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Everyone can improve their gas mileage The catch is how much. Improving fuel efficiency depends on how and what you drive. The following tips can add up to real savings however, do not be fooled; there is no one, magical solution to getting great gas mileage.

Driving
This is the most affective area to improve gas mileage in your vehicle. Changing driving habits also has the best "return on investment" of any change as all of these tips are free.

-Reduce your speed. 5mph slower average speed on a two hour trip at 60mph will only take you 10 minutes longer to get there, but can significantly reduce your fuel consumption
-Maintain steady speed. Avoid stop and go traffic if possible. Look ahead to anticipate stop lights whenever possible.
-Accelerate gently. Lightly press the accelerator pedal as if there were an egg under it.
-Combine trips. Take advantage of your engine already being warmed up and reduce overall miles you need to travel at the same time.
-Less electrical accessories. Don't run heated seats or electric window/mirror defoggers unless you have to, these are high current devices which draw a lot of amperage and thus additional engine load.
-Reduce A/C use. Roll down your windows in town, but do run the air conditioning on the highway if needed, the extra drag from the windows is not worth the savings.

Maintenance
Your car needs proper preventative maintenance anyway, so staying on top of this chore can both save fuel and prolong vehicle life.
-Maintain tire pressure. Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure listed on the sidewall.
-Brake adjustment. Have your brakes properly adjusted so they do not drag even after you release the pedal. You would be surprised how much this can increase gas mileage and brake life.
-New air filter. Replacing a dirty air filter is cheap, easy, and will improve engine efficiency.
-Change engine oil. Switching to synthetic engine oil will reduce internal friction in your engine.
-Change transmission fluid and engine coolant. Though not as critical as engine oil, fresh transmission fluid and coolant can help your engine run more efficiently also.
-Wash your car. Reduce drag while prolonging the life of your paint job by keeping your vehicle clean.

Modifications
Spending a few extra dollars on some performance improvements will net increased vehicle efficiency and improved gas mileage. More than any other area, the type of vehicle you drive will greatly affect the results you can expect from these modifications.
-Reduce weight. Remove unnecessary cargo to keep your vehicle as light as possible.
-Remove high-drag accessories. Brush guards, front end bras, and roof racks all cause additional weight and drag. Remove them if not needed.
-Better engine air flow. Open element, free flowing, air filters and cat-back performance exhaust systems both help your engine breathe better and thus make more efficient power.
-New tires. Harder compound or narrower tires can significantly reduce rolling resistance.
-Higher gear ratio. Trucks and SUV's can have numerically lower gears installed to decrease engine RPM at any give speed thus reducing fuel consumption.
-Electric fan. Switching to an electric fan instead of one being driven off of the engine belt can help reduce engine load.
-Disconnect your front axle. Four-wheel drive trucks can have manual hubs installed to keep the front axle from spinning while the truck is in two-wheel drive.

Most of these tips are common sense and no single thing you do will significantly change your vehicle's gas mileage. Combine a number of these tips though and the incremental efficiencies will add up to noticeable savings!

Learn more about this author, Joe Symmes.
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