Guest Post: Eco-Friendly Car Care Tips

Cars are the number one culprit in the rising of greenhouse gas emissions and the subsequent warming of our planet. It seems that whatever we do, from filling up our tanks, to changing our oil, and even washing our cars, the effects on our environment are less than positive. We all know what burning fossil fuels does to our atmosphere, but most people don’t know how much washing our cars adds to ground water and ocean pollution. Each year, millions of gallons of soapy, greasy water washes into the sea effecting marine life for the worse. So how do we get from point A to point B without feeling so guilty? These days, people are more concerned and this increased awareness is offering more eco-conscious solutions to our car care needs. Here are a few eco-friendly car care tips.

1. The EPA estimates that motorists use 1.3 billion gallons of motor oil each year and 2 million gallons are disposed of improperly. One of the most eco-friendly things you can do is not drive, but for many of us this is out of the question. Yet, there is an environmentally friendly alternative to the classic crude oil we all use to keep our cars running. Using reclaimed oil is 85% more energy efficient to re-refine compared to refining fresh crude. This reduction is equivalent to 300,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions or taking 200,000 cars off the road.
2. Another eco-friendly car care tip is to convert your car to run on bio or vegetable diesel. Bio diesel is an amazing alternative to fueling your car that is vastly cheaper and more efficient. Before cars became popular, they ran on a number of different fuels, like electricity and stream. Only when people starting realizing how much money they could make by making all cars run on regular octane gasoline, did alternative fuels go the way of the horse and buggy. The damages to the environment are evident, but alternative fuels like vegetable oil, bio diesel, and ethanol burn completely clean with minimal negative effects to the atmosphere.
3. When it does come to washing your car, there are a number of eco-friendly methods. For one, people should was their cars less. On average, you should probably wash your car once a month if you have to. If you do wash your car, it is recommended you have it done professionally where high-pressure nozzles use less water and by law they have to treat their waste water. If you do wash your car at home, try and use a waterless wash solution and cloth rags.
4. Lastly, whether you are searching “tire store Woodstock” or “tire outlet near you”, there are an amazing new array of eco tires that are good for your car, good for the environment and save gas. These new tires are developed from rubber composite or a type of rubber that doesn’t as negatively effect fragile ecosystems that are often plundered for their rubber. It should be wise though to do your research on eco-friendly tires, because like all new technologies, it can take a while to work out the kinks.