CAN WE TALK?                                                                                              So let's say your vehicle FAILS it's renewal smog check because it is using a bit too much gasoline because one of the fuel control sensors is old and weak. Your fuel mileage used to be up close to 30 mpg and lately it's more like 20 mpg. If, like most Angelino's, you drive on average 15,000 miles per year, the decrease in mileage means that you must pump an extra 250 gallons of fuel to go the same distance. At $4 a gallon that means an extra $1000 per year in unecessary fuel costs. You are already are spending $2000 in fuel costs alone to travel the 15,000 miles. What would you do with the extra grand? Bahamian Vacation? Pay down the credit cards? If you continue to ignore the problem, you only make the oil companies richer while your vehicle continues to pollute the air you breathe and do damage to your vehicle.

Since the only time that the State is willing to pony up $500 to fix your vehicles fuel consumption problem is when a smog check is required, why not let them pay their local contracted smog repair station to put that $1000 back in your pocket while you pay as little as $20.

The important thing to remember is that this is the time to get the work done. Gas will not be $4 a gallon 2 years from now when you get your next chance at $500 worth of free repairs. I'll bet that in two years from now you will be fondly remembering only having to pay $4 a gallon and you will be at least $2000 poorer . At $4 a gallon.

So failing a smog check may not be such a bad thing after all if, as in the example, you add up the States repair contribution and your fuel savings, you might well save $2500 for a $20 co-pay. Worth thinking about and it doesn't take a math whiz either!  MORE SAVINGS HERE !