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The easiest thing that you can do to get better gas mileage is change your driving habits. Most important is drive the speed limit. Whenever you are driving over 40 mph your gas mileage is dramatically reduced because of the wind resistance. This factor increases the faster you go. Traveling at 55 will give you about 20% better gas mileage than 65. Keep your speed steady as accelerating uses more gas. Cruise control is a great way to save gas on the highway.
Plan your travel carefully to take the shortest, most direct route. Drive on highways when possible. Avoid roads with dirt and gravel if at all possible, because of the resistance your gas mileage is lowered by about 25% by road debris. Accelerate before you reach hills, not while you're on them. Traffic lights, stop signs and bumper to bumper traffic use more gas because of all the braking and accelerating. Most important is to complete all your errands in one trip, you will instantly lose your savings if you have to repeatedly go back to the store for one or two items.
Next, maintain your vehicle properly. Check your tire pressure often. Under inflation of your tires can cause drag because of the resistance when they roll. Most car tires should be inflated to 32 PSI, but be sure to check your owner’s manual. If you are buying tires get radials. They have been proven to be gas savers. Never, ever drive off season with snow tires. The deep tread lowers gas mileage greatly. Change your air filter regularly, at least every 15,000 miles. Make sure your engine is tuned up every 30, 000 miles or two years whichever comes first. Replace the fuel filter, check the fuel injectors, change the spark plugs and wires, and inspect the suspension and chassis parts to make sure they are aligned properly. Bent wheels, bad shocks or any other major problem will cause your gas mileage to drop especially when traveling at high speeds, not to mention how dangerous this can be.
Here are a few general tips that will also make a difference. Run your car's air conditioner less but don’t fall into the common trap and roll down your windows. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your gas mileage by 10%. Do not rest your foot on the brake or clutch pedal while driving. The pressure puts mechanical drag on parts, wearing them down prematurely. This also demands additional fuel. Remove excess weight from your trunk and the inside of your car, like back seats not regularly in use. Hauling heavy loads in the trunk or inside the car reduces gas mileage, especially when driving uphill. Car pool whenever possible to save on gas expense and also to do your part easing congestion and allowing other drivers to save gas as well. During the winter make sure that you do not allow ice and snow to accumulate on the outside of your car. This can cause wind resistance.
Finally, make sure that you keep track of your gas mileage. This way you can tell if you have a drastic change and have your mechanic look at your car before you have a huge problem.
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