Lyco Lube Xxpress: Good Service And Good Fuel Economy
Posted April 25, 2012 10:35 AM
Most of our Antes Fort clients want to save on gas and seek our advice on improving fuel economy. At Lyco Lube Xxpress, we are frequently asked, however, just how much money Antes Fort motorists can actually save.
Well the US government has a website dedicated to helping us use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way Antes Fort car owners can relate to and is relevant for all vehicles. Let me give you an example: Having your mini-van engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you’re paying three-fifty for a gallon of gas, you could save fourteen cents a gallon.
In today's Lyco Lube Xxpress post, we’re going to talk about several things you can do to improve your mini-vanfuel economy driving around Antes Fort. We’ll tell you the potential savings per gallon of gas at three dollars and fifty cents, and we’ll show a graphic that also shows the savings at three and four dollars.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
TUNE UP 4%
.12
.14
.16
The next item is replacing a clogged engine air filter. Your engine needs enough air to burn fuel efficiently for the best economy. A clean air filter means you get plenty of air. The fact that the air’s clean protects your engine. That can save you up to ten percent or thirty-five cents a gallon.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.OO
$3.50
$4.00
AIR FILTER 10%
.30
.35
.40
Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve economy by up to forty percent. That’s a whopping dollar forty in savings per gallon. Bring your car to Lyco Lube Xxpress and we'll check your oxygen sensor.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
FAULTY O2 SENSOR 40%
1.20
1.40
1.60
Chances are that if your oxygen sensor is kaput your check engine light will come on. Now, there’s any number of things that could cause your check engine light to come on besides oxygen sensor problems. But if it’s on, get it checked out as soon as you can at Lyco Lube Xxpress.
Here’s an easy one. Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. That could save you three percent or eleven cents a gallon. Even a little drop in pressure will cost you at the pump so check your tires every week.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
TIRE INFLATION 3%
.09
.11
.12
Your mini-van manufacturer has recommended a specific weight of motor oil. The recommendation is based on engine design and will give you the best protection. Using a heavier weight could cost one to two percent in reduced fuel economy, or up to seven cents a gallon.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
RIGHT GRADE MOTOR OIL 2%
.06
.07
.08
Here’s one that’s free: Take it easy when you drive. Aggressive driving (we've all seen this on Antes Fort roads), rocketing away from stop lights, standing on the brakes, punching it for lane changes - really takes a toll on your fuel economy.
Cutting out aggressive driving around Antes Fort can save five percent or eighteen cents a gallon. Now on the highway it gets really costly: thirty three percent or a buck sixteen a gallon. Think about that.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
DRIVE AGRESSIVELY - MIN. 5%
.15
.18
.20
DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY - MAX. 33$
.99
1.16
1.32
A related item is exceeding the speed limit. For example, if the speed limit is sixty miles per hour an additional five miles will cost seven percent or twenty-five cents a gallon. Fifteen miles per hour will cost you upwards of eighty cents a gallon.
DOLLARS PER GALLON
$3.00
$3.50
$4.00
SPEED LIMIT - MIN. 7%
.21
.25
.28
SPEED LIMIT - MAX. 23%
.69
.81
.92
The last thing we’ll talk about is excess weight. Our mini-vans tend to accumulate a lot of things and the weight adds up. Clear out the trunk and only haul stuff when you really need it. For every one hundred pounds you can save two percent or seven cents a gallon.
Sorry honey, your brother can’t come with. It’d cost an extra thirty cents a gallon.
Posted in the Fuel System category
Another Couple of Years: Making Your Vehicle Last At Lyco Lube Xxpress
Posted April 17, 2012 1:29 PM
A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the news. Williamsport people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better fuel economy and receive a government rebate.
A lot of Williamsport motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They’re good commuters, grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their mini-vans for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.
There are plenty of Williamsport drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own mini-vans on the road in PA.
Williamsport drivers of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change.That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your mini-van's engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine.
There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important for Williamsport car owners. It’s simple – a Lyco Lube Xxpress professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Lyco Lube Xxpress technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.
Your Lyco Lube Xxpress advisor will also visually inspect your mini-van for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth.
And your Lyco Lube Xxpress advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done. Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to your Williamsport dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.
Realistically, things are going to wear out as your mini-van gets older. On the way to 200,000 miles you’ll go through several batteries, probably a couple of alternators and water pumps, a set of shocks and likely some brake rotors.
Of course, these things cost money, but they are far cheaper than new mini-van payments. With proper service at Lyco Lube Xxpress and regular inspections, you’ll keep surprise repairs to a minimum and more money in your wallet.
Posted in the Maintenance category
Lyco Lube Xxpress And The Maintenance Mindset
Posted April 13, 2012 9:53 AM
When it comes to their vehicles, some Linden people don’t have a maintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it just seems really hard to get them to remember to do it. Linden drivers generally accept that many things in life require regular maintenance, but just may have not applied it to their mini-vans.
For example: the lawn. You water it and mow it every week. And weed the flower beds and rake the leaves. There are other things that Linden people are good about maintaining. Going to the dentist twice a year. Clothes to the dry cleaner. Flu shots. Taking the kids to your Linden doctor for a checkup before school starts.
So Linden people really are maintenance minded. They just have to learn to apply that mindset to cars. I mean, if you never brush your teeth or go to the dentist, you’ll become painfully aware of your neglect when you get a big cavity. Once the damage is done, we learn our lesson and start to take better care of things.
Unfortunately, Linden mini-van owners too often learn the hard automotive lesson when they bring their vehicle to Lyco Lube Xxpress on a tow truck. So many times a little routine maintenance would have prevented a breakdown.
So how can Linden drivers get into the habit of taking care of their mini-van? It’s so easy to forget. If you skip cutting the grass, you see it every time you pull in the driveway.
Here’s something that will help: The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change. Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your Lyco Lube Xxpress tech will check all your fluids. If one of them is low, he can look for the reason why. If your serpentine belt is cracked, he’ll see it and let you know. Corroded battery cable – they’ve got you covered. And at Lyco Lube Xxpress, we check to see if your mini-van manufacturer has recommended any services at your current mileage. The oil change becomes kind of a focal point, a way to check in to see what needs to be done. The fact is that vehicle inspection surveys consistently reveal that over 80% of vehicles have one or more unperformed repair or maintenance service. Vehicles are generally very reliable and can take a lot of abuse and neglect. But, you’ve got to remember that mini-vans are complicated machines. There are parts and fluids that are critical to their function. Without them, the mini-van won’t run at all.
So when you come in to Lyco Lube Xxpress for an oil change, you get a visual inspection from your friendly service advisor and a reminder for recommended services so you can avoid a total failure. And remember that your Lyco Lube Xxpress service advisor can help you work out a maintenance and repair plan, prioritizing and scheduling the work to make sure you and your family are safe, and avoid expensive breakdowns.
Posted in the Maintenance category
Give Your Engine Clean Fuel With A New Fuel Filter From Lyco Lube Xxpress
Posted April 6, 2012 9:31 AM
Your mini-van requires plenty of clean fuel to run. When your fuel isn’t clean, your fuel injectors can start to become clogged up. When this happens, your mini-van engine may not get the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure to run efficiently. This hurts fuel economy and performance as you drive around Linden. It can also lead to the buildup of harmful deposits on valves and in the combustion chamber.
That’s why all vehicles, including mini-vans, come equipped with a fuel filter somewhere between the engine and the fuel tank. The job of the filter is to clean out little pieces of dirt and contamination. The filter captures the contaminants and holds them out of the fuel stream. Of course, the filter will eventually get clogged up and need to be replaced at Lyco Lube Xxpress.
If your fuel filter is clogged, the mini-van engine can’t get all the fuel it needs, and it may sputter at high speeds or quick acceleration. Many fuel filters have a bypass valve that will allow unfiltered fuel through when they are clogged. This keeps your engine running, but doesn’t protect it from contaminated fuel.
You may find that you need to change your fuel filter at Lyco Lube Xxpress more frequently as your mini-van ages. Over the years, additional sediment and rust accumulates in the fuel tank and can be drawn into the fuel system. Your fuel filter stands guard at the gates to your engine to protect expensive parts and to maintain performance and fuel economy.
