Is It Time to Trade the SUV

My father and I were discussing the rising gas cost. He recalled the last time there was a gas shortage some years ago. He and a friend were partners in a high end used car lot. He recalled the soars of people who traded their Cadillac and large luxury vehicles for more fuel efficient Mercedes coups and diesel engines. He recalled that he and his partner made a lot of money from those trades. He said they stopped to figure how much the people were saving in gas costs by making the trade. They computed it was about $200 per year. They were glad to make the money but remarked how foolish the people were to trade the vehicles for the purpose of saving on gas.

Do not assume the best course of action is to trade the SUV for a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. If your SUV is paid for, it is best to keep it. In many other instances, it is better to keep the SUV than to trade it in for a car that gets better gas mileage. If you can make an even trade, go for it. If you do decide to trade, pay cash and make certain you will save more per year in gas costs than you are losing by spending the money. Calculate carefully. In most instances, it is better to keep the car you have.

The better plan is to make sure you are getting the best possible gas mileage from your vehicle. My friend who builds race car engines for a living offered these tips:

• make sure your tires are properly inflated
• rotate your tires on schedule
• keep your engine oil and oil filters changed
• maintain recommended vehicle maintenance schedules
• change air and fuel filters as recommended by the manufacturer
• avoid revving the engine and making accelerated starts
• make sure the engine is properly tuned
• turn off the air conditioning when feasible
• maintain a modest speed limit, 55 mph uses much less gas than 75 mph
• unload the vehicle, extra cargo means fewer miles per gallon
• make sure your car has the correct coil and spark plugs, and the ignition wires are in proper operating condition
• change the engine coolant annually and check it periodically
• use a hose and a medium pressure nozzle to spray the radiator and condenser from the engine side out to remove dirt, debris, and bugs that can hinder the effectiveness of the cooling system

My friend changes the oil filter in his truck in between oil changes. He claims it extends the life of the engine. When he changes the filter he also adds a quart of oil because the old filter holds a quart of oil. He strongly recommends Mobil Drive Clean Oil for older vehicles. Use the oil type that corresponds with the mileage on the vehicle (75,000 mile oil for a vehicle with 75,000 miles showing on the odometer, and 100,000 mile oil for an odometer reading of 100,000 miles, etc). He says it comes in all grades.

Never, never run your engine with a low oil level. Check the oil each time you fill up with gas. The oil is the lifeblood of the engine, keep it clean and at the proper level for a healthy engine that performs at its best.