Shell (ARA) - Tire pressure and blood pressure - Americans are equally concerned about both, according to a new survey that compares attitudes about personal health and vehicle maintenance.

"This first-of-its-kind research, commissioned by Shell, shows that Americans place nearly equal importance on vehicle health and personal health," says ASE-certified mechanic and Shell spokesperson Sam Memmolo, also known as Dr. FuelGood. "For the most part, Americans tend to go out of the way to maintain their own health and the health of their vehicles."

According to the survey of 1,000 licensed drivers across the country:

* Seventy-three percent of Americans go out of their way to make sure their cars are in top condition through regular maintenance;

* Regular exercise is the route 68 percent choose to keep physically fit;

* While 40 percent have their cars maintained at least once very 5,000 miles, 35 percent go to the doctor more than once a year.

The link, says Dr. FuelGood, seems to be that people understand prevention and realize that proactive efforts are the key to good personal health and good vehicular health. The majority (68 percent) understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including stocking up on fruits and vegetables, and 63 percent use only the best parts and accessories in their vehicle. They can feel the difference, too; 76 percent say eating well noticeably affects how healthy they feel, and 73 percent can feel the difference when their car's engine is clean and responsive. However, while many notice the positive effects of eating right, American drivers often don't realize the beneficial effects of using high-quality fuels and lubricants for protecting vehicle health.

"Just like choosing nutritional foods at the grocery store is a simple way to be healthy, filling up with high-quality gasoline is an easy change motorists can make to help protect their vehicles," says Dr. FuelGood. "It's important to take simple steps to protect the investment in your vehicle."

Neglecting your personal health can lead to loss of energy and ongoing health issues the same way neglecting your vehicle health can impact engine performance and lead to long-term maintenance issues. The biggest maintenance issue for America's vehicles according to 39 percent of respondents is the build-up of gunk in engines, which most (60 percent) described as similar to fat clogging blood vessels. But it doesn't take a dramatic life change to make a difference - you can avoid vehicle health problems through regular maintenance and using a high-quality gasoline.

Top automakers - Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen - agree fuel quality is important to help keep engines clean. They introduced the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standard and recommend motorists use fuels that meet the standard, like Shell. All Shell gasolines stop gunky build-up on critical engine parts.

Dr. FuelGood and Shell have launched "Americans for a Gunk-Free Nation" (AGFN) to help protect the nation's engines from gunk. AGFN hopes to educate American consumers about how to improve the state of vehicle health in the United States.

For additional information on gunk-free living, visit the Americans For a Gunk-Free Nation Web site at www.shell.us/livegunkfree where you can read Dr. FuelGood's blog, participate in discussion boards and much more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent