How to Make Your Car Fuel Efficient

With the current economy it has become extremely important to reduce fuel costs and the amount of emissions released from running cars. New cars can be costly for the average citizen, but there are many different ways to conserve fuel without purchasing a new vehicle.

Gas mileage increases with cars that run without any problems. A smoother running engine that consumes less gas can be easily achieved through routine maintenance. Routine oil changes and engine flushes increase gas mileage on most vehicles.

Tires that are under-inflated use more fuel. It's simple, if your tires are full, your car will run more efficiently.

When the car is idling, it is burning fuel. When sitting at different locations for an extended amount of time, it is better to turn your car off to save gas, than leave it running. Gas consumption will not be greatly effected for cars that idle for a minute or less. Fuel consumption will be the same if the car is switched on and off for a minute verses idling for a minute.

Combine trips to make one longer outing with several stops, rather than several short trips starting the car from cold each time. A 'warm' start uses less fuel, so do all the errands in one go.

Additional car weight decreases fuel efficiency. Luggage and trailers increase fuel usage by weighing the car down.

An interesting way to save gas is to keep a clean car. Related to aerodynamics and drag, keeping the car washed and waxed will save fuel

Driving behavior affects fuel efficiency. In order to get the most out of your gas tank, it is important to drive without changing the speed limit for as long as you can. Fast acceleration, braking hard and excessive speed all use more fuel.

Before going on a drive organize your trip with directions of the best routes to take. Try to avoid areas of congestion, as stop-start traffic guzzles gas. Of course getting lost and driving around aimlessly for hours won't save any gas either.

Because having the windows down causes your car to work more, it consumes more fuel than having the air conditioner on. Air conditioners are used to cool a car down and should not be used for the entire ride.

Only use your car for long-distance trips to save on gas. Many short trips are well within walking distance, there are no parking hassles, and it's healthier.

Going green when buying a car cuts back on cost of fuel, and air pollution. Buying a smaller car may also help.