Regular Maintenance Equals Better Fuel Economy

Every Sunday afternoon, I begin to gear myself up for Monday morning and the new work week. My routine usually involves making a trip to a gas station for a fill up. Yesterday, I found myself wandering the streets of Virginia Beach looking for the cheapest gas I could find. Admit it, you do it too. Websites like Gasbuddy.com were designed for us fuel bargain shoppers who seek out the stations offering the lowest prices. But searching for these coveted gas stations can get pretty time-consuming and may even defeat the purpose if you end up driving more (i.e. using more fuel) to get there. Getting the most mileage possible per tank is all the rage these days, but it does require a bit of thinking. There are a lot of gas saving advice out there, and it may be hard to separate the rubbish from what really works. Rest assure, the tips I bring to you today come from reliable sources.

I poked my head around at the Checkered Flag Toyota service department, and Teeia Young, the assistant service manager, gave me some good advice (which of course I am sharing with you). Teeia says one of the easiest and guaranteed ways to increase your fuel economy (and ease the hit on your pocketbook) is to regularly maintain your vehicle. Regular maintenance can mean improvement of a few miles per gallon and that adds up. The EPA agrees. They estimate that drivers can save up to $690 (based on a 16-gallon fuel tank refilled once a week) by having routine maintenance.

Teeia says she has noticed an increase in customers voicing their concerns about fuel efficiency, and here are a few suggested maintenance tips:

Keep your engine in tune: A properly tuned engine will lower fuel costs. Regular maintenance checks will catch dirty or worn down spark plugs and wires. Having a service technician regularly inspect your ignition system can prevent poor performance and reduced fuel efficiency. Also, according the U.S. Department of Energy, fixing a car that is out of tune can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.

Keep up with recommended oil changes: Getting your oil changed on a regular basis not only improves fuel economy, but it increases the life of your engine too. Dirty oil makes the engine work harder, and a harder working burns more fuel. Replacing the fuel filter is also suggested. A clogged fuel filter means less gas is flowing to the engine, which then causes you to step harder on the gas pedal.

Check and replace air filters: Air filters are just as important. Dirty air filters prevent an engine from breathing properly. When the engine has trouble breathing, it has to work harder, which means its needs more fuel. Air filters also help protect the inside of the engine from impurities, so it is a good idea to replace them regularly.

Along with those tips, Teeia also suggests to maintain correct tire pressure and to use cruise control whenever possible. The Checkered Blog would like to recognize Teeia Young, Karen Freytag, Connie Evans-Zgrodek, Bonnie La Rowe, Aaren Rainey (all pictured here) and the entire Toyota service team for keeping our vehicles in tip-top shape! Hats off to the service teams at all Checkered Flag locations! For more tips or services visit Teeia and the service department team at, Checkered Flag Toyota, 5301 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or to schedule an appointment at any of the Checkered Flag service center locations call (757) 490-1111.