Slow down! Every mph you travel over 65 decreases fuel economy by 7%. Driving 65mph as compared to 75mph can save you up to one mile per gallon (mpg). By accelerating slowly, the fuel economy can be saved as much as 33% at highway speeds and 5% driving around town according to the EPA. By simply slowing it down a little, you can save yourself some cash.

Avoid Excessive Idling. Did you know that leaving your car running for 30 seconds uses as much gas as restarting the car once? Some drivers believe that restarting the vehicle uses up more of your gas. This is not true. Your fuel mileage can almost be cut in half by leaving your car running when going into the store. If you are going to be more than 30 seconds, turn the car off.

Check your tires. Maintaining properly inflated tires can also improve your mpg as well as tire longevity. Tires that are under inflated only 2psi can reduce fuel economy from 1-10%. An under inflated tire will not run as smoothly or easily as designed. This lowers fuel efficiency because the engine must now work harder to keep the wheels turning. Remember to check your tire pressure monthly because it can change with the weather.

Use cruise control. By using the cruise control it takes the human element out of driving. There is no constant acceleration and deceleration. Your speed is kept constant which keeps the gas from flooding into the engine. It is best to use the cruise control on flat terrain however. Using it in the mountains can actually decrease your fuel economy because the car will try to stay at a certain speed, accelerating up the hills.

Turn off the A/C. This technique is actually being debated. In today’s cars that are equipped with high-efficiency A/C compressors, the fuel savings is actually minimal. Putting the windows down may actually be worse than having the A/C on because of an increased drag on the car. Either way, there is not much savings you will experience either way.

Keep your engine tuned up. An engine that is out-of-tune can significantly lower your gas mileage. You can lose about 5% of your fuel economy by not having your car routinely serviced. A car that is not in proper working condition is like an athlete who is out of shape. It takes much more energy and fuel to make them go.

All of these techniques can help you with savings. By driving more economically and keeping your car in the proper condition, it can only help the money stay in your pocket in the long run.