Simple Way To Reduce Gas Consumption (NAPSA)—Whether the price of gas is rising or falling, car owners may find that regular car maintenance can help lower the cost of driving. A recent survey found that few Americans check the tire pressure on their vehicles, even though this simple maintenance task can improve fuel economy. That was one of the key findingsof a survey by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Scorr Shop Towels on a Roll. While 61 percent of respondents reported checkingthe tire pressure on their cars, only three percent said they would be most likely to do it more often to con- — serve gasoline. “Proper tire air pressure can improve gas mileage by more than three percent, so this easy maintenance task can help people reduce gasoline consumption at a time when the price of gas is so high,” said Paul Feuerstein, director for Scott Shop Towels on a Roll. The survey polled 849 adults about a variety of auto maintenance topics including the types of do-it-yourself jobs performed on cars, the state of car interiors, and the psychological lift provided by a clean and shiny vehicle. Topping the list of car maintenance jobs were vacuuming or cleaning the interior (76 percent), washing and waxing and checking tire pressure (tied at 61 percent), followed by changing the oil and filter (32 percent). After an auto maintenance job is completed, more than half of the respondents said they went Car maintenance can improve fuel efficiency and give car owners a psychological lift. inside to “wash up,” while nearly one quarter use some kind of towel to wipe their hands. Of these, eight percent use a cloth-like disposable shop towel, the same amount use a rag or towel, and seven percent use a kitchen paper towel. Three percent use a garden hose and a small but sloppy group—two percent—wipe their handson their shirts. Dirty clothes led the list of what people like least about working on their vehicles, at 36 percent. This was followed by dirty hands (21 percent), having to go inside to wash up (eight percent), andslippery hands(six percent).
