Being Environmentally Conscious
Sam's Custom Auto Body is very aware of the effects vehicles have on the environment. We want to keep Earth a wonderful place to live, work and play, so we offer these auto maintenance and driving tips to keep our air and environment clean and healthy.
Follow the manufacturers recommended servicing schedule. Vehicles are certified as environmentally compliant based not only on their new operating characteristics, but also over their projected life.
Plan your driving to minimize cold starts. More tailpipe pollution occurs during the engine warm up cycle then at any other time.
Whenever possible shut the vehicle off instead of leaving it running, especially if you are waiting for friends or family or are stuck in a traffic jam.
Keep your tires properly inflated, because underinflated tires cause excessive rolling resistance, which wastes fuel. Underinflation also causes your tires to wear out faster meaning more scrap tire disposal, not to mention the additional cost to replace them.
Choose a shop that is designated as a Clean Business and has proven that it follows clean business practices. This includes properly handling used oil, waste coolant, and any other hazardous materials generated in the process of repairing your vehicle.
Join a car pool or use mass transit or ride sharing plans. The best way to minimize the impact of your automobile on the environment is to use it as little as possible.
Keep your air conditioner in good working order. Vehicles built before 1995 had freon in their air conditioning system. Freon contains CFC's which have been shown to deplete the ozone layer if allowed to escape from the system. Use only a shop certified to handle and recycle AC refrigerants when having this type of work performed.
Repair oil and coolant leaks immediately. Each time it rains they are washed from the pavement into the water table, causing contamination. Even though a leak may seem small, it can dump many quarts of liquid, which may contain heavy metals, over a period of time.
Wash your vehicle at a car wash that recycles.
Driving around with a vehicle full of unnecessary weight reduces your mileage and therefore increases pollution.