How To Go Longer Between Trips To The Pump

When my spouse and I moved away from Orange County, California, we paid for our last tank of gas at four dollars and fifty-nine cents per gallon, which, with a twelve gallon tank, amounted to well over fifty dollars. I can remember distinctly feeling the blood drain from my face as the pump ticked off the increasing numbers which would be vanishing from our bank account.

Fortunately, since then, gas prices have fallen significantly. But now that tougher economic times have set in, we all need to cut the fat wherever we can--especially since the future of fuel in this country is unpredictable. We never know when or if those prices will once again sky rocket.

So the best thing to do is to find effective ways to increase your car's gas mileage. Now, as I say this, you need to take all outside tips with a grain of salt because, after all, you don't want to try something outlandish and end up ruining your car altogether. I am going to try to give you some credible tips, but trust me--it won't hurt my feelings if you verify them with additional research.

Here's a common sense one: do the speed limit. Above speeds of sixty miles per hour, your car's fuel economy will rapidly decline. If you are on a long road trip, you may be tempted to go faster to reach your destination sooner, particularly because sometimes highway speeds can be up to eighty miles an hour.

In cases like these, you need to use discretion (well, actually, you should always use discretion) and decide which is more important to you--saving at the pump and making your tank go further or finishing your journey quicker.

Try to make sure your tires are sufficiently inflated and aligned. Believe it or not, this can increase fuel economy by three percent. Think that's impressive? If you regularly change your air filters, making sure they aren't clogged, you can actually improve gas mileage by ten percent!

Check your car's owner's manual to see what type of oil you should be using. Consult your auto mechanic to see if synthetic oil would work well in your car, as they are reputed for increasing gas mileage as well.

The owner's manual will be one of your best resources as you care for your car--because if you think about it with some common sense, caring for your car is the ideal way to maintain higher fuel economy. It will cite which octane level of gasoline you should be using. If it says you are safe with regular, then it probably won't do you any additional good to switch to a higher octane.

These are just a few tips I can offer you. You will find countless devices and techniques which claim to boost fuel economy. Before you try mixing anything into your gas tank, do plenty of research. Good luck!