Get better gas mileage!

Do you get that nauseating feeling every time you go to the pump? ...and it's the second time this week?

Well here are a 5 easy ways to save some serious cash on gasoline! (Other than walking, biking, or driving an electric car) And after that, a couple of myths too.

1. Tire Air Pressure
Make sure the air pressure of your tires is at the specified limit (usually around 44 PSI). If your tires are exceptionally low, you could improve your gas mileage up to 10% alone! (By the way -- if you spend $60 to fill up, that's a savings of $6 per tank!)

2. Easy Drivin'
Slow starts and keep the RPMs down (in other words your car shouldn't sound like a formula 1 racecar). If you think about how fast you're accelerating when the light turns green, you'll instantly see how fast you take off. In other words, just take it easy driving. On top of that, let the car cruise to a stop. You don't need to keep the pedal to the medal until your right on someone's tail and then slam on the brakes.

3. Air Filter
Make sure you have a clean air filter. If its clogged with dirt and gunk, your car will naturally perform poorer and it will use more gas.

4. Less Weight
Make sure you don't have your car loaded down with a lot of extra weight. Think about putting all of the weight in a wheelbarrow and how hard it is to start it moving -- your car will have to use that same energy too. What gives it that energy? $4 gasoline, of course.

5. Less Air Friction
The less flags, stickers, dirt, damage, and other objects that add wind resistance, the better. While weight in number 4 plays a large roll during starts, air friction plays a large roll once you're at speed. Even keeping your windows closed makes a difference. To put it in perspective, put your hand out the window while you're driving and feel the force acting on it.

(One more non-advocated tip: Put the car in neutral and let it coast in idle for as long as possible)

MYTHS:
1. Drafting
Yeah, technically it does work, but only under some very specific situations -- like driving at 200 mph or following within 2 ft of a tractor trailer. I recommend neither, by the way.

2. Opening windows instead of using the A/C
It does make a small difference until you reach 45 mph or so. After that, the wind resistance costs more gas than the A/C!

Doing all of these can save you some serious bucks. I have seen so first hand when I nearly DOUBLED my gas mileage in my last car!