A properly maintained vehicle burns fuel more completely and efficiently translating into better fuel mileage. Poorly maintained vehicles do not completely combust all fuel which results in gasoline or diesel vapors entering the atmosphere. Poorly maintained vehicles produce exhaust smoke which contributes much more NOx and VOC emissions than properly maintained vehicles. The following tips will make your car run more efficiently and use less fuel.
· Perform Regular Tune-ups
· Change your oil and other fluids regularly
o Most Manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 3 to 5 months or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles
o Most Manufacturers recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 miles
· Change your air filter regularly
o Check every 3 months, if dirty then replace
· Maintain proper tire pressure
o Check your tire pressure at least once a month
Report Smoking Vehicles
The State of Texas has developed a program to allow residents anywhere in Texas to anonymously report vehicles that produce smoke. The Report Smoking Vehicles Program (RSVP) notifies the owner of vehicles reported that a problem has been observed and encourages the owner to make the necessary repairs to their vehicle. The program is 100% voluntary and there is no enforcement action on the part of the State as a result of non-compliance. Often most reported vehicle owners do not know their vehicle has a problem.
To Report a Smoking Vehicle
(1) Upon observing a smoking vehicle, please make note of the following information:
- Texas license plate number
- Date observed
- Time (AM/PM)
- City
- Location observed
(2) Report the information to the TCEQ, within 30 days, by one of the following methods:
Smoking Vehicle Program, MC-164
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087
For More Information
For more information on how a properly maintained vehicle helps improve air quality and saves you money to to:
www.fueleconomy.gov
For more information on the RSVP program go to: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vetech/smokingvehicles.html