It’s Easy To Drive “Green” (NAPSA)—Driving down the risk of global warming may be simpler than many people think. Here are someof the simple steps you can taketo drive greener: e Avoid unnecessary driving. Plan trips wisely with efficient routes and stops. Keep your car well main- tained. Follow your vehicle’s service manualand get regular oil changes. Ensure proper tire maintenance, tread and inflation. A properly inflated tire can increase gas mileage 10 percent to 30 percent. (Ideal inflation should be listed on the sidewall of thetire.) Tighten the gas cap after every fill-up. A loose, cracked or missing gas cap can emit harmful emissions and reduce gas mileage. Avoid stop-and-gotraffic. Try to drive at off-peak times. Limit idling. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more gas and causes more pollution than simply restarting your engine. Select the mostefficient vehicle for yourlifestyle. Get regular emissions tests. Most places require you to get your car “smogged” before you can sell or register it. * Consider getting a green vehicle, such as a hybrid. Never drive for a long time with an illuminated “Check En- gine”light. It can mean a problem that’s harmful to the environment and your car, yet more than 8 percent of all vehicles on the road today do so. Adopted as a government mandate to lower emissions, the “Check Engine”light illuminates when a vehicle’s computer detects a problem that affects emissions output. All 1996 and newercars, light trucks, SUVs and minivans manufactured for use in Keep your car well maintained and get regular emissionstests. the U.S. have this technology. Make sure your car or truck is in optimal running condition. One wayis to periodically test for emissions-related problems. Arecently introduced diagnostic tool provides drivers with a fast, convenient solution for monitoring their vehicles’ health, particularly with regard to “Check “Engine” light issues. Called CarMD, it combines an easy-to-use, handheld tester with an unprecedented online database to give consumers information that, until now, only mechanics could access. The consumer-friendly information describes potential problems, estimated repair costs and more. It even tells you if your vehicle will pass an emissions (smog)test. CarMDhelps keep your vehicle running cleaner and moreeffi- ciently by detecting problems with your emissions system. By identi- fying misfires, catalytic converter problems or even a loose gas cap, drivers can pinpoint the problem, improve gas mileage and reduce emissions output. For more information, visit www.CarMD.com or call (888) MyCarMD. wee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee ONT eee eee eee eee eee Note to Editors: While useful at any time, this release is particularly appropriate on Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22 this year.
