Reporter: Ashley Singh

Lynchburg, VA – It seems gas prices are climbing higher every day, but experts say there are some small changes you can make to keep more change in your pocket.

When it comes to gas prices, most consumers have the same thought.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” said resident Jennifer Ramirez.

“I’m hoping they’ll come down, because it’s getting right ridiculous filling up,” said resident, Carmella Henry.

Paul Perhacs, a technician with Exxon, says simple maintenance can save more than people realize. He says you should get your oil changed when you’re supposed to, every 3,000 – 5,000 miles, and be sure to check your air and fuel filters at least twice a year.

“When a fuel filter clogs up, it takes more energy to push the fuel to the front of the car and it’s not getting as much fuel to the engine, which makes the engine work harder to go the same speed,” said Perhacs. 

If you’re thinking about using a fuel injection cleaner, Perhacs says be careful, because some can be harmful to the engine.

“The higher dollar injection cleaners actually have a solvent in there which will clean off the injectors, clean off the deposits off the valves,” he said.

There are other do’s and don’ts. Make sure your gas cap is on tight and that your spark plugs are in good condition. If you’re driving on a long, open road, he says you can use cruise control. Don’t top off your gas and don’t drive on empty.

“If you run it down to empty, you’re putting more sludge and sediment into the fuel filter. It clogs up quicker,” said Perhacs.

Also, he says tires matter. They should be at the proper pressure and they should be aligned. It makes the car roll more smoothly, which means you’ll use less gas.

Some other changes to save you money at the pump including filling up Wednesdays or Thursdays because prices go up before the weekend, observing posted speed limits and avoiding accelerating or braking hard, and avoiding gas stations near major freeway exits. Also, you’ll find cheaper rates at wholesale clubs or grocery stores with gas stations.

If you have waited until March to purchase a new ‘11’ plated car, take a look at these tips on purchasing the right car insurance and vehicle warranty.

February typically accounts for just three percent of annual new car sales as most consumers typically wait for the end of March plate change to purchase a new vehicle, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) research suggests.

Compare New Car Insurance

The cost of owning a car has never been more expensive, but do not let the costs of insurance deter you from buying a new car and settling for a second hand one. 

Check online to see how much it is to insurer a new model of a car you have your eye on, as it may be cheaper to get insurance for a new car with some insurers as they rightly believe they are less likely to break down.

If you bought a new car last year, now may also be a good time to review your current car insurance rate. A year on from purchasing a new car, the discount you were eligible for may have expired, leaving you with an uncompetitive offer.

Some insurance providers will raise their rates for renewals of car insurance, as they assume the car owner will find it easier to stick with them rather than comparing the market for cheaper car insurance. Always shop around and compare prices.

Compare Car Warranty

Ensuring you have relevant car warranty is another point to remember when purchasing a new car.  Most new cars may come with a warranty from the manufacturer, however second hand cars often do not.

Your car warranty may have expired if you bought a new car last March, so compare different providers to find out which provide the best quote on replacing car parts when they are required, as well as any other repairs you will need to be covered for.

Buying car warranty and car insurance online is recommended, as providers typically offer a discount for doing so.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — With gas prices soaring, reaching an average of $3.51 per gallon nationwide for regular unleaded fuel, TrueCar.com, the authority on new car pricing, trends and forecasting is offering some helpful tips in “10 Ways to Save Money on Gas” as the gas-price shock is being felt at the pump.

(Logo:  https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110210/LA46033LOGO)

“Changing your driving behavior will make the single biggest difference in how much fuel you can save,” said Jesse Toprak, Vice President of Industry Trends and Insights at TrueCar.com. “Worn spark plugs, clogged air filters and under-inflated tires also help decrease your fuel economy.”

Some of the consumer-friendly money saving gas tips include:

• Drive Smoother:  Aggressive driving has an impact on how much fuel you consume.  When driving, pushing the gas pedal hard or slamming the brakes will lower your average fuel economy. Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and five percent around town.
• Slow Down:  Most vehicles get the most amount of fuel efficiency when driving between 45 and 55 miles per hour.  The Department of Energy (DOE) figures that for every five miles you drive going in excess of 60 mph, you could lose somewhere between seven to 23 percent of fuel efficiency.
• Reduce Idling:  Turn off your engine if you’re waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.  
• Use Premium Fuel Only When Needed: Regular unleaded fuel won’t hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required.  Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.  For more information, see “Five Facts of Using Premium vs. Regular Gas.”
• Shop for Gas: Web sites like GasBuddy.com and certain GPS devices can help you search for the lowest gas price and save you the hassle of burning more fuel while looking for cheaper gas.
• Purchase a Fuel-Efficient Car: Buying a new car that is more fuel efficient, such as a hybrid or diesel vehicle, makes good financial sense as gas prices continue to rise.

For more fuel-economy tips, visit “10 Ways to Save Money on Gas” at the TrueCar.com Truth Blog.

About TrueCar, Inc.

TrueCar Inc. is an automotive solutions provider focused on changing how cars are sold by providing a significantly better customer experience while helping qualified dealer partners to gain incremental market share and reduce costs.  TrueCar.com is a transparent, visual publisher of new car transaction data.  TrueCar.com price reports help both dealers and consumers to agree on the parameters of a fair deal by providing an accurate, comprehensive and simple understanding of what others actually paid for the identically equipped new car over the last 30 days both locally and nationally.  TrueCar, Inc. works with a national network of nearly 5,000 Certified Dealers that provide up-front, no-haggle, competitive pricing to assist some of the nation’s largest and most well respected membership and service organizations to meet the auto buying needs of their members and customers.  These partnerships include American Express, AAA, USAA and more than 60 others.  Collectively these audiences represent over 1M in-market customers each month.  TrueCar, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and has offices in San Francisco.  The company was founded in 2005 and has been profitable since 2009.  With nearly 200 percent year-over-year growth TrueCar has driven over 200,000 sales and is developing a suite of transaction oriented products and services centered on transparency and radical clarity as a result of comprehensively analyzing market data and information.

You can follow TrueCar on Twitter and become a fan of TrueCar on Facebook. 

Disclaimer

This press release and the information contained herein is for noncommercial use on “as-is, as available” basis and may be used for informational purposes only.  TrueCar makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this press release and the results of the use of such information, including but not limited to implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.  The information contained in this press release may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors.  Neither TrueCar nor any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or respective partners, officers, or directors, employees or agents shall be held liable for any damages, whether direct, incidental, indirect, special or consequential, including without limitation lost revenues or lost profits, arising from or in connection with your use or reliance on the information presented in this press release.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Jesse Toprak

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=94534

SOURCE TrueCar.com

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SEGUIN – Police are asking for help with a recent string of
burglaries.

Over the weekend, more than a dozen cars were broken into and
ransacked, said Seguin Police Detective Lt. Jerry Hernandez.

“There were between 12-15 vehicles that were burglarized,” he
said. “Over at Stratton Oaks Apartments they had about five
vehicles, the rest were in different districts around town.”

Hernandez said car stereos and loose objects in the vehicles
were the thieves’ main targets.

Only a few of the cars that were broken into gave the burglars a
challenge, Hernandez said.

“A majority of the vehicles were not secured,” he said.

For those that were locked, the burglars gained access through
broken windows, Hernandez said.

“We suspect the windows were broken out with a BB gun,” he said.
“There were also other car windows, a home and business that were
hit. We believe it to be the same group of people.”

Hernandez advises everyone to make sure their vehicles are
secure at night and parked in a well-lit area.

“Also, be aware of your surroundings,” he said. “If you hear
anything suspicious like a car alarm or dogs barking check it out.
That does not mean go out and investigate but at least peek out a
window or a door. If you see something, call us.”

If you have any information that might be relevant to the
investigation, contact the Seguin Police Department at 830-379-2123
or the Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers hotline, 830-303-TIPS (8477)
or 877-403-TIPS (8477).

Callers contacting Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are
eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if the
information given leads to an arrest or grand jury indictment of a
felony offender.

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