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How to Increase Gas Mileage

Now more than ever, conserving gasoline has become a serious concern for all drivers. With gas prices hovering around three dollars per gallon, getting the best gas mileage from your car can help save dollars and promote responsible fossil fuel use.

Try the following tips to increase gas mileage, improve safety and help the environment:

• Schedule Your Fill Ups: Here is a tip for buying gas: Fill up your gas tank in the morning or when the outside temperature is low. When gasoline is colder, it contracts, taking up less space. You therefore get a little more per gallon. This helps maximize your gasoline purchase.
  
  
• Research Before Buying a Vehicle: The first thing you can do to increase gas mileage is drive a vehicle that gets good gas mileage. Hybrid vehicles can get 50 to 60 miles per gallon of gasoline. The most fuel-efficient gasoline-only vehicles can get 30 to 40 miles per gallon. Large SUVs tend to be gas-guzzlers. Be sure to consider gas mileage when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle.
  
  
• Plan Your Routes: Thoughtfully planning your routes is another smart way to use less gasoline. Carpooling with friends and co-workers and combining your trips for errands keeps you from wasting gasoline.
  
  
• Tune Up to Increase Gas Mileage: Before you begin your journey make sure your car is ready. Clean out your trunk to lighten your load. Also, make sure your tires are inflated within the parameters listed in your car’s owner manual. These two upkeep issues can help you get the best gas mileage from your car. Using good-quality oil can also improve gas mileage, as can changing air and fuel filters regularly. 
  
  
• Turn off the Air to Increase Gas Mileage: To get the best gas mileage, only run your air conditioner when necessary. However, in terms of energy efficiency, using the a/c is preferable to rolling down all of the windows. Keeping your windows up can reduce drag on your car and, therefore, can increase gas mileage.
  
  
• Take it Easy on the Gas Pedal: The way you drive your car can also have a significant effect on your gas mileage. Take it easy on your gas pedal. Avoid punching the gas and rapidly speeding up unless necessary. Keep a reasonable distance between you and other drivers so that you can keep a constant speed.
  
  
• Obey the Speed Limit: Sticking to the actual speed limit has benefits beyond safety. Fuel consumption increases with speed. So to get the best gas mileage, follow the speed limit signs.

By incorporating all of these tips for getting the best gas mileage, you can make a big cumulative difference. Remember, when trying to conserve energy and save money on gasoline, a little effort can go a long way.