How To Save Gas

Fuel prices have mercifully fallen from the astronomical perches they occupied just a few short months ago, but that’s no excuse to not do what you can to save gas. Every penny that stays out of your tank is another cent that can go toward whatever your heart desires, and there are plenty of ways to save cash at the pump that don’t involve buying a new hybrid or squeezing the family into a sub-compact.
 

Like it or not, gas prices will climb again, but this time you can be ready with our arsenal of tips to help you save at the pump. It may not be enough to treat the family to filet at the end of the week, but every dime counts now more than ever.
 

Staying on top of car maintenance is perhaps the best way to ensure that you're getting the absolute most out of every gallon that goes into the tank.

Some advice: Oil changes are an important factor in achieving better gas mileage. Oil becomes thicker as it ages, and the thicker it becomes, the more energy it robs from your engine, taking your better gas mileage with it.

There is some evidence that switching to synthetic oil, which tends to resist breaking down better than traditional lubricants, can increase mileage as well. It's important to remember however that synthetics are slightly more expensive.

Similar to oil changes, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid (if your vehicle is an all-wheel drive) and differential fluid (if your vehicle is rear wheel drive) should all be changed regularly to ensure better mileage. Just like your oil, these lubricants get thicker as they age, providing more resistance as mechanical parts run through them.

Your vehicle's engine operates by pulling large amounts of air into its combustion chamber. That air has to pass through a filter that gets clogged over time. Little bits of gravel, dust, trash, bugs, grass and just about anything else you drive through can clog the filter, making it more difficult for your engine to breathe. Making sure your air filter is clean can add to your vehicle's fuel economy.

Aside from your car's aerodynamics, your tires provide some of the greatest resistance as you roll down the road. Checking the air pressure in your tires to make sure they even and correct is a good step toward saving pennies. If you're brave, you can slightly over-inflate them as well, decreasing the area where your tires touch the road. This can increase your mileage, but it will also increase your tire wear.

Moving away from maintenance, cleaning out all the junk you have accumulated is a good way to see a few more miles as the extra weight is causing your vehicle to work harder and consume more fuel. While you could refuse to give your co-workers a ride as well, that's generally antisocial and probably wouldn't go over very well once you got to work.

Perhaps the biggest factor in extending a tank of gas is changing your driving style. Gently accelerating away from a stop, coasting when possible (if your vehicle is a manual) and not being aggressive in traffic can literally add two to three miles per gallon each time you fill up.

While these changes won't net you the kind of better mileage you could yield from swapping a Suburban for a Civic, they can mean a couple of extra dollars per month. That's not "I'm going to Disneyland" money, but it does mean cash in your pocket and not the oil company's coffers.

Ten Gas Saving Tips
Lose the weight: clean all unnecessary items out of your car, the heavier the better
Keep your oil clean
Keep the less thought about lubricants clean
Replace your air filter regularly
Check your tire pressure and ensure it's even
Go easy on the throttle
Slow down
Coast when you can
Use the proper fuel grade for your vehicle
Try to avoid stop and go driving