Easy steps to increasing vehicle life
U S Department of Transportation data shows Americans drove 2.99 trillion miles on U S highways in 2005 a 27 4 billion mile rise over 2004 and about 25 percent more than 1995 Sam Memmolo host of Two Guys Garage urges preventive maintenance starting with a basic tune up including spark plug replacement and regular oil and filter changes He notes oil protects engines while filters block contaminants New FRAM filters meet varied needs including Tough Guard with synthetic glass and cellulose media Some filters feature a screen over bypass valve for cold starts Memmolo advises oil and filter changes every 3 000 miles and spark plug replacement every two years He cites AAA figures that worn plugs can cut fuel economy by as much as 30 percent Autolite XP Xtreme Performance spark plugs with finewire Iridium design are highlighted as durable options.