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Every business needs to keep an eye on their operating expenses when it comes to turning a profit. This includes such things as electricity, rent, and in many cases, fuel costs. Regardless of the size of your business, the rising cost of gas is sure to affect your bottom line. When your business is a freight or delivery service that is dependent on the use of many vehicles, why not maximize your profits by downsizing your fuel costs?

Having your drivers and vehicles equipped with special gas cards can mean the difference between being profitable and simply surviving. Therefore, it is crucial that you keep track of how much gas your drivers and vehicles are using. Decreased gas mileage can be a sign of a vehicle in need of repairs, or possibly even fraudulent activity on the part of your employees. By making use of a gas card you can be protected against fluctuations in gas prices. As some places have price differences for gas, your drivers may be caught unaware if they only carry cash to buy gas. By using the gas card, theyre always ready and able to buy the gas, no matter how much the price fluctuates from place to place. Not to mention that you are able to pre-plan your route based on designated filling stations associated with your card.

By having one simple gas card that is designated specifically for the purchase of fuel, you can very easily track the amount of gas consumed by your vehicles and at what price for which the gas was bought. These credit cards are sometimes also associated with reward points programs that allow you to save up points earned by purchasing gas and trade them in for prizes or services. Even a small business can rack up considerable points over the course of a year by simply buying the gas they need to buy anyway with a single gas card. The most common reward thats offered is, of course, free gas or a discounted rate on the gas purchase. The gas company sometimes credits the business account for the rebate and other times offers the actual reward certificate through the mail.

The ability of the business owner to keep all receipts for fuel purchased by different members of the same organization on one simple account is a very attractive feature. The statement that one receives every month has all the purchases recorded and also has a running total so you can compare the previous months purchases to the present statement. Many gas companies offer special loyalty programs for their customers or reward them for using the credit card a certain number of times over the course of a year. This is a loyalty program and is a lot like a points reward program. They want their customers to always return to their station to buy their gas and they like to reward this form of loyalty with special prizes or discounts. Lower interest rates are sometimes used as incentives to get customers to use the card more often during slower periods of consumption. Therefore, having your drivers make use of gas cards can save money and lead to better fleet management.

With gas prices on the rise, there is no better time than now to think about vehicle maintenance.

“Proper car care is critical during the travel season,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “With gas prices exceeding an average 2 per gallon for the first time in history, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient.”

In light of the higher gasoline prices, the Car Care Council suggests you pay attention to these items:

* Vehicle gas caps. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

* Underinflated tires. When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s just as though you are driving with the parking brake on, which can cost you a mile or two per gallon.

* Worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.

* Dirty air filters. An air

filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture – too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents per gallon.

Here are some fuel-saving driving tips from the Car Care Council:

* Don’t be an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which wastes 7 cents to 49 cents per gallon.

* Avoid excessive idling. Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.

* Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mile driven over 60 mph will result in an additional cost of 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, use cruise control.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign, educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance and repair.

An oxygen sensor is a vital part of your Suzuki vehicle. After all, it is mainly one of the important parts responsible for keeping a vehicles gas mileage low. If you have not known yet, oxygen sensors are also known by other names. It also goes by the names O2 sensor, lambda sensor, lambda probe, lambda sensor, lambda sond, or EGO sensor which stands for exhaust gas oxygen sensor.

What is the oxygen sensor? It is a small sensor. This is found inserted into the Suzuki vehicles, or any vehicles for that matter, exhaust system. This is usually found in vehicles which have petrol engines. What this part does is it measures the concentration of oxygen that is found in the exhaust gas. By doing such, it actually allows the vehicles electronic control unit, or much known as ECU, to control the efficiency of the combustion process in the engine.

According to manufacturers of oxygen sensors, this part of the vehicle is one of the key components of the total performance of a vehicle. These parts may be small, just around the size of a clothes pin, but they do a great deal by monitoring the engine exhaust of your vehicle. And the engine exhaust is one of the most common causes of air pollution if not monitored well.

By continually determining the amount of oxygen in the exhaust, it also monitors the exhaust gases. The engine computer is then alerted to adjust the air and fuel ratio so much so that the gasoline combustion is complete. In the same process, the harmful emissions are lessened. Also, the engine performance and efficiency is improved.

According to Church Ruth, the general product manager of Bosch which is one of the manufacturers of oxygen sensors, Studies shows that two thirds of all vehicle emissions test failures are a result of worn out oxygen sensors. Those numbers are staggering when you consider that oxygen sensors are easy enough to replace and that the vast majority of them are also inexpensive, costing roughly 20 to 50.

The common signs and symptoms that your vehicle needs an oxygen sensor replacement? Well, you will notice that your Suzuki has excessive fuel consumption. It also gives off high emissions of gas. The engine surges or hesitates. Also, there is a premature failure of the catalytic converter. What you should do is try to look at the oxygen sensor itself. If you notice that there is a shiny deposit on the heat shield or any kind of gummy or gooey deposit, it simply means that you should replace your oxygen sensor already.

High maintenance costs can be actually avoided by purchasing top of the line body parts from auto parts sources like Auto Parts Discount. They actually have been in the industry for years and it has certainly proven client patronage. Assistance is also available for customers who are in the dark regarding their oxygen sensor purchases, Suzuki parts purchases, or any other products that they have in store.

Early fall, before cold weather sets in, is an optimal time for car care, according to the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

There’s time to undo summer’s wear and tear and prep for icy conditions ahead. The following checklist is provided as a courtesy of ASE:

* Follow the service schedule recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

* Have engine driveability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling and diminished power) corrected at a reputable repair shop. Cold weather will make existing problems worse.

* Replace all dirty filters. You’ll see better gas mileage, too.

* Change your oil as specified in your manual.

* Flush and refill the cooling system as recommended. The level, condition and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (Do not remove the radiator cap before the engine has cooled.) A certified auto technician also should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses.

* Have a professional check the condition of the battery. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. But do-it-yourselfers can scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections, clean all surfaces and re-tighten all connections. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.

* Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing and cupping, and check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Remember to check tire pressure once a month. Let the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure. Don’t forget your spare, and be sure the jack is rust-free and working. Have your tires rotated as recommended.

* Let the pros handle complex tasks. Look for shops with modern equipment, neat surroundings, polite staff and certified technicians.

* Be prepared for emergencies. Carry gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or cat litter, tire chains, a flashlight and a cell phone. Put a few “high-energy” snacks in your glove box.

ASE was founded in 1972 to improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive professionals. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification, while their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign. They can be found at all types of repair facilities, from dealerships to independent garages and franchises.