If you care about the environment, then you likely limit how often you drive a car or other automobile and take steps to walk or ride a bicycle instead whenever possible. However, if you have a long commute to work or must take trips to other locations that are not within a reasonable walking or bicycle-riding distance, then you may feel guilty about the toll your vehicle is taking on the environment. 

Read on to learn about three ways to make your vehicle more eco-friendly, so you can feel better about doing your part to help the environment every time you must drive. 

1. Obtain Annual Tune-ups

If you often neglect your annual auto tune-up just because you think your automobile is "running just fine," then realize that this is one important step you need to take to keep your automobile operating at peak efficiency to reduce the toll it takes on the environment. A well-running engine burns less gasoline and exerts fewer toxic emissions than one that is not operating at maximum efficiency. 

During a tune-up, the auto repair shop will check your vehicle's battery voltage, engine vacuum, ignition timing, EGR valve, and power balance. All of these tests will help ensure your engine is operating at peak efficiency. In addition, all vehicle belts and hoses will be inspected, your spark plugs will be inspected, and your vehicle's idle speed will be tested. 

Even a vehicle that is in generally good condition can see a reduction in gasoline consumption of up to 4 percent after a proper tune-up, which helps protect both the environment and your bank account. 

2. Replace or Repair a Faulty Oxygen Sensor Immediately

Ensuring that your vehicle's oxygen sensor is in great shape is a very important part of ensuring that your vehicle is not causing more air pollution than it has to. This sensor monitors how much oxygen is present in your vehicle's exhaust fumes. It then sends this information to your vehicle's powertrain control module to ensure the right air to fuel ratio is being injected into your vehicle's fuel system. 

If your automobile's oxygen sensor has gone bad, which typically occurs after your vehicle has been driven about 50,000 to 60,000 miles, although it can fail sooner or later, then more gasoline is consumed by your vehicle than necessary, which leads to your vehicle taking a greater toll on the environment than it should. In fact, a faulty oxygen sensor can even lead to your vehicle failing your state's required annual or bi-annual emissions test (if required). 

Signs of a faulty auto oxygen sensor include the aroma of rotten eggs or gasoline inside of your vehicle; an engine that misfires, runs rough, or hesitates to start; and the need to fuel up your vehicle more often due to it consuming more gasoline than necessary while you are driving. 

3. Choose Eco-friendly Motor Oil

While the only two motor oil options used to be petroleum-based or synthetic, there are now vegetable-based motor oils on the market. While there are several types now offered, many are canola oil-based. Canola oil-based motor oils are not only non-toxic and biodegradable, but they have also surpassed both traditional types of motor oils in performance. In addition, they lead to a reduction in the amount of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons emitted by your vehicle's exhaust system. 

If you cannot find a type of vegetable-based motor oil that is compatible with your vehicle, then it is a better idea to choose synthetic oil over petroleum-based oil. While neither are as good for the environment as plant-based oils, synthetic oils last longer between oil changes, leading to less oil waste being created over the lifetime of your vehicle. 

If you care about the environment, then follow these three steps to making your vehicle more eco-friendly, so you can feel better when you must drive it. For more information, contact companies like Fix N Go Auto.