Aftermarket Industry urges consumers to 'drive smarter'

With gas prices soaring to new heights and the threat of even tougher economic times lurking around every corner, consumers are doing whatever they can to save money — especially at the pump. But driving all over town to find cheaper gas prices is not only impractical; it can be more expensive in the long run. So, what can a consumer do to combat the rising cost of fuel prices?

The best thing to do to improve gas mileage, says auto experts, is to perform regular maintenance on your car. Sound too good to be true? Well, it isn't. In fact, the aftermarket industry is actively encouraging consumers to save money through preventive maintenance measures, and has even launched several initiatives to educate drivers about the benefits of regular check-ups for old faithful.

"During the last two years, we have seen consumers as well as consumer media outlets express a growing interest in what drivers can do to get better gas mileage and save money at the pump," Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, told Aftermarket Business during an exclusive interview.

The Car Care Council is the driving force for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to customers. The council recently announced a new partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, The Wal-Mart Foundation and more than a dozen other companies and organizations to help promote its "Drive $marter Challenge."

"While consumers can do nothing to control rising gas prices, they can take control of how much gas they use; and one of the best and most cost effective ways is through regular vehicle maintenance that results in more miles to the gallon," White adds.

The "Drive $marter Challenge" campaign, which will be launched May 20, reinforces the on-going activities of the Car Care Council by educating and inspiring Americans to increase the efficiency of their cars. The alliance is a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit the environment, the economy and national security.

Although the goal of the council is to help drivers save money by driving smarter, they don't want people to "at out drive less," White says.

"We want to help drivers take a little better care of their cars. That bodes well for the cars, and for the aftermarket. We can't stop people from driving less, but we can encourage them to take care of their cars, which will allow the aftermarket to compensate for any reduction in miles driven. But we also hope this campaign will help people develop better habits of maintenance so that when gas prices go down or level off, they will have developed this habit of regular maintenance that will continue on," he adds.

In addition to the Car Care Council's "Drive $mart Campaign," O'Reilly Automotive recently issued a press release listing simple tips and tricks drivers can follow to get the best possible fuel economy and cut down on fill-ups. Some of the suggestions made by the popular retail chain include:

- Stop aggressive driving habits such as sudden starts or stops.
- Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly when you drive more than 60 mph, so use the cruise control to maintain a constant speed.
- Plan trips efficiently so that you do not have to retrace your route.
- Turn off the air conditioner to save energy.
- Remove excess weight from the trunk and/or roof. Those extra pounds drain fuel economy.
- Avoid lengthy idles that waste fuel, cost money and pollute the air.

In addition to altering their driving habits, O'Reilly's advises consumers to replace missing or inoperative fuel caps; replace worn or dirty spark plugs; change air filters regularly; and to consider switching to synthetic motor oil. The company also recommends that drivers inflate their vehicles' tires to the highest recommended level to improve fuel economy and vehicle safety, too.

The Pep Boys — Manny, Moe & Jack have even gotten in on the act — partnering with the Rubber Manufacturer's Association to promote consumer tire safety education during April's National Tire Safety Week. But in addition to safety, the Pep Boys tout fuel economy as it relates to properly inflated tires.

"Although Pep Boys emphasizes tire safety year-round, participating in a week of awareness promotions that highlight the importance of proper pressure, alignment, rotation and tread allows us to remind our customers of our commitment to providing high-quality tire care, safety and maintenance services," says Pep Boys' Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Odell. "The important point to remember is that checking tire air pressure only takes about five minutes, but those five minutes can be life-saving and economical."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in four cars and one in three light trucks and SUVs had one or more tires under-inflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi) or more. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that for every 1 psi of under-inflation in a tire, fuel economy drops by 0.4 percent. Approximately 1.2 billion gallons of fuel are wasted annually due to under-inflated tires, the NHTSA estimated in 2005. However, if your tires are properly inflated, gas mileage can improve up to 3.3 percent says the U.S. Department of Energy.

Although these commonsense maintenance tips have been around for a long time, White says the current media frenzy is a welcome development — for the Car Care Council as well as the aftermarket industry.

"What you're seeing is exactly what should be happening out there," he adds. "The push-pull of these similar messages about vehicle maintenance is coming from a variety of sources but is repeating the same message. It's that repetition that is going to help change consumer behavior in reaction to higher gas prices."

So, forget about hunting for cheap gas. Take a page from the aftermarket industry's handbook of maintenance and repair tips, and you'll be saving money at the pump on a regular basis.