Following the tips described above and having your car tuned up regularly, at least once a year, will go a long way towards reducing air pollution, improving your car's performance, conserving energy, and saving you money on repairs. Carbon monoxide emissions are a result of incomplete fuel combustion. CO is a colorless, odorless gas which limits the blood's ability to transport oxygen to body tissues. This places a strain on people with weak hearts and respiratory diseases, the elderly, and pregnant women. High levels of CO can also cause dizziness, headaches, impaired coordination and, at very high levels, even death.
Nitrogen oxides are the result of high temperature combustion.
These pollutants can damage lung tissue and aggravate chronic lung diseases such as asthma. In addition, NOx can lower the body's resistance to respiratory infection. Ozone, a major component of smog, is a strong irritant to the eyes and respiratory tract. Like NOx, ozone can cause increased respiratory problems for people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Each October, motorists across the United States observe national car care month.