• Allison Miles •
• Originally published July 12, 2008 at 4:08 p.m., updated July 12, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.

A light breeze blew through the Precision Tune Auto Care shop, where Martin Verde’s head remained hidden beneath the hood of a dark blue SUV.

The lead technician was busy investigating spark plugs, air filters and and other parts to keep the vehicle running smoothly.

And it’s something he’s used to.

Tune-ups are on the rise at the Victoria shop, company service writer Jennifer Glover said.

As of Wednesday, Precision Tune had serviced exactly 249 more cars than at that same point in 2007. The number of appointments for 2008 was 1,799 versus 1,550 in 2007.

“Most are oil changes,” Glover said. “Everybody’s listening to all the things the TV says and they’re taking care of their cars.”

Proper maintenance increases a car’s gas mileage and, with fuel prices tiptoeing closer to that $4 mark, Verde said people seem to be taking advantage of that.

Keeping tires at their appropriate pressure level – between 32 and 36 psi for most cars – can make a big difference, he said.

Other changes such as new air and fuel filters, oil changes and spark plug checks can also help.

“Lots of people overlook spark plugs,” Verde said. “They deliver the spark to the engine. If it has to work harder, it affects mileage.”

Victoria Automotive hasn’t seen a rush of customers coming in for tune-ups, but people seem more concerned about mileage, owner Charles Schule said.

“People are always concerned about that anyway,” he said. “But it’s more prevalent right now.”

Gabriel Castellano hasn’t been in for a tune-up for a while because he just purchased a Pontiac G6 and it isn’t time for one, but he said he and his family try to stay up-to-date with their cars.

“We keep our oil changed, we keep it clean,” the construction worker said. “It’s important. Even the little things help.”

Little repairs can add up to big savings, Schule said, echoing Verde’s advice to always keep tires properly inflated.

“That’s probably the No. 1 thing,” he said. “Tires can cause the car to use more gas.”

Schule recommended that drivers pay attention to their owners manuals.

Different car companies recommend different repair schedules, he said, and it’s best to pay attention to what suits your vehicle.

High gas prices don’t mean more business for everyone.

Some shop owners report customers are being more selective when it comes to the services they request and approve on their vehicles, Leona Dalavai Scott, editor of AutoInc., the Automotive Service Association’s official publication, said in an e-mail.

Mike Koebke with Gus Mann Automotive in San Antonio, for instance, noted sales are up about 11 percent for the first two quarters, but the shop has experienced slow weeks, too.

“People are definitely not spending as freely as they used to,” he said in the e-mail. “We have always monitored our sales and I can say that our sales curves are way off from what we are used to from previous years.”

Other shop owners have seen slight business increases, Scott noted, although no one reported any major peaks or valleys.

Whether you’re doing it to save on gas or simply to keep your vehicle running well, Glover said tune-ups and maintenance are important.

“If you’ll spend $90 now, you’ll save $800,” Glover said. “Take care of your car and it’ll take care of you.”

Allison Miles is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6511 or amiles@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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