With St. Peter gas prices being what they are, many of us in MN are driving less and looking into purchasing smaller or more efficient vehicles. St. Peter 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 MN. But there are things all St. Peter drivers can do to save fuel: We can improve our driving habits and stay on top of preventive maintenance at Autotronics of St. Peter. 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 St. Peter drivers. Driving five to ten miles over the speed limit can use up 10 to 15% more gas. The time savings is only a few minutes per hour, so the cost per minute can be rather steep.

A little extra planning can save fuel for vehicle owners  in St. Peter as well. Leave a little early so you have time to slow down and still arrive on time. Also, plan errands ahead of time and group them as much as possible. Driving shorter distances is a great way to save fuel.

Using your cruise control where safe can save on fuel. Check your owner’s manual for guidelines on when cruise control is recommended and when it isn’t.

Clean out your trunk. Every ounce in your vehicle translates to a bit more fuel required to drive around St. Peter.

Many St. Peter residents let their car warm up during the winter – a major fuel drain. Your engine doesn’t benefit; modern engines don’t require a warm up to get up and running, although it’s best to take it easy on them for the first few miles.

Now that we’ve gone over a few tips for improving driving habits, let’s talk about the maintenance of our vehicle. Good car care at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter actually pays for itself in fuel savings.

First, if your gas cap is leaking or worn, get a new one.

Second, keep your engine clean. Clogged fuel filters, dirty fuel injectors and plugged PCV valves all cost you in loss of fuel. Replacing them or cleaning them will both improve fuel economy and increase the power you’re getting from your engine.

Third, don’t ignore your Check Engine light. Problems that cause that light to come on usually affect your fuel efficiency.

Fourth, check your ‘s owner’s manual for service that should be regularly performed on your vehicle, and follow the schedule. Or talk to your friendly service advisor at Autotronics of St. Peter . Oil changes, transmission checks and cooling system service all improve fuel economy if they’re done when needed. Low fluids and dirty fluids also create conditions in your vehicle that require more fuel. So routine maintenance is a must to maintain fuel economy and save cash.

Last, keep your tires inflated. Underinflated tires increase your vehicle’s friction with the roadway, which increases the energy it takes to move. Keeping your tires properly inflated is great for saving gas as you drive around St. Peter.

So if the cost of gas in St. Peter has got you searching the sofa for extra pennies, you might want to start making a few changes in your driving habits and getting your vehicle the service it needs at Autotronics of St. Peter in St. Peter.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

St. Peter drivers know that if their air conditioning system isn’t making cool air like it used to, there is a problem. It may be as simple as adding more of the right kind of refrigerant.

Your A/C requires special compressor oil, which circulates through the system along with the refrigerant, to lubricate and protect expensive components and keep seals and gaskets from drying out. If refrigerant has leaked out – so has the compressor oil. This oil needs to be replenished whenever refrigerant is added.

An air conditioning inspection at Autotronics of St. Peter will uncover any potential problems and identify any necessary repairs needed to get St. Peter drivers on the road to cool air once again.

Give us a call.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

St. Peter residents’ vehicles have to operate in a wide range of MN temperatures which requires the engine coolant to be able to perform ‘no matter what.’ Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant does its thing. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive…

And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That’s why vehicle manufacturer’s recommend different types of anti-freeze for our St. Peter, MN, vehicles.

There are several different ‘families’ of anti-freeze available to us here in St. Peter. Your owner’s manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, the automotive professionals at Autotronics of St. Peter will know the right kind for your vehicle.

It’s important to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical problem people have here in St. Peter, MN. Regular service needs to be done at Autotronics of St. Peter to avoid failures and also to keep your warranty in place.

While the specifics of the service required may vary from vehicle to vehicle, your friendly and knowledgeable Autotronics of St. Peter service advisor will know what to do. You’ll be advised to replace the coolant at specified intervals.

Some recommend periodic coolant system flushes. A flush adds a cleaning step to the fluid replacement process. Again, check to see what your owner’s manual recommends.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com