For many, the summer months mean plenty of long road trips to the lake, to vacation destinations, to visit family, and more. Of course, these extra road trips can really increase the amount of money that you spend on gas. This is especially true when you consider the fact that running the air conditioner at full blast – which is often a summertime necessity – decreases your fuel economy by up to 25%. If you would like to help reduce your pain at the pump while driving in Los Angeles this summer, check out these fuel saving tips. 

Reduce Your AC Usage
Since running your AC can reduce your fuel economy by up to 25%, it follows that cutting back on your AC usage is the best way to get more mileage out of your fuel during the summer. At low speeds, roll the windows down to keep air circulating in the car, and try to avoid turning the fan on your AC higher or the temperature lower than is needed to keep you comfortable. It is important to note, though, that driving with the windows down at highway speeds actually reduces your fuel economy more than running your AC by making your vehicle less aerodynamic and forcing the engine to work harder. 

Drive the Speed Limit

Did you know that speed limits were originally put into place in order to save fuel during an oil shortage rather than to increase safety? The faster you drive the more fuel it takes to travel the same amount of distance. There are plenty of calculators that will show you just how much speeding affects fuel economy, but suffice it to say that if you keep it under the speed limit you’ll certainly spend less on fuel this summer. 

Park in the Shade

The cooler your vehicle is when you get into it the less you will have to run your AC to get it down to a comfortable temperature, so you should always try to park in the shade when possible. When you first take off, you should also roll your windows down to let out the hot air in your vehicle before you turn your AC on. 

Drive a Vehicle that gets Great Fuel Economy

All of the driving tips outlined above will certainly help you save on fuel this summer. However, if you’re driving a gas-guzzler there’s only so much you can do to cut back on fuel costs. Today, newer vehicles are getting better and better at mileage with every year that goes by- so much so that having a vehicle that’s just a few model years newer can make a huge difference when it comes to fuel economy. 

At Great City Cars, we have a wide range of quality pre-owned vehicles, plenty of which offer excellent fuel economy. If you would like to trade your current vehicle in on a newer, more economic vehicle that will help you save on gas this summer, we invite you to stop by Great City Cars today or browse our inventory to see the vehicles that we have available.  ​

​Great City Cars is a used car dealer columbus offering on-site car financing in columbus. Our in house car financing columbus and buy here pay here in columbus ohio services help our customers get and stay on the road. Come by our buy here pay here car lot columbus and see why Great City cars is the BEST columbus ohio buy here pay here lot. Apply online today and get driving right away!!

Every time you start your car, the dashboard warning lights glow to greet you and fade away after a few seconds. But if they stay on, there may be a major problem that needs to be dealt with right away.

"Motorists need to be aware of the critical 'big three' warning lights," said John Nielsen, director of AAA Automotive. "They include those that monitor engine oil pressure, engine coolant temperature and the vehicle charging system. To reduce the chances of vehicle damage and/or a roadside breakdown, these warning lights require prompt and proper action when they illuminate."

AAA provides the following guidelines on what to do if these lights come on:

* Engine oil pressure: This warning light commonly displays an oil can symbol or the word "OIL." This means that the engine has lost its supply of pressurized lubricating oil and severe engine damage or catastrophic failure can occur within seconds. 

If the oil pressure warning light comes on, pull off the road immediately, shut off the engine and have your vehicle towed to a repair facility. Unless you are in an extremely dangerous situation, do not attempt to drive the vehicle. 

* Engine coolant temperature: This light commonly displays a thermometer symbol or the logo "TEMP." When the coolant temperature light illuminates, the engine temperature has exceeded the safe maximum. Until the rise in coolant temperature is reversed, the engine will suffer accelerated wear. If the increase in temperature continues, major engine damage or catastrophic failure will result. 

If the coolant temperature warning light comes on, quickly assess the situation. Steam or liquid coolant coming from under the hood is a clear indication of overheating or a leak. 

Pull off the road at the first safe opportunity and call for assistance. Because boiling coolant can cause severe burns, do not attempt to open the hood in the presence of excessive steam and never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. 

* Charging system: This light commonly displays a battery symbol or the logo "ALT" or "GEN" and means that the electrical system is no longer being supplied with power by the alternator. 

Depending on the electrical demands of your vehicle and the reserve capacity of its battery, you will generally have at least 20 minutes of daylight driving time before voltage drops to the point at which the ignition system will no longer function.

If the charging system warning light comes on, turn off all unnecessary electrical accessories and drive to the nearest repair facility to have the vehicle checked.

If you are unsure of what any of these may mean, we highly receommend you visit your nearest Vehicle Repair Shop.

At Great City Cars, we offer convienient Buy-Here Pay-Here Financing. What is Buy Here Pay Here in Columbus? It means that we do not pull your credit to get a car. You do not have a bank loan, you have a loan with us instead  We work with you for your down payment and we keep the payments fixed each week so you can budget your car accordingly.

We are constantly bringing in new used cars for our customers.  Many times the inventory on the website is already gone before it is even up for a day, so to buy a car from us, we have found it is best that you Click Here to Apply First, then come on down and see us at our loaction at 6147 Weservlle Road. 

When you come by, one of our representatives will show you the cars that you may be interested and let you go on a test drive as well. 

We will explain what we know about the car, its maintenance history and we will let you decide for yourself if it works for you. No Pressure. No being hurried or pushed into . We are here to make your life a little easier.

We know that some people with credit challlenges often feel like they are treated badly because of this. At Great City Cars we offer a no judgment zxone, and will be kind and profesisonal with you throwughoout the proces.

So if you have some credit issues and still need a car, the buy here pay here car lot at Great City Cars is the BEST in the business and we look forward to helpig YOU next!

You May Be Paying For Gas, And Leaving It Behind.  That's right; you could be losing a fortune by trying to get that extra bit  in because it is pennies cheaper at this gas station.

If you try to overfill your gas tank by squeezing that extra bit of gas in  after the pump has clicked off it could be going back into their tanks.
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Let me explain.

​Simple add-on accessories can change the feel and function of your vehicle. This article focuses mainly on the lower priced parts that can be found in larger auto parts stores, big department stores, online, and electronic stores that are under 50$. 

• The 12 volt heated mug has a plug for power from the cigarette lighter socket. It keeps coffee and other liquids hot as long as the car is running. Some models even have a thermostat to set the temperature. 
  
• The 12 volt coolers can hold 2 cans of soda or can even be as big as a full size refrigerator for recreational vehicles.  The cooler/warmer gives you the choice of keeping food or drinks either hot or cold. There are many sizes ranging from a can of soda to even hold a six pack. The cell phone charger plugs into the cigarette socket to charge your cell phone. 
  
• Multipurpose lights can be incandescent, fluorescent or led. They can be plugged in the cigarette lighter, can be wired in the car’s power circuits, or be battery operated or portable. Thought the led lights tend to produce less light if you’re going to have the lights on without the car running the led lights drain less power from your battery. 
  
• The power inverter can be plugged in the cigarette lighter, clips to the battery or can be wired in. To change the 12 volt dc to 120 volts to power things like laptops and computers, coffee makers, cell phones, and many other small appliances. But you shouldn’t go over 400 watts; high power devices drain the battery of the car quickly and could even fry the alternator if your engine is running. 

There are so many accessories that can change your car, like seat covers, floor mats, steering wheel covers, sun shades, GPS and much more.

So if you’re in the mood the spice up your car it can be done with a few changes. You just have to pick and go for it.

Quite often, a visit to the car repair shop can be even more painful than a visit to your dentist.  Perhaps physical pain it’s involved, but some car repairs can leave your wallet feeling pretty empty and you with a bad taste in your mouth.  The best way to avoid costly repairs is to take preventative steps that will keep your car in the best condition possible.  

The first thing to do is to follow the maintenance schedule as outlined in your owner’s manual.  The best one is always that recommended by the manufacturer and if you fail to follow those guidelines, your warranty may be voided for future repairs.  Always be sure to change fluids, filters and spark plugs as the car’s manufacturer recommends.

Upgrade your motor oil to a high performance synthetic oil, which can help to prevent certain problems and can also improve your car’s performance.  Always change your oil at the recommended time.  By keeping your oil clean and free of particles and gunk, your engine will work less, be less hot and provide more miles for you to drive upon.

Always be sure that your tires are properly inflated.  This is especially important because tires with too little air, or too much, can result in excessive wear and may cause a blow out.  It is often recommended that tire pressure be checked during every visit to the gas pump.  While this may seem like a lot, you won’t be sorry that you have kept your tires in the best shape possible.  For reasons of both safety and the expense of new tires, this exercise is well worth it.

If you notice unusual noises on your car, check with your owner’s manual for information.  Quite often, noises are perfectly normal and there is no need for concern.  Your owner’s manual will let you know whether or not a visit to the car repair shop is necessary.

If you do have to take your car in for repairs, be sure that you are dealing with a reputable company.  Check with the local Better Business Bureau and ask your family or friends for recommendations. Check out their Facebook and google reviews to make sure they have recent reviews. So many times we do this, and will choose to NOT bring cars to these shops. They really help!

When it comes time to begin the repairs, get an estimate in writing.  A quality repair shop will be able to provide this information and should also be able to assure you that the repairs will not exceed 10% of a specific dollar amount as outlined in the estimate.

The aforementioned steps will help to keep your car running smoothly and may also keep some extra bucks in your wallet.  With the cost of gasoline prices these days, a few extra dollars can go along way.