How to Improve Fuel Mileage

These fuel saving tips come from the Car Care Council and the Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection.

On the Road: Drive More Efficiently

• Stay within posted speed limits. Gas Mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour

• Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid "jackrabbit" starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.

• Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air.  Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.

• Combine errands.  Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as  much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

• Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate.  They improve the fuel economy of your car when you're driving on the highway.

• Remove excess weight from the trunk.  An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car's fuel economy by up to two percent.

• Avoid packing items on top of your vehicle.  A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

At the Garage: Maintain Your Vehicle

• Keep your engine tuned.  Tuning your engine according to your owner's manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent.  Increases vary depending on the vehicle's condition.

• Vehicle gas caps.  About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are wither damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

• Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.  It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.

• Change your oil.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.

• Check and replace air filters regularly.  Replacing clogged filters scan increase gas mileage up to ten percent.

At the Pump:  Use the Octane Level You Need

• Your owner's manual recommends the most effective octane level for your car.  For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane.  In most cases, using higher octane gas that the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit.  Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.