Keep track of gas mileage. The first sign of a mechanical problem may be a drop in gas mileage. Keeping track of mileage will tip you off early so you can get the problem fixed quickly. Keep fuel filters clean. Clogged filters make your car work harder.
Check fluids regularly.
Make sure water, oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluids are topped off and changed according to the schedule in the owner's manual. Every two weeks, Americans wear almost 50-million pounds of rubber off their tires. Producing tires pollutes the environment and depletes our natural resources since they're made mostly of petroleum. As much as a barrel of crude oil goes into the production of just one truck tire. When tires hit the trash heap, they cause even more problems because they don't decompose.