$$$ Tips to Save at the Fuel Pump $$$

Lighten your load. Don’t store unneeded items in the trunk. Every 100 pounds of extra weight reduces a typical vehicle’s fuel economy 1-2%.

Drive at the posted speed limit. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. For example, driving at 65 miles per hour (mph), rather than 55 mph, increases fuel consumption by 20%. Driving at 75 mph, rather than 65 mph, increases fuel consumption by another 25%. This is caused by the amount of energy it takes to push your vehicle through the air and the amount of drag created by your vehicle’s body.

Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your vehicle during highway driving. Your vehicle's engine speed decreases when you use overdrive. This reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear. Most automatic transmission vehicles will have an overdrive button right on the gearshift. Look for a “D” and/or “O/D”. You will see a light on the dash indicating whether it’s on or off. Check your owner’s manual to be sure. If your vehicle has a tachometer, you should be able to tell by watching your engine’s rpm speed on the highway. By switching on the overdrive, your rpm’s should drop significantly.

Use cruise control. For longer trips, using cruise control can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel consumption. Set it to the speed limit on highways.

Use air conditioner wisely. Air conditioners are efficient on the highway, but can increase your fuel consumption by up to 12% in stop-and-go traffic. Open a window or use the air vents to circulate the air instead of turning on the air conditioner.

Keep up on your vehicle’s maintenance. Spark plugs, dragging brakes and low fluid levels can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10-20%, depending on a vehicle's condition. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual; you'll save fuel, and your vehicle will run better and last longer.

Change your oil. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine. Change your oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Check and replace air filters regularly. Your vehicle's air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter improve your fuel economy, it will also protect your engine. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption. Imagine running up a flight of stairs using only one nostril in your nose to breathe.

Keep your vehicle’s tires inflated and aligned. Underinflated tires on a vehicle is like running on the beach with no shoes. Vehicle manufacturers must place a label in the vehicle stating the correct tire pressure. The label is usually on the edge of the door or doorjamb, in the glove box, or on the inside of the gas cap cover. If the label lists a psi (pounds per square inch) range, use the higher number to maximize your fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires cause fuel consumption to increase by 6%. Check tire pressure at least once a month.

Check engine lights - they are very important indicators. If it stays on or comes on after you have been driving for a while, it needs to be diagnosed and repaired. Not only can performance be reduced, but engine damage can occur.

Avoid “jack rabbit” stops and starts. Gentle stops and easy starts can improve your fuel economy by 5-10%. Let off the gas early when approaching yellow and red lights, stop signs etc… Most fuel-injected vehicles will cut off the fuel supply to the engine while you slow down saving you even more gas. In city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your vehicle goes to acceleration.

Don’t let your vehicle idle for extended periods. Turn it off, and then restart the vehicle.