Check Your Air Filter – A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Consider a "permanent" filter which is cleaned rather than changed.
Check Your Tire Pressure – Under-inflated tires cause reduced fuel economy. Buy a reliable tire gauge, check your tires when they are cold and keep them properly inflated.
Slow Down – As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer.
Be Constant – Driving at a constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum and aids fuel economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving.
Accelerate With Care – Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel.
Get Back To Nature – Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel.
Stick With Stock Wheels – New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy.
Clean Out Your Car – The more weight your car has to haul, the more gas it needs to do the work. Periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house.
Keep Your Engine Tuned – Repairing a car that is noticeably out of tune can improve its gas mileage. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40%.
Don’t Drive – Before you get in the car, ask yourself “Is this trip really necessary?” Take the train, carpool, and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health.
