These days everyone is seeing dollar signs at the gas pump. Saving fuel is a great way to get your budget under control but doing so is easier said than done. When you need to commute to work every day saving fuel is more a matter of increasing vehicle performance than cutting down on driving. Use these tips to save money at the pump.
• When taking your car in for routine maintenance be sure the mechanic checks your air filter. Replacing a dirty filter can boost your fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent.
• While you're at it have your tires rotated regularly. This simple step can also boost your fuel efficiency by 10 percent.
• Routine maintenance is important to keep your car running as efficiently as possible. Take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance according to your vehicle owner's manual and you'll raise your fuel efficiency by about four percent.
• Under-inflated tires can quickly cost you money through poor fuel efficiency. When you take your vehicle in for maintenance ask the mechanic to check your tire pressure and inflate your tires accordingly. You can raise your fuel efficiency by nearly three percent just by keeping your tires properly inflated.
• If your fuel cap becomes lost or stolen replace it immediately. While the fuel loss from a missing cap is small, you do lose fuel when fumes escape.
• Drive slower on the highway. Just reducing your speed to the speed limit can boost fuel economy by a whopping 17 percent. A bonus is the increased safety, as well as removing the possibility of receiving a speeding ticket.
*Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
