With the price of gas going up and up, how can I put my car on a 'diet'?

There's always something you can do to save on gas. Here are some tips:

Improve Your Mileage

•	Plan your driving routes so that you can travel at constant speeds. Try to avoid rush hours; travel when traffic is light.
•	Carpool.
•	Newer cars start differently than older ones. If you have to start a newer car by pumping the accelerator pedal, something is wrong. Have it checked.
•	Don't warm up your engine with extended idling. Instead, accelerate gently and try to avoid highway driving for the first mile or so.
•	Don’t let your car idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes a half-gallon to a gallon of gas per hour, and wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
•	Don’t rev the engine and quickly turn off the ignition (an old, but unwise, practice). This wastes fuel and dumps raw gasoline on the cylinder walls, where it can wash away a protective oil film, increasing engine wear.
•	Brake gradually. The more you can anticipate traffic conditions, the more you can reduce your need to brake.
•	Build up speed early when you approach a hill. If your car has a manual transmission, shift to a lower gear when the accelerator pedal is three-quarters of the way to the floor.
•	Use air conditioning sparingly.
•	Don’t fill your gas tank completely when the weather is hot. Fuel expansion can cause the tank to overflow.

Consider Your Options

When buying a new car, it’s always wise to consider fuel economy:

•	An automatic transmission generally uses more gas than a manual transmission.
•	Radial tires reduce rolling resistance, usually at a fuel savings of five to 10 percent.
•	Cruise control may save you gas if you drive a lot on the open road.
•	Tune Up Your Car

An out-of-tune car can use three to eight percent more fuel. Service your car’s engine at least once a year, and keep the following points in mind:

•	Spark plugs must be in good condition.
•	The ignition timing should be properly adjusted.
•	Have the engine’s idling speed set to specification.
•	The automatic choke should not stick—this wastes gas.
•	Your carburetor's air-fuel mixture should be properly adjusted.
•	Check the air filter twice a year.
•	Inflate tires to the pressures recommended by the manufacturer.
•	If you like, our Auto Diagnostic Clinics can check many of the above items for you. This way, you'll take the guesswork out of getting your car into top shape.