You can look at it as free or you can look at it as something you've already paid for with your tax dollars. But on either score, the offer of free car care looks like a good deal.

The Maryland Department of the Environment is teaming up with three partners to offer a free car care clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Loyola College's Transportation Facility, 5104 York Road in Baltimore.

The clinic offers a 10-15 minute inspection to help motorists identify problems that could turn into major repairs if not fixed. Among the items technicians will look for are loose gas caps, underinflated tires, faulty thermostats, poor wheel alignment and worn spark plugs.

According to the environment department, these problems can increase emission of ozone, carbon and other pollutants. That's on top of costing you money in extra fuel.

 The department's partners in the venture are the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 311 Garage and Precision Tune Auto Care of Cockeysville and Towson. If you don't live nearby, no problem. The department holds such clinics at various locations around the region on a regular basis. Information on clinics can be found at the MDE's Web site.