Best Fuel Mileage

With gas prices at record highs, when buying a more fuel efficient car isn't an option, the following tricks can help you get the best fuel mileage possible.

1.

 Driving more efficiently is listed as the number one way to improve your gas mileage at fueleconomy.gov. This includes things like observing the speed limit, using overdrive gears and cruise control. Every little bit makes a difference to add up to the best fuel mileage possible.

2.

 Eliminating 50 - 60 pounds of extra weight from your vehicle can add as much as one or two miles to your average gas mileage. Look on the bright side. It's a great reason to go on that diet and stick to it. Even if you don't need to diet, your car might - what are you carrying in your backseat or trunk that you don't need?

3.

 CarJunky.com reminds us to use the fuel recommended for each vehicle and to be cautious about using fuel additives promising better gas mileage.

4.

 It's easy to let regular maintenance, such as an oil change every 3,000 miles, slide, but according to fueleconomy.gov, keeping your car in shape is another way to get the best gas mileage possible.

5.

 Its easy to take tires for granted until it comes time to buy them, but if you want to get the best fuel mileage possible be sure to check the air pressure in your tires. When it is too low, it allows more contact between the tire and road, resulting in more friction. Another tire trick to help with your gas mileage is to buy narrower tires if your vehicle can take them. Narrower tires means less contact with the road.

6.

 Forbes recommends frequent air filter changes to get more for your gas dollars. In fact, mpg can improve by as much as ten percent because a clean filter helps your engine run at peak performance. Filters should be checked every time you have the oil changed.

7.

 Instead of making several trips for errands, keep a list of things you need to pick up or accomplish and plan one trip for all of them. Condensing errands into one trip saves not only gas, but time, money and wear and tear on your car. Fueleconomy.gov warns that "several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm."

8.

 The Car Care Council warns that letting your vehicle run idle for more than one minute is an absolute waste because it gets zero miles per gallon. Contrary to popular myth, shutting off the car and starting it again requires less gas to restart it than the amount used while standing (parked but running).

9.

 If your current car doesn't get good mileage, it may be worth it to trade it in for a more economical model. The difference between driving a car that gets 20 mpg versus one getting 30 mpg can add up to more than $1,000 savings annually at current gas prices.

10.

 Cranking your car's air conditioner on high constantly will most likely decrease your car's overall gas mileage. Before you shut the cool air off, however, it's important to note that driving with your windows open can also affect your gas mileage by changing the aerodynamics of your vehicle. CarJunky.com recommends running your air conditioner on low.

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