American Auto Shield is proud to announce our support for the First Annual DP Amateur Racing Cup on Friday, May 18, 2012, from 2:00 – 7:00 PM (MT) at CNS Speedway. The private event is hosted by Drive Protected™, a leading vehicle service contract company, and their partners to bring together Colorado Insurance Agents and Brokers for a day of networking, car racing, food and fun.

Along with unlimited racing and a chance to take home the first Drive Protected™ Amateur Racing Cup, participants will enjoy the Vendor Fair, Famous Dave’s BBQ, complimentary cocktails and entertainment, and networking with local service providers. American Auto Shield will be there to enjoy the activities and will have a booth and representatives at the event to promote our automotive aftermarket products and services.

First Annual Drive Protected™ Amateur Racing Cup

A Complimentary Event for all Insurance Agents and Brokers:

Drive Actual Race Cars at Top Speed

Compete for the DP Amateur Racing Cup

BBQ Provided by Famous Dave’s

Beer Garden Complimentary Cocktails & Entertainment

Vendor Fair and Networking

Event sponsored by Drive Protected™, CNS Speedway, Famous Dave’s, Clear Bra Connection, Sales Leadership, VHA, Your World Our Lens, Blue Sky Promotions and more.

What:     First Annual Drive Protected™ Amateur Racing Cup

When:    Friday, May 18, 2012 • 2:00 – 7:00 pm (MT)

Where:   CNS Speedway • 4281 Graden Blvd. • Dacona, CO 80514

Even more disturbing is that it appears the nightmare isn’t going to end anytime soon. Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, along with other experts, said he expects the nationwide average to go as high as $4.25 per gallon by late April. Experts indicate they expect that figure to rise and peak in the summer months as travel and family vacations increase demand.

So what can you do to ease the pump price tag? The way we drive and how we maintain our vehicles has a direct impact on our gas mileage. Data from OnStar indicates the fuel economy of drivers in identical cars can vary by as much as 75%, depending on the care of their vehicle and their driving habits. A well-maintained vehicle, combined with the best driver gets up to 25% more miles per gallon than average. In comparison, when you combine a poorly maintained vehicle with inefficient driving habits, the fuel economy of the worst driver can be 50% below average.

Gas prices are sky-rocketing, so why pay more at the pump than you have to? We’ve put together the following tips to help ensure you get more bump at the pump the next time around:

Driving Tips

Back it down. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aggressive driving, such as punching the gas and slamming the brakes, can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% in the city. Rushing to get to the next red light or to catch up to traffic won’t get you home any faster, but driving smoothly will definitely save you gas money and wear on your vehicle.

Bag the flags. Hood ornaments can be super cool and showing support for your favorite team is always fun, but would you skip the flags and fanfare if you knew that up to 1/3 of your fuel is used to overcome wind resistance at highway speeds? That’s right, even small changes to your vehicle’s aerodynamics can have a major impact on your fuel economy if you frequently travel by highway and the changes are long-term or permanent.

Roll up your windows and turn on your air. Really? Yes. On the highway it’s better to roll up your windows on a hot day and use the air conditioning. Why? When you’re traveling at higher rates of speed and the windows are down, the increased air pressure acts like a parachute, slowing the vehicle down and consuming more energy than air conditioning would. Not operating the air conditioner at all is ideal, and operating the air conditioner on “Max” can easily reduce your gas mileage by 5-25% compared to not using it - so choose a middle ground when you have to.

Avoid the drive-through lane. Turn off the engine anytime you anticipate a wait. It wastes gas, costs you money, and pollutes the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use, and wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it. If there’s a long line at the drive through, park your car and go inside. You could save up to $1 in gas, help the environment, and get a little exercise to boot. Not too shabby.

Slow down. Most vehicles get the greatest amount of fuel efficiency when driving between 45 and 55 mph. The Department of Energy (DOE) figures that for every five miles you drive going in excess of 60 mph, you could lose between 7-23% of fuel efficiency. According to AAA, if your average commute includes 20 miles of highway time and you drive at 60 mph instead of 70 mph, you’ll save approximately 1.3 gallons of gas in a five-day work week.

Use cruise control and overdrive gears.  Slow and steady still wins the race. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This also saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Use your phone. Really? Yes, really…just not while driving. Use your iPhone and applications like GasBuddy.com, AAA’s TripTik, GPS’s Waze and others to plan your commute ahead of time. You can shop for the best gas prices in your area and the best routes to avoid heavy traffic before you ever leave the house or office.

Maintenance Tips

Check your tires. Check the pressure on each of your tires on a regular basis, especially when it’s cold out. Low tire pressure makes the engine work much harder to turn the wheels, and keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3%.

Get a tune up. 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%.

Don’t put maintenance repairs off. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%. Seriously, don’t put that repair off.

Change your oil. Changing your oil and filter helps minimize engine stress. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you can improve your gas mileage by using the grade of motor oil in your owner’s manual and changing it according to the recommended schedule.  Using the recommended grade of oil can improve your gas mileage by 1–2%. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute (API) contains friction-reducing additives that can also improve fuel economy.

Change the air filter. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tests suggest that replacing a clogged air filter on an older car with a carbureted engine may improve fuel economy 2-6% under normal replacement conditions and up to 14% if the filter is so clogged that it significantly affects drivability. A recent study indicates, however, that replacing a clogged air filter on cars with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines does not improve fuel economy but can improve acceleration time by approximately 6-11%.

Clean out the junk in your trunk. It’s time to sweat the small stuff. Taking some time to clean out your extra baggage now could save you gas money down the road. According to EPA estimates, every 100 pounds of weight can reduce fuel economy by 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Visit our blog for other helpful vehicle tips.

  10 Ways you can Show Your Car Some Love this Valentine’s Day…and any other day of the year:

1. Clean your car and undercarriage.  Road salt can damage your vehicle by eating away at its undercarriage. Wash your car and clean off road salt and grime regularly. Be sure to wax your car at the beginning and end of the warm season. These steps can keep your ride looking sweet.
2. Clean out the junk in your trunk.  Carrying too much extra baggage in your trunk increases the weight of your vehicle and lowers your gas mileage. Taking some time to clean out your trunk now could save you gas money later.
3. Check and rotate your tires.  Check the pressure on each of your tires on a regular basis, especially when it’s cold out. Under inflated tires can decrease your gas mileage and will wear faster. When tires are worn they decrease road traction and the car’s ability to handle on the road, making it unsafe. Rotating your tires regularly ensures they wear evenly and maximizes the life of the tire, saving you money. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations for tire pressure and rotations. Generally, you should rotate your tires every 5,000 – 10,000 miles. Some people rotate their tires after each oil change, which is a handy way to remember. 
4. Change your oil and filter.  Changing your oil and filter helps minimize engine stress. When an engine runs combustion by-products are produced and end up in the oil. These by-products reduce the ability of oil to lubricate the engine and increase the amount of wear on the engine. The oil filter keeps oil deposits, dirt and particulates out of the combustion chamber where they can cause damage. Some vehicles can go as many as 7,000 miles before an oil and filter change is necessary, depending on the type of vehicle. Generally, an oil and filter change should be done every three months or 3,000 miles. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations. 
5. Change your air filter.  The air filter ensures that dust and dirt from the air doesn’t contaminate your engine. If the filter is clogged or dirty it can cause loss of power to the engine and can lower your gas mileage by as much as 10%. You should check your air filter regularly to ensure it’s not clogged or dirty and change it approximately every six months (more often if you live in a dusty region). 
6. Check your belts and hoses.  A belt or hose failure can cause an overheated engine, loss of power steering, and loss of the electrical charging system. Inspect belts for wear and tension. Inspect hoses for excessive mushiness, excessive hardness, brittleness or cracking.
7. Check your battery.  Vehicle battery posts accumulate corrosion. This happens faster if the battery connections aren’t secure.  To keep your battery operating longer, make sure it’s free of corrosion and that the battery cover is in place and properly anchored. Consider replacing your battery and plugs if they are more than 2 years old. 
8. Check your brakes.  Brake fluid absorbs moisture, and moisture in the brake system is lethal. Because it’s silent, you may never know the damage it’s causing until it’s too late. Replacing brake fluid regularly can prevent costly repairs down the road. Additionally, failure to replace worn brake pads can result in expensive brake rotor service later. A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes checked every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. Some people have their brakes checked when they have their tires rotated, which is a handy way to remember.               
9. Flush your coolant system.  To avoid metal corrosion, have your coolant system thoroughly flushed every two years and replaced with the appropriate antifreeze. Make sure to use the proper coolant mix, check the coolant reservoir monthly, and top it off as needed. Your car will love you for it! 
10. Replace your windshield wipers.  Windshield wipers are the most overlooked and underestimated items on an automobile. Have you ever been caught in a rain or snowstorm with bad wipers…maybe on the highway or a winding road? If you have, you probably know why it’s important to replace your wiper blades on a regular basis. You can’t drive if you can’t see, and anything that impedes vision impedes safety.

Follow these tips.           Fall in love with your car again…and it will love you back for years!