DAYTONA BEACH — With the government predicting Fuel could hit $3.40 a gallon by spring, a lot of people are paying closer attention to driving habits and car maintenance.In a new survey, 43 percent of motorists said they have taken better care of their vehicles in the past year because of rising gas prices. The poll also found that 52 percent have cut back on driving.But which car-maintenance tasks should get highest priority?Some of the most effective measures are either free or relatively cheap, automotive experts say.Here are some ideas from Rich White, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association’s marketing director:· Check tire pressure as often as weekly. “When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s like driving with the parking brake on and can cost you a mile or two per gallon,” he said.· Check the gas cap. One vehicle in every six has a cap that’s either loose, damaged or missing. That lets 147 million gallons of gas vaporize every year.· Clean out your trunk or truck bed. An extra 100 pounds will cost you 1 percent to 2 percent in added gas.After that, concentrate on what’s under the hood, area mechanics recommended.The air filter also should be changed when it gets noticeably dirty, said Jayson Rickard, commercial parts manager at Advance Auto Discount Parts in Port Orange. Inspect the filter every time oil is changed. Replacing a clogged filter can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent, according to the aftermarket trade group.Spark plugs used to last 30,000 miles, but some can now go 100,000, said Mark Culp, owner of Speedway Auto Repair in Daytona Beach. “They need to be replaced when they reach their limits.”Or take fuel injectors. Once every year or two, injectors should be cleaned, Culp said. “If the injectors are clogged, you’ll get lousy gas mileage.”The oxygen sensor should be replaced every 50,000 miles, said Dan Lange of Dan’s Auto Service in Daytona Beach. Nearly every auto parts store carries a shelf full of Fuel and oil additives that promise to increase gas mileage. However, AAA’s Auto Club South in Tampa says few, if any, increase mileage by any significant amount. Those that do may violate emission restrictions.”We recommend that drivers stay away from these products altogether,” said auto club spokesman Randy Bly.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested more than 100 devices and additives and reports that nearly all of them are useless.One technological boost that deserves consideration, Bly said, is the use of nearly pure nitrogen to inflate tires, a practice that started in the racing industry and now is going mainstream. Nitrogen maintains stable tire pressure for longer periods than regular air, which is 78 percent nitrogen and about 20 percent oxygen, Bly said.”It’s a good idea but the issue there is cost,” Bly said. “Some drivers may not want to spend $5 or $10 per tire to use nitrogen.”Bly said he doesn’t expect the new year to bring any relief at the gas pumps. He cited the latest forecast by the U.S. Energy Information Agency that predicts average prices in the $3.40 range by midspring. News source: News Journal online