to move under its own power was designed by Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and constructed by M. Brezin in 1769. A second unit was built in 1770 which weighed 8000 pounds and had a top speed of 2 miles per hour on the cobblestone streets of Paris.

Above, you will see the first model on its first drive around Paris, when it hit and knocked down a stone wall. This unsteady prototype also had a tendency to tip over forward unless its weight was counterbalanced with a canon in the rear, for which purpose it was built to carry out.

Courtesy of Kristin Liang

5 Signs You Need Your Brakes Checked

Here are 5 ways to know that it is time to get your brakes checked or replaced!

1) Worn Pads: You'll have to estimate, but generally, your pads should be at least one-quarter of an inch thick. If they're any thinner than that, it's a good idea to get them changed.

2) Strange Sounds: One of the warning signs that your brakes need servicing can come from a small indicator in your braking system that emits a high-pitched squeal when your pads need replacing. And, while this sound is loud enough to be heard even when the windows are up, it might be tough to hear with Lady Gaga blaring from the stereo.

3) Pulling: Has your car ever felt like it has a mind of its own? As if it wants to make right- or left-hand turns while driving or braking? If so, this could indicate a problem with the braking system. Pulling, however, doesn't always indicate a problem with the brakes. The cause could also come from unevenly inflated or worn tires, poor alignment or a problem with your vehicle's suspension.

4) Vibrations: Generally, a vibrating brake pedal indicates warped rotors. Their uneven surfaces will thrum against the brake pads, and you'll feel the feedback through the brake pedal.

5) Temperamental Pedal: A mushy pedal, one that goes practically to the floor before engaging the brakes, could indicate worn pads or a problem with the hydraulic system, such as air in the line, an air leak or a brake fluid leak.

Courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com: http://bit.ly/1fEBTxd

7 Common Reasons for an Oil Change!

Listed are seven reasons to get an oil change regularly!
 
1. Longevity - If you want to make sure your vehicle lasts for the long-run, an oil change is something you want to get done regularly!
 
2. Sludge - Your car parts can be ruined due to dirty cogs and then the engine can build up acidity which can cause further damage.
 
3. Stress - If you are going up steep terrain or going on a long trip your engine needs as much possible power as you can get.
 
4. Change - Get your oil changed about every 3,000 miles, especially in a moderate or dusty climate.
 
5. Driving habits - If you are an aggressive driver, typically you should look to change your oil more often because of driving style. If you are in traffic often, check your oil level.
 
6. Add more - While driving you constantly burn oil, so make sure that you change it out because sludge and other debris can cause expensive damages. 
 
7. Friction - Oil reduces friction, so if you hear your engine making noises when you start your vehicle, it is typically due to dirty or low oil in the tank.

Courtesy of: Star Tech European http://bit.ly/1lFKrFA 

Toyota Thanks Its 4 Millionth Certified Pre-Owned Customer

Michigan man presented with check; Toyota donates matching amount to local Ann Arbor non-profit

January 15, 2014

TORRANCE, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2014) – When Jose Ortiz of Ypsilanti, Mich. bought his 2010 Toyota Matrix at Dunning Toyota in December 2013, he didn’t realize the historical implication of his purchase. Ortiz’s decision enabled Toyota to become the first brand to sell 4 million certified pre-owned vehicles in automotive history.

The record-breaking sale was part of a banner year for Toyota, which sold more than 370,000 certified pre-owned vehicles in 2013.

To commemorate the milestone, Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of Toyota Division at Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., presented Ortiz with a check equal to the total cost of his Matrix. The ceremony took place at Dunning Toyota in Ann Arbor, Mich., the dealership where he bought his vehicle.

Toyota also marked occasion with a check presentation of the same amount to Alpha House Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), a local non-profit that Dunning Toyota has sponsored for many years.

Located in Washtenaw County, IHN is an emergency shelter for children and their families experiencing homelessness. Through IHN’s ongoing support and advocacy, families remain securely housed, better able to cope with ongoing challenges and more connected to community resources.

“Driven by great teamwork, Toyota’s certified used vehicle program has been a tremendous success not only in terms of units sold, but also in building customer loyalty,” said Fay.  “Toyota was the first manufacturer to have a certified used vehicle program and there is no better way to celebrate this milestone than to buy a Toyota certified for our 4 millionth customer.  On behalf of Toyota, I’d like to thank Jose Ortiz for being part of the Toyota family.”

Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom: http://toyota.us/1hyY1uy