How to Maximize Miles Per Gallon in a Car

Gas prices are on the rise. With all the conflicting news stories out there, it's tough to tell if it's going to get better or not There are ways, though, that you can stretch how far a gallon of gas can get you.

Things You'll Need

• Car

Instructions

1. Maintain your car. Make sure to get tune-ups and the oil changed on a regular basis. Both of these practices will keep your car running in peak condition, which will save you gas. Make sure that the air filter is checked and changed on a regular basis, as well. The air pressure in your tires can make a surprising difference in the miles per gallon you're getting. Your best bet is to keep them inflated to the maximum suggested psi.

2. Slow down This is the toughest step for most people to deal with. Your car burns about 25% more gas at 75 miles per hour than it does at 55. Use your cruise control whenever possible, this keeps the gas flow into your engine at a relative constant instead of speeding up and slowing down. This step also means that the green traffic light doesn't require that you stomp on the accelerator. Taking off from a stop more slowly is better for your gas mileage. Another good rule of thumb is to keep you RPMs under 2,000.

3. Plan your trips. Instead of driving back and forth across town several times to complete errands, make sure you know what you are doing ahead of time. Plan to do everything in one area at the same time. Also, try to avoid congested stop and go traffic. You may be better off heading just a little out of your way if it means that you aren't being stopped by 20 traffic lights between stops.

4. Take some common sense steps. Make sure your vehicle remains fairly aerodynamic. It's amazing how much drag you get from luggage racks, especially when they are loaded. Don't carry unnecessary weight. For every extra one hundred pounds of weight you carry, you are decreasing your miles per gallon by 2 percent. Don't try to speed up while traveling up a hill, your car is already trying to overcome gravity. If you think your car may be sitting and idling for more than 45 seconds, you are better off shutting down the engine.

5. Try some tricks. Coast as often as you can. Obviously this isn't always going to be possible, but if there is no other traffic to contend with, coasting helps. You can also put your car in neutral when coasting or approaching a light that has turned red. Again, use your common sense. You may need to get out of the way if something happens, so use the neutral idle sparingly. Don't run your air conditioner if possible. However, especially for highway travel, aerodynamics is sometimes more important. So, you are actually better off running the AC than rolling down your windows at higher speeds.

Tips & Warnings

• Always obey traffic laws and don't become a hazzard.