7 Free Ways to Improve Gas Mileage and Save Money
How to Improve Gas Mileage and Performance Step 10

Previous steps: 1. Performance Air Filter 2. Clean Fuel System 3. Best Synthetic Motor Oil 4. Correct Tire Pressure 5. NGK Spark Plugs & Wires 6. Fuel Efficient Driving 7. Best Synthetic Gear Oil 8. Synthetic Transmission Fluid 9. Auto Repair and Tune Up

You will be surprised how much money you can save on gas with these
simple fuel economy tips.

1. Combine Trips
   Plan your trips ahead of time and try to combine several errands into one trip. You will likely drive fewer miles and your engine is much more fuel efficient when it is already warm from driving.
   
   Short trips taken from a cold start use much more fuel.
   
   Remember, do not waste gas by warming up your car before driving! Your engine warms up faster when driven gently. When your car is idling, you are getting zero MPG!
   
    
2. Drive Efficiently
   Your personal style of driving has a large effect on your gas mileage. Learning fuel efficient driving methods can dramatically improve your gas mileage and save you a lot of money! We have a whole page that shows you what to do: Fuel Efficient Driving
   
    

3. Fuel Economy Vs Speed  -U.S. Dept. of Energy

   Reduce Aerodynamic Drag
   At highway speeds above 55 MPH much of your vehicle's fuel is used to overcome wind resistance. Anything that is mounted on on the outside of your car will increase it's wind resistance. Remove rooftop carriers, ski racks, bug deflectors, and avoid using the roof rack whenever possible.
   
   
4. Reduce Weight
   A hundred pounds in the trunk can reduce your gas mileage up to two percent. You don't need to carry around snow chains in the summer. Take out anything that your are not going to use today. If your van or SUV has a third row seat that you don't use often, take it out.
   
    
5. Check Your Tire Pressure
   Keeping your tires properly inflated will improve your gas mileage, increase performance and handling, and make your tires last longer. The following page shows you the critical things you must know: Correct Tire Pressure
   
    
6. Use the Right Gasoline Grade
   
   The best gas mileage is usually obtained when running regular gasoline.
   
   Never use a higher grade of gasoline that your vehicle requires. Regular gas ignites easier and burns more completely that premium. High performance cars that specify premium gasoline can often use regular or mid grade when temperatures are below 80 degrees F. Consult your auto service dealer or owners manual. If you notice that your engine is knocking during acceleration or when climbing hills, use the next higher grade.
   
   If your vehicle specifies regular gasoline but your engine knocks some of the time, then you may have an engine problem. This is usually caused by a build up of carbon in the combustion chambers, but it can also be caused by incorrect ignition timing or poor quality gasoline. Running a few tanks of gas with P. I. Gasoline Additive will clean out most of the carbon buildup in your engine. If the problem persists, take your car in for a service inspection.
   
    
7. Use the Best Gasoline
   For maximum performance and gas mileage buy your gas from a name brand gas station that is approved as a Top Tier Fuel Supplier. Avoid super discount gasoline retailers. There is a reason their gas costs less: they buy less expensive lower quality gasoline. Cheap, low quality gasoline reduces gas mileage, performance, and can cause serious engine problems that require expensive repairs. You get what you pay for.
   
    Check here for a list of current Top Tier Fuel Suppliers.
   

Why Your Gas Mileage Will Vary

Please remember when checking your gas mileage that it can vary substantially from one tank to the next. Your gas mileage is affected by traffic flow, your driving habits, your driving speed, the mechanical conditional of your vehicle, the load you are carrying, tire pressures, air temperature, altitude, the weather, and the quality of the fuel in your tank.

To obtain good MPG values check your gas mileage by averaging the results from three to five tanks of fuel. Your mileage results will vary for each vehicle and driver combination (a lead footed driver can quickly reduce the number or miles that you will get from a tank of gas)