The team at Tuffy Joliet in Joliet and Illinois car owners are all talking fuel economy right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. Joliet auto owners want to save the environment and their pocketbooks.

And we all know—or should know—that preventive maintenance will help maximize fuel efficiency. But is there something more Joliet auto owners can do? After all, some of us Joliet folks can’t cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.

Weight is one major enemy of fuel economy. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get from Joliet to Crest Hill. And that means buying more gas in Joliet and producing more emissions.

Of course, your SUV’s weight isn’t negotiable. And you can’t do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn’t an article about diet and exercise.

But look around your SUV. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight around Illinois? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave your Joliet home? Store sports equipment in the garage. Load it when you need it and store it when you don’t. Who knows? The extra exercise just might reduce the other type of weight in your vehicle.

The same goes for anything else in your car: make-up kits, music collections, extra electronics, spare clothing; whatever your particular extras may be. Pack it when you need it; store it when you don’t.

Clean out your Joliet. You’d be surprised how much weight you’re lugging around Joliet in plain old junk. Toss old papers, leftover food, and regular old dirt. Even if it’s not a lot of weight, you’ll feel better when you get into your car. A good cleaning is also part of good car care.

Now, don’t toss stuff you really do need. You do need that spare tire—the one in your trunk. And a kit of emergency essentials is not a bad idea. But just carry around the day-to-day essentials. You can pack a more extensive kit and store it in your garage, then toss it in your Joliet when you go on a longer trip, but you don’t have to lug it around all the time. After all, are you a driver? Or are you a junk chauffeur?

Lose the junk and save some money in Joliet.