Save your Gas Money..

Okay.. So Gas Prices have gone down a Bit...for now.. we know that this is probably only a temporary thing.. 
It's not like we will see gas prices from the past 

2003: National Average $1.72 a gallon
1993: National Average $1.17 a gallon
We don't need to go back any further, do we? Those were the days my friend....
If you are not driving a Hybrid vehicle that gets an increase MPG, you are probably trying to figure out ways to decrease your driving time, and or increase your mpg. Anything, just as long as it doesn't include trips to the gas station to refill your tank. Sound familiar? We are all trying to get the most bang for our buck at the pump. I would rather be using that Gas Fund for other things... Dinner out, a Movie, New outfit, you know....
Here are a several ways to save you a few mpg. I am sure that you can incorporate some of these into your everyday driving habits. The old saying "A penny saved is a penny earned."can turn into dollars if you keep at it.
Learn some new habits, pick the ones that you can really do, and try them out for awhile. You could find that you Can get better mileage out of your vehicle.

Here we go:
 #1. Use your Cruise Control and/or your Overdrive. 
If your vehicle is equipped with it, use it. It will save you from the up and down changing of your speed. More gas is used when you are not regulating your speed. 
#2. Do the speed limit on the highways and byways.
 The national speed limit was reduced years ago in a effort to reduce the gas consumption. The faster you go the more gas is consumed. So even though going 70 mph will get you there faster, make sure you have money to burn, because that is exactly what you are doing. Burn baby Burn.
#3. Avoid Quick Starts/ Fast Stops. 
Taking off from the line (stop)in a hurry, burns a lot of fuel. Coming to a stop abruptly can cost you too. Take your foot off the accelerator and coast a bit before stopping for a traffic light or a stop sign.
#4.Take the Junk out of the Trunk. 
Added weight is added cost in fuel. By taking out the extra weight you increase your fuel efficiency. Get that extra bag of sand, mulch, or other items out of the bed of the truck, and that box of items you keep forgetting to donate.
#5. Keep your Tires Inflated properly. 
Checking the air pressure in your tires is so important! It could save your life, save the tread wear and it can save you money at the pump..up to 5% more fuel is required to roll a set of under-inflated(5 to 8 psi) tires.
#6. Do Not Top off the Gas. 
When you are pumping  gas, stop when the pump shuts off automatically.Extra room in the gas tank is needed for the gasoline to expand.  Topping off the tank can cause the extra gas to overflow into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. This can cause your engine to run less efficiently (waste of gas and money). If you end up spilling fuel when topping off- you have just wasted more money.
#7. Tighten your Gas Cap. 
Gas caps are play a large part when it comes to fuel efficiency . They keep fumes and gas evaporation from escaping the gas tank(your vehicle will use this evaporated gas). Gas caps also help protect the fuel system of the vehicle. They stop damaging water, dirt, and other contaminants from clogging up the fuel delivery system that is vital to your engines performance.
#8. Don't accelerate uphill.
Build up speed before an going up a steep incline instead of gunning it once you are going up hill, and then maintain it on the way up. Coast on the way down for additional fuel efficiency.
#9. Avoid Rooftop Carriers. 
Carriers are great for when you are going on Vacation, but just know, it will cost at the pump. Todays vehicles are designed to have minimal wind resistance when driving on the highway, so avoid carrying things on your roof. Find and use an aerodynamic carrier to help minimize drag.
#10.Check your Air Filter.
Replacing a badly clogged Air Filter in an older carbureted engine will improve your fuel economy up to 14%.
#11 Get a Tune Up. 
A properly tuned engine can improve your fuel efficiency by as much as 4%. If you have a faulty Oxygen Sensor, fixing it can boost your mileage up to 40%.
#12 Avoid Idling.
Try to avoid traveling during peak traffic hours when you are likely to get stuck in it, and avoid waiting in lines at a drive thru. It can cost you money as well. Idling can use a quarter to half a gallon per hour, depending on your engine and if you are running your A/C.

So there you go. 12 things you can do to save you Gas Money. There are other ways to cut your gas consumption, and raise your fuel efficiency, but these are some of the big ones. Hope that this helps you keep that money in your wallet. You deserve a nice night out or day at the beach.

Keep it between the lines.
Happy Motoring.
 
Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC Trucks

Easy Car Care Tips for Spring

Spring is Here! 

Spring Cleaning time is here as well. We spring clean our houses, clean out the garages, and clean up the yards. We need to add cleaning up our vehicles to that list. This is an important one too. It will help your vehicle hold its value and save you money.

Now that the Harsh Winter is behind us, our Cars and Trucks need a little Tender Loving Care (TLC).
Road salts, sand, and extreme temperatures are hard and damaging to your vehicle. Spring is the best time to thoroughly clean your vehicle to get rid of the damaging elements, and ready it for the Summer months ahead.

Doing these simple things will help your vehicle look its best.
These are the basics:

1. Get to the Car Wash. You need to thoroughly spray down the vehicle. Pay attention to the undercarriage. All of that road salt and sand has made a home in all the cracks and crevasses of the underside, and up in the wheel wells. 
2. Wax and Polish. This will help minimize any minor paint defects, remove oxidation, and prevent your vehicle from rusting. 
3. Clean your windows. Clean all of them on the inside and the outside. Clean your mirrors too. Visbility is very important. You will be amazed at how much grime you will get off of your window glass.
4. Clean your Tires.  Use a tire cleaner, it will help pull the dirt from the pours of the tire rubber. Then shine them up with a Tire Gloss or Protectant. The tires will heat up during the Hot Summer months and a good Tire Gloss or Protectant will help prevent the tires from drying out and cracking. 
5. Clean your wheels. Brake dust, grime, and road salt get embedded into your wheels.  After they are cleaned, you need to polish and seal your wheels, just like you did for your tires. Make sure to use the proper polishers and sealers for the wheels. Using the wrong product can do more harm than good. Check with your owners manual or your Car Dealership for the correct Wheel Care product.
6. Clean and treat your seats. Your seats take a beating. Take care of them by cleaning them up. Use the proper product. Leather, Vinyl or Cloth. Each of them needs to be cared for. Apply seat covers when you can. This will save wear and tear on the original equipment.
7. Floor mats. If don't have any in your vehicle already. Get some heavy duty floor mats. They are easy to take out to clean and they protect the original floor covering from ground in dirt and spills.
8. Take care of the dings. Get a bottle of touch up paint that matches your vehicle's paint code. Use it when you discover those little dents or dings. This will prevent them from rusting and helps to keep the paint job up.
9. Headlights. Don't forget to clean your side markers and tail lights too.The headlight covers can yellow with age, making visibility very poor. Get them cleaned or replaced if this happens.  It is well worth it.
10. Change your Engine Oil. The winter months are hard on your engine. Give it a fresh drink of oil. Make sure to use the proper weight and type of oil. Oil Changes save you money.
11. Check your Cabin Air Filter. It may be time to replace it. The Cabin Air Filter filters out the Pollens and helps the A/C put out cooler air. Check your Owners Manual or Service Department, for location of your Cabin Air Filter.

Make it Shine, we will see you on the roads..

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring.
 
 

2014 GMC Sierra has Arrived!

The 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 All Terrain has arrived!

                                    

The redesigned GMC Sierra pickup is going on sale, this Spring, with V8 engines that GMC claims will get a better fuel economy than the rival Ford F-150 equipped with a turbocharged V6.

The 2014 GMC Sierra gets a base price of $25,085, a $1,495 increase over the current base, rear-drive Sierra with a 6-foot bed.

GMC has redesigned the new truck with the crew cab body style and optional 355-hp, 5.3-liter V8, which adds $895 to the sticker price. GMC expects the 5.3-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission powertrain to be the most popular with truck buyers.

Base prices, including shipping charges, for the GMC trucks, with rear-drive and 6-foot beds are:

• Regular cab: Sierra, $25,085 
• Double cab: Sierra, $29,110
• Crew cab: Sierra, $33,210

GMC says a rear-drive, regular cab Sierra with the 5.3-liter V8 will deliver 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined, compared with 16/22/18 mpg for a 2013 Ford F-150 with the 365-hp EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6.

Four-wheel-drive versions of the GMC trucks will be rated at 16/22/18 mpg, compared with 15/21/17 mpg for the comparable Ford F-150.

Later this year the GMC trucks will become available with an optional of a 6.2-liter V8. The V6 and both V8s are all equipped with direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and cylinder cutoff technology to boost fuel economy.

The cylinder cutoff allows the V8s and V6 to run on four cylinders, allowing for greater fuel economy. All Models come with a six-speed automatic transmission.

GMC will give buyers of the GMC Sierra a service maintenance plan that runs for two years or 24,000 miles. The GM trucks use an oil life monitor to alert the driver to the need for an oil change, rather than a preset mileage/month schedule. The current GMC trucks use the same oil life monitor.

While the 2014 GMC Sierra look little-changed from the 2013 model on the outside, several changes to the interior and under the skin were made.

Among them:

•  The extended cab body style is replaced with a double cab that uses rear doors hinged at the B-pillar and that open toward the front of the truck and can be opened without opening the front door.

•  The trucks' frame and body use more high-strength steel to reduce weight while increasing stiffness.

• All versions use electric variable-assist power steering, which reduces load on the engine.

•  The interiors were redesigned to add more leg room in the rear of double cab and crew cab models. The instrument panels include an optional 4.2-inch monitor that shows vehicle status info.

•  All trucks get four-wheel disc brakes. 

 Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC Trucks - Your Hometown Car Dealer

 Located in Elizabeth City, NC 

www.biggscadillac.com

For more Information and Videos on the 2014 GMC Sierra:

http://www.biggsautos.com/2014_gmc_sierra.html

Keep it between the lines,

Happy Motoring

Original article by:  Dale Jewett on 4/01/2013

Original article:  http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130401/CARNEWS/130409984