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Don't get 'grinched' at the pumps

During the busy Christmas holiday, motorists can't control the price of gas, but they can keep from getting "grinched" by following a few simple steps from Be Car Care Aware.

During the busy Christmas holiday, motorists can't control the price of gas, but they can keep from getting "grinched" by following a few simple steps from Be Car Care Aware.

"Gas prices have a tendency to sneak up on us during holidays," said Patty Kettles, manager of marketing and communications at Be Car Care Aware. "To ensure that the Grinch doesn't steal Christmas and your cash doesn't end up priming someone else's pump, make sure that your vehicle is running efficiently. Simply checking the tires, air filters, spark plugs and gas caps can make a significant difference in the vehicle's fuel economy."

Fuel economy is directly related to vehicle maintenance. Be Car Care Aware offers several gas-saving maintenance tips to maximize fuel savings:

? Keep your car properly tuned to improve fuel consumption by an average of four per cent.

? Keep tires properly inflated and improve fuel consumption by three per cent.

? Replace dirty or clogged air filters on older vehicles to improve fuel consumption by as much as 14 per cent.

? Replace dirty spark plugs, which can improve fuel consumption by .85 kilometers per liter.

? Change oil regularly and improve fuel consumption by 0.4 kilometers per liter.

Driving behavior also impacts fuel efficiency. The council offers these gas-saving driving tips:

? Observe the speed limit. Fuel consumption decreases rapidly above 100 km/h.

? Avoid excessive idling. Warming up the vehicle for one or two minutes is sufficient.

? Avoid quick starts and stops. Aggressive driving decreases fuel consumption by 33 per cent on the highway and five per cent in the city.

? Consolidate trips. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much gas as one longer multi-purpose trip.

? Don't haul unneeded items in the trunk. An extra 45 kilograms in the trunk decreases fuel consumption by one to two per cent.

- Be Car Care Aware Canada