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Truckee Auto Repair

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Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Available at both facilities during regular business hours.

Category Archives: Fuel Economy

Improve Fuel Economy with Proper Maintenance at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE

With TRUCKEE gas prices being what they are, many of us in CA are driving less and looking into purchasing smaller or more efficient vehicles. TRUCKEE area residents who have to drive a lot, have large families or need four-wheel drive are particularly hard hit by the cost of fuel in CA. But there are things all TRUCKEE drivers can do to save fuel: We can improve our driving habits and stay on top of preventive maintenance at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc. These things make small savings possible, but they can really add up.Let's start with driving habits. One major gas-eater is jackrabbit starts. A smooth, gradual acceleration uses a lot less fuel. It's also easier on your engine and drivetrain, so you'll prolong their lives as well.If you drive with one foot on the brake, stop. That creates drag, increasing fuel usage and reducing the useful life of your brakes.Slowing down can really add up on gas savings over time for TRUCKEE drivers. Driving five to ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

Wasteful Thinking

With the weather getting colder, you might be tempted to start your vehicle up, let it idle for 15 or 20 minutes and then get in the nice, cozy cabin.  Some vehicles offer remote starting that let you do that from the comfort of your home or apartment.  But is letting your vehicle idle like that good for it? Manufacturers say it doesn't harm the vehicle.  They say it's because modern vehicles are made differently from those in the past.  Just about all newer vehicles employ fuel injection which uses computers to adjust the amount of gasoline that goes into the cylinders.  The engine gets only the fuel it needs, taking conditions into account. Older vehicles, on the other hand, used to use carburetors.  When you started a cold engine, the carburetor wasn't able to adjust the gasoline amount depending on conditions.  Some of the gasoline would mix with oil and the pistons wouldn't get the same lubrication as they would with undiluted oil. So yes, you ca ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

Good Service at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc Equals Good Fuel Economy in TRUCKEE

Whether we're trying to save money, save gas or save the environment, most of us TRUCKEE drivers have an interest in decreasing fuel consumption. We've all heard about ways to save money on gas in CA, but does it really add up to much? How much can we boost our fuel economy through preventive maintenance and more courteous driving?The US government has a website that actually answers that question. Let's look at some of the data and find out if any of these fuel-saving ideas are really worth the effort. We've all heard that a tune-up can improve gas mileage. It turns out that it can save us 4% at the pump. At $3.50 a gallon, that's 14¢ per gallon in savings, and at $4.00 a gallon, that's a 16¢ per gallon savings.Other common repair items can also save you at the pump. For example, if your oxygen sensor is faulty, it's not delivering the information to your engine's computer that allows it to calculate the right fuel-to-air ratio. The result? The fue ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

Will Proper Auto Maintenance at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc Really Save Gas?

Have you ever thought about all the little things we do to keep our lives running smoothly - like vacuuming? It makes a room feel fresher and more comfortable. We may not consider that we're also prolonging the life of the carpet by keeping it clean. But TRUCKEE drivers don't always extend those good habits into the garage. Our vehicles need regular maintenance just like our rugs need vacuuming. We may not notice a difference in the feel or appearance of the vehicle, but just as cleaning a carpet carries the hidden reward of prolonging its life, maintaining our vehicles incurs a hidden reward that becomes noticeable at TRUCKEE gas stations.When it comes to reduced fuel economy, there are two culprits: increased friction and inefficient fuel combustion. That means that anything TRUCKEE drivers can do to decrease friction and increase the efficiency of their engines will translate to savings on fuel. Friction increases the amount of energy it takes to move something. So if we can reduce ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

Hey TRUCKEE Drivers: How Do You Save Gas?

Higher TRUCKEE fuel prices aren't going away any time soon. That's not good news for our wallets. A lot of TRUCKEE drivers are trying to find ways to cut down on fuel consumption and hang on to some of their hard-earned money.North Americans drive billions of miles less during months of high fuel prices. That's right, billions. Of course CA vehicle owners can't stop driving altogether, so we still need to find other ways to cut fuel bills.Preventive maintenance at The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc in TRUCKEE and good vehicle care can actually pay for themselves by lowering our fuel consumption. Here's a real-life example of how that can work.A family planned a four-day camping trip. Before leaving, they took their SUV into The Auto & Tire Doctor Inc for an oil change. They flushed the cooling system, serviced all three differentials and cleaned the fuel system. They replaced the PCV valve and breather element. Then they checked the tires to ensure they h ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

Save Fuel by Watching Your Weight

Most TRUCKEE drivers are all talking right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. CA folks want to save the environment and our pocketbooks.And we TRUCKEE drivers all know — or should know — that preventive maintenance will help maintain maximum fuel efficiency. But is there something more we can do? After all, some of us TRUCKEE road warriors can't cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.Weight is one major enemy of fuel economy. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get around TRUCKEE. And that means buying more gas and producing more emissions.Of course, your vehicle's weight isn't negotiable. And you can't do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn't an article about diet and exercise.But look around your car. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight while driving around TRUCKEE? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave yo ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy
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