Prius is Winning the Race for Fuel Economy

January was a great month for Toyota. Their Prius model left all other hybrids in the dust even the new Nissan Leaf, which was the closet competitor. Part of their success is attributed to Japan's recovery from the Tsunami. Toyota is back in touch with their suppliers allowing the organization to operate to its full potential.

Americans are jumping on board with going green. Are you part of the movement? Prius drivers tracking their MPG over the course of a year came up with an average of 51.6 MPG. Prius boasts an average of 43 -48 mpg on the window sticker, however depending on your driving habits, people have reached even better MPG. That is hard to walk away from when you are commuting over 40 miles a day.


If you could get to work on approximately $3.69 worth of gas, think of all the "extra" money you could save. Prius has been around for 10 years already which means the technology that is new to most other car manufacturers comes naturally to Prius.


A Prius as with any car model needs to be serviced at regular maintenance intervals. Joel's Automotive specializes in hybrid maintenance and repairs using genuine manufacturers parts at a cost effective price.


Some maintenance expenses you should expect.


Normal maintenance services such as:

• Engine tune-ups
  
  
• Replacement of fluids and filters
  
  
• Lubrication
  
  
• Cleaning and polishing
  
  
• Replacement of spark plugs and fuses
  
  
• Replacement of worn wiper blades, brake pads/linings and clutch linings

Save Gas in Upland

Keep your engine properly tuned.
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. Visit Joel's Automotive, and have your vehicle checked out.

Remove junk from the trunk.
Added weight in your vehicle affects fuel economy, so take unnecessary items out of your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Commute to work.
Stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours. Drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle. Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it. Take advantage of car pools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if you take turns driving with other commuters. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, which are typically less congested, further improving your fuel economy.

Combine trips.
Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed up and efficient, and it can reduce the distance you travel.

Cooling System Maintenance

Over the summer months automotive shops really push cooling system flushes. But why? Many drivers at least once in their life will experience vehicle overheating. Unfortunately as our budgets shrink we start to focus on repairs rather than preventative maintenance.

Preventative maintenance is much cheaper than buying a new car. At Joel's Automotive, we always check your fluid levels when you come in for a service. Sometimes this is not enough. That is why we partnered with BG. Over time coolant is depleted of special ingredients needed to function correctly, and becomes extremely corrosive, literally eating holes in cooling system components.

By-products of corrosion damage, as well as rust and scale, clog the passageways that conduct the water through the radiator and choke off the flow. This may result in an overheated engine that may be damaged beyond repair.

BG Cooling System Service is our solution. This service is around $120.00 and will prevent your vehicle from overheating or foaming. It also controls rust and corrosion while extending the life of your coolant.