Tips To Maximizing Fuel Economy

High prices at the pump have you bothered? Find yourself in the pump yet again dishing out another $50 - $100? Well, you are not alone. The rising price of gasoline is on most of our minds and pocketbooks nowadays leaving us wondering when and if there will be a reprieve.

Until gas prices do normalize, there are a few things which you can do to stretch that next tank of gas. Here are 10 tips that should save you a few extra bucks at the pump:

1. Rather than running several errands, combine your trips to one thus eliminating unnecessary and significant travel.

2. In congested, urban areas, avoid rush hour traffic. Gridlock and its own start and stop traveling is one of the fastest ways to drain that gasoline tank.

3. Resist the urge to drive alone. Carpool with your co-workers. Carpooling with three of your colleagues means you drive every fourth week saving you a bundle in gas prices over the course of a year.

4. In cold weather climates, have an engine block heater installed. This will lower the amount of fuel required to heat the car on those cold winter mornings.

5. Resist turning on the AC at the first sign of warm weather. Air-conditioning burns allot of fuel. If you are driving in the city, a better choice is to roll down the windows and open all vents. Highway driving is a different story however. The haul from open windows may also lead to your burning more fuel. In case you must, roll the windows up and set the AC on the lowest setting.

6. Remove roof racks and overhead carriers if not in use. The drag created by these can lead to less fuel economy.

7. Eliminate any unnecessary weight from the vehicle that will get the motor to work harder and use more fuel.

8. Ensure your car is tuned up on a regular basis. A properly tuned vehicle operates more effectively resulting in the consumption of less fuel.

9. Alter your driving style. Do you accelerate quickly from a starting place? Gradually accelerating until you have reached your optimal rate will lead to a significant gas savings over the long haul.

10. Routinely have your brakes and tire pressure checked. Poorly working brakes can lead to your vehicle working harder and using more fuel. The exact same for your tires, either under or over inflated tires will cause the consumption of more fuel.

Following even only some of these ideas should help save you some money.