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  I have Yahoo set as my home page, Yahoo Autos is a great source of information about your automotive care and needs. Here are a few tips from Russell McLendon of Mother Nature Network to save money on gasoline. At Tom Sparks Auto we can keep your vehicle running in tip top shape to save every penny possible this summer driving season. Give us a call for any automtive need. 815.739.6054

1) Slow and steady wins the race
Gasoline mileage drops off in most cars once you’re going faster than about 60 mph (see chart at left). For every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you’re essentially paying an extra 24 cents per gallon of gas.

Try using cruise control on interstates and other highways to maintain a constant speed. It can also help to use your car’s overdrive gears, which save fuel and engine wear by reducing your speed.

2) Be cool in traffic
Aggressive driving — speeding, swerving, sudden acceleration and braking — is not only dangerous, it can lower your gas mileage 33 percent on highways and 5 percent on city streets. Revving your engine while stopped is even more wasteful.

3) But not too cool
Air conditioning can be a big drain on gasoline, so make sure you don’t just leave it on absentmindedly, and certainly don’t leave it on while windows are open, even if they’re just cracked. You can improve your fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic by turning off the A/C and rolling down the windows instead, but that’s not necessarily always the best idea.

When driving above 55 mph, especially for long periods on highways, the opposite is true — open windows make a vehicle less aerodynamic by letting in air, which increases air resistance and decreases fuel efficiency. On long road trips, using air conditioning could actually improve your mileage by up to 20 percent.

4) Don’t just sit there
On top of pointlessly pumping out greenhouse gases without actually getting you anywhere, idling automobiles also contribute to ground-level ozone, airborne particulate matter, and other near-surface air pollution. These emissions can aggravate asthma and even hinder breathing in otherwise healthy people, especially children and the elderly.

If you’re just idling to warm up your car in winter, it still only needs to run about a minute. Anything beyond that is just wasting gas.

5) Stay in tune
Fixing a car that needs a tune-up or has failed an emissions test can improve its fuel efficiency by an average of 4 percent. More serious problems, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can reduce mileage by up to 40 percent.

And don’t forget to get an oil change roughly every 3,000-5,000  miles or three months – 6 months, whichever comes first (or you could look into installing an Electro-Lube Oil Refiner, which reportedly eliminates the need for oil changes while boosting efficiency 3 to 4 percent).

6) Get pumped
Keeping a car’s tires properly inflated can improve fuel efficiency by about 3.3 percent. It’s also safer and lengthens the lifespan of your tires, since under-inflated tires lose their tread quickly in addition to wasting fuel. Regular checkups for your tires’ alignment and balance aren’t a bad idea, either.

7) Take a load off
While it mainly affects smaller cars, carrying extra weight means burning extra gasoline, no matter how big your vehicle is. On average, you may be cutting your fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent for every 100 extra pounds you haul.

8) Develop motor skills
Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil can boost mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Try to also use the lowest grade of gasoline that’s appropriate for your car, since high-octane grades cost several cents more per gallon.

Check your owner’s manual to be sure, but as long as your engine doesn’t start knocking, you’re probably OK. Switching from premium to regular gasoline would save hundreds of dollars every year.

9) There’s a cap for that
Gasoline can evaporate from a vehicle’s fuel tank if it’s able to find an opening, which is bad for your wallet and your lungs. Make sure your gas tank’s cap is tightened securely after you fill up, and if the cap’s threading is stripped or it fits too loosely, you might want to buy a new one.

10) Join the masses
Carpool or, even better, don’t take a car at all — walk, ride a bike, or take mass transit. It saves you money, improves your personal health, and helps the planet by keeping greenhouse gases out of its atmosphere.

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

“Keep it longer!” says Tim Jennings, the Internet sales manager of Tom Sparks Automobile of Dekalb Sycamore area. The number one reason people trade their car off is, they lose confidence in the car or truck after a few untimely repairs. Let’s face it, when we trade off our vehicle we usually make the second largest purchase our families make. So doesn’t it make sense that we can save the most on the largest purchases?

Most consumers are aware that vehicle sales continue to limp along, as the overall economy keeps struggling to climb out of its months-long doldrums. But, in the wake of slower vehicle sales, there is one segment of our store that is actually seeing an increase in business, auto maintenance and repair.
This figures, actually. With so many consumers worried about their jobs, or already laid off, most are still shy about handing over $10,000 or $20,000 for a car or truck. That means they need to extend the life of their current vehicle. Which in turn means that more of them are now spending more dollars on repairs and maintenance, to make sure that their current three, four- or five-year-old vehicle hangs on for another year or two? The challenge or gamble would be IF I have a repair that is greater than the value of your vehicle?

One way to overcome this is purchasing an extended warranty. We offer many options through our partner company, Protective Asset Protection Corporation. Or “The Protector“. Their Corporate headquarters are located in Northern Illinois too. Most customers don’t even realize that we offer an extended service contract at any time you own your vehicle!  So if you purchased a Buick Le Sabre, Lucerne, even a Lacrosse 3 or more years ago you qualify… If you purchased a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix last month you qualify. Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and heck they all are included. I can give a quote over the phone with just a few simple questions. You can reach me at 815-739-6054. Click Here to Email

What are extended warranties?

An Extended Warranty is a contract between you and a service provider. Many people purchase auto warranties to shield themselves against the costs resulting from mechanical breakdown and/or failure to their vehicle. It is important to know that when you purchase a car warranty you are not purchasing a form of insurance, but you are entering into a service contract between a company and yourself. The extent of coverage, benefits, and terms of payment are particular to each individual contract. An auto extended warranty does not necessarily replace the original manufacturer’s warranty, but is intended to make available a level of coverage right for you. Although the main advantage of attaining a car warranty is to avoid the high cost of automobile repairs, many plans also come with additional benefits. It is important that you not only understand the coverage being offered, but that you are also aware and comfortable with the company providing the plan.  

Do I need an extended warranty for my car?

To decide whether you need an extended warranty or not, you should look closely at your situation and your car. Here are some key questions you should ask yourself:
For how long are you going to keep your car after the original warranty expires? – You don’t need an extended warranty if you have a new car and you are planning to trade it in before, or right after the original warranty expires. But if you want to keep your vehicle for a few more years – an extended warranty is worth considering. It you need help with these questions Contact me!

Do you have any other warranty coverage? 
You don’t need duplicate coverage for your car. Find out what coverage you already have. For example, if you bought a used car from an authorized dealer under “Certified Pre-owned” program, you may already have some warranty coverage that comes with the car.

Are you prepared to handle any unexpected repairs? 

If you don’t know much about cars, if you don’t have a good trusted mechanic, if you prefer to pay ahead for a sense of security and don’t like unexpected expenses, a good extended warranty is what you need. When your car needs a repair, take it to a dealer or an authorized repair shop and show them your extended warranty contract – if the repair is covered, your extended warranty will take care of that.
How reliable is your car? – Research your car reliability history. Some cars are known for their reliability - Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are two good examples. The more reliable your car is, the less likely it will have unexpected problems. For example, a friend of mine has spent only about 600 dollars over five years on his ten-year old Toyota Corolla for repairs other than regular maintenance. If your car is known for high reliability and you maintain it well, it’s less likely that you will benefit from an extended warranty, although it’s a fact that all cars break sometimes, even the most reliable ones.

What options does your car have?

The more options, the more can go wrong. Cars become more and more complex these days and use more and more sophisticated electronics. Things like power windows, central locking, ABS, heated seats, immobilizer, traction control are on the list of available equipment of nearly any new car now. Almost every minivan now offers options like power sliding doors, dual air conditioning, tire pressure monitoring and DVD entertainment system. SUVs are also stuffed with things like four-wheel drive system, vehicle stability control, navigation system, etc. Today’s luxury cars are more like spaceships with long list of high-tech gadgets. While it’s good to have more options in your car, they significantly increase the average cost of repair. A simple thing like a faulty seat heater can cost you several hundred dollars to fix. The point is, the more features your car has, the more chances something will break, making more sense to have good extended warranty coverage.

Our best seller at our DeKalb store is The Advantage:

Advantage is a popular vehicle service contract for dealers that are designed to accommodate new, pre-owned and high mileage vehicles. Coverage ranges from short-term power train coverage, to WRAP coverage, to long-term exclusionary coverage. Additional benefits coverage includes are towing, rental, trip interruption and emergency roadside assistance.

So, what do I need to do to get started?

Give Tim Jennings a call at our Dekalb Location. 815-739-6054 We are located at 216 South First St. Email: Click Here  With just a few simple questions we can determine if this would be a wise choice at this time. 

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