Save Money on Gas and Get Better Miles Per Gallon

With gas prices at a record high these days, people across the globe are trying to save money at the pump but how? Sure, there are many new cars that offer great mpg but what about the millions of us out there with older model cars that simply do not want or cannot afford a new car? There are many ways to improve gas mileage regardless of what kind of car you have and in this article I will outline a few of them for you. Keeping your tires inflated to the correct psi will not only save you money on gas but will insure a longer life for your tires. You can find the recommended psi printed directly on the tires and you should check them about once a week. It only takes a few minutes and a few bucks to buy a tire pressure gauge and in the long run will save you loads of money. Make sure not to over inflate though as this can lead to compromised braking, poor handling or reduced stability.

Another tire related method is getting your tires filled with nitrogen instead of air. There is evidence that nitrogen reduces moisture in the tires and provides optimal pressure longer leading to longer tread life and better gas mileage. Next, change your oil as recommended by the owner's manual (usually every 3,000 miles). When doing so, make sure to see if your air filter needs to be changed as well as a dirty air filter can rob you of horsepower and lead to reduced miles per gallon. It is ok to have some dirt on your filter (some people even say it helps in a way) but if it looks really bad, replace it. Keep your spark plugs in good shape and replace them if necessary. If you don't know much about cars, a tune up will usually cost about 100 bucks and will ensure a longer life of your car and better mpg. It varies but a tune up will usually consist of an oil change, air filter change, fluid check/fill (radiator, washer fluid, power steering, brake fluid etc.), spark plug replacement and proper tire inflation. When driving on the highway, if you have it, use cruise control as much as possible. Constantly accelerating and decelerating will definitely cost you a few extra bucks in the long run.