by Sophie Coolbaugh

Created on: July 04, 2008

You can very easily get a few more miles per gallon, though this may mean you have to alter the way you drive. You can save money by following the following tips but they are not miracle solutions: driving less is still the best way to save on your gas bill!

The Way You Drive

Are you a sporty, rather fast driver? Do you always have the air conditioning on? Do you drive with your windows down? All these factors play a part in how much gas your car uses to go from A to B and you can make a significant different to your gas bill with a few easy changes.

Speed: if you normally clock in at 60mph try driving 5mph slower. A 2-hour trip would only be 10 minutes longer, yet your fuel consumption can be as much as 20% less.
Avoid traffic lights: your car uses less fuel if driving at a constant speed than if you have to stop and go often. Freeways are your best bet wherever possible.
Do you really need the a/c? Like all other electrical features (heater, electric windows) it needs power to work. If you are in town, roll down your windows instead but if you are on the open road having the windows down would work out more expensive than the a/c.
Can you do what you need to do in less trip? Try and combine the weekly shopping with the school run with a bit of luck the kids can even carry your groceries for you!

Keep Your Car In Good Working Order

Simple maintenance checks can help you save fuel as well as improve safety on the road.

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential, both to prevent accidents and to make sure your car's fuel consumption is at its lowest possible. Most gas stations have the machine you need to check this, and inflate if required. It's usually free or very cheap, and you should be able to get help if you don't know how to do it yourself.
Regular servicing (oil and air filter change) will help improve the efficiency of your engine. You should refer to your car's handbook for recommended servicing intervals.
General maintenance: the right levels of transmission fluid, engine coolant and brakes in good working order all help your car run at its most efficient, as do regular washing (to reduce air friction.)

Other Things That Can Have An Impact

You can spend a little money to improve your car's fuel consumption. There are a few tips listed below but beware that the amount by which they reduce your gas bill varies with the type of car you drive, and the other factors already discussed.

Keep the car as light as possible: if something does not need to be in the car for a particular journey, remove it. It may also be worth not filling the tank fully: a full tank is heavier than a half-full tank!
Remove accessories that increase air friction and therefore affect the fuel you use when they are not needed (like roof racks, for instance.)
New tyres: there are various types of tyres available, and you can usually reduce the amount of friction by using a harder compound.

Getting an increased mileage out of your car is becoming a priority as it costs more and more money to fill up the tank. There is no one way to reduce your gas bill significantly but by using common sense and driving more sensibly you can keep the costs down.

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