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Anyone that is sick and tired of paying the high gas prices being charged by the oil companies should be looking for ways to get better gas mileage form their car.

One of the ways to save gas is to practice a technique called hypermiling which is quickly becoming a very popular way to improve mileage just by changing how you drive your car.

Hypermiling came about thanks to the many Internet car enthusiast forums and it is quickly becoming more mainstream as people look to ways to save money on their gas bills.

You can compare hypermiling enthusiasts to people in the computer world that are always trying to push the boundaries of their systems by overclocking their CPUs and endlessly tweaking their system to get maximum performance from it.

Hypermilers are just like that in that they try squeeze as many miles as they can out of every drop of gas in their tank. A perfect example of one of these sites is CleanMPG.com which has lots of helpful information for the budding hypermiler.

On sites like this you will see people claiming to get 80 miler per gallon using some exotic driving technique and just a few years ago in Oklahoma the Honda Insight Marathon was held where competitors used 13 gallons of gas to drive 200 miles.

If other people can do this it begs the question can we do this too? Can we get better gas mileage form our cars just by driving differently? Is it possible to just get 50 MPG?

The reason regular drivers don’t get anywhere near that in mileage is because they do not do the things that serious hypermilers do to wring every last mile out of their gas.

Some of the common techniques they use include turning the engine off and coasting down the road. To me this is a little dangerous because when you do that you lose power steering and braking.

Another thing they do is to block the front air vents to improve aerodynamics and reducing the weight of their cars as much as possible.

Is it possible that a regular driver with a normal car could get the kind of mileage that hypermilers get? Probably not, but with a little practice and some simple changes in how you drive you just might be able to get 50 miles to the gallon.

Here are some techniques you can use to get better gas mileage that do not require drastically altering your car or putting your personal safety at risk.

This is a little trick that I do all the time, (by the way, I drive a Toyota Camry Hybrid and love it!), try and use your brakes as little as possible letting your car coast as much as you can. If I see the light is red up ahead I will take my foot of the gas and coast in and if the light turns green before I get there I can use the momentum to slowly start getting up to speed again without having to accelerate hard.

An engine block heater will warm up the engine before starting so it is at its most efficient level right hen you start driving.

Reducing the weight of your car can help and you can figure about .10 of a percent savings for every 30 pounds you can eliminate. Bottom line: clean out your trunk and don’t haul around a lot of junk unless you really need to.

Many people hit the gas hard when a light turns green only to have to slow down and stop at the next light while I catch up and sit right next to them or behind them a few seconds later. Sometimes they trigger the light for me so I get to keep going and yes, it is much more efficient to start slowly and build up speed,

Consider using synthetic oil the next time you get your oil changed. Not only will it last longer but you will also see a performance improvement in your engine.

Getting better gas mileage isn’t rocket science. You just need to make a decision to change your driving habits and then follow through. If you do this you will soon start seeing your mileage increase and your wallet as well.

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If you are sick and tired of paying high gas prices and you can’t use public transportation or carpool with some friends don’t despair because these tips can help you improve gas mileage and save you money no matter what make of car you drive.

According to the Dept. of Energy (DOE) hard acceleration and braking cuts your car’s mileage by as much as a third driving on the highway. Add in the fact that aggressive driving is also unsafe and you have two good reasons to drive more safely.

Slow it down. The faster you drive the more gas you use and the DOE estimates that every mile per hour you drive over 60 is the equivalent of paying 10 cents more per gallon.

This is hard to believe but 17 percent of all cars on the road have damaged or missing gas caps which allows 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate every year. Make sure you have a gas cap and that it is in good working condition.

A simple thing to do to improve gas mileage is to keep your air filter clean. A clogged filter doesn’t let enough air in and causes more gas to be burned and not only do you waste fuel but you also lose engine power. Replacing your air filter can improve fuel mileage by 10%.

Keep your ride light. Take out the junk in the trunk and in the back of the SUV and you will see a mileage improvement.

So simple but yet many people don’t do this, keeping your tires properly inflated can add a mile or two per gallon to your mileage.

The spark plugs in your car can fire 3 million times for every 1,000 miles you drive. Dirty plugs can cause engine misfiring which wastes gas so keep your spark plugs clean or replace them.

Unless your car owner’s manual specifically states that you must use premium gas stick with regular and enjoy an average of 10% savings off your fuel bill.

Doing these simple steps can help you improve gas mileage and save you money without having to resort to drastic measures.

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It seems like everyone complains about the cost of gasoline yet few people make little effort in improving gas mileage for their vehicles.

One of the simplest methods is obvious but yet many people are so spoiled that they just won’t do it. Drive less! Don’t just hop into the car whenever the mood strikes you, plan your trips and save time and money. Try walking for once and not only will you save money but you will also get some most likely much needed exercise as well.

When you do drive make sure your vehicle is in proper working order and that you are changing your oil as recommended in your owner’s guide.

A faulty oxygen sensor, for example, not only wastes gas but also affects your car’s performance and clean air filters and properly balanced and inflated tires will add more miles to each tank of gas you buy.

Driving the speed limit will also help towards your goal of improving gas mileage for your car because the faster you go the more gas you use. Plus it is a lot safer too! 60 miles an hour is the sweet spot where mileage starts to decrease rapidly for each mile per hour you drive over that.

Your car is not a storage unit so don’t treat it like one. The less your car weighs the more you will save on fuel. Clean out the trunk, truck bed and back of the SUV and watch your mileage increase.

Don’t idle your engine for more than a minute. Not only is it hard on your engine but it wastes more gas than you think.

Use your cruise control to maintain a steady highway speed and if your car is equipped with overdrive make sure it is engaged.

Like I said earlier try and drive less. Ride your bike, walk or take the bus if you can. Don’t run to the grocery store every day after work, go once a week. Yes, it does involve some planning but planning is free and gas isn’t.

Improving gas mileage can be done with just a little common sense and changing some of your driving habits for the better.

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If you do a little work it is not that hard to save money on gas for your vehicles. One of the first things you should do is get a gas card from one of the major chains like Mobil or Shell because they will knock off between 3-5 percent off your gas purchases provided you buy your gas from them of course.

I know of a place in a nearby city that gives a cash discount of around .05 a gallon because they don’t have to deal with credit card merchant fees or bad checks that way. Check in your area for a similar deal.

Driving more conservatively will also help you save money on gas because you tank will take you farther between fill-ups. One of the worst things you can do is hit the accelerator as soon as the light turns green because of the huge use of gasoline when you “hammer down”. You aren’t on a drag strip so drive smart and save gas.

Go easy on the brakes too. Let your vehicle coast a bit instead of the quick start/stop routine so many of us do.

Not only will using your cruise control help you avoid speeding tickets (if you have it set at the speed limit or lower) but it will also reward you with about a 7% increase in fuel savings.

You will save gasoline if you drive 65 versus 85, more than you think so slow it down and be safe on the road.

Don’t let your car idle needlessly. Stop using the drive-thrus and turn your car off if you are going to step out of it for “just a minute”. If you are stopped talking to someone pull over and turn your car off and if you run in the store while someone waits in the car turn it off. If it is hot out roll down the windows, you don’t have to leave your car running just for air conditioning. It might feel good but remember you are paying for it in gas usage.

When you do go out have a plan of where you need to go and follow it. You can save money on gas if you don’t have to backtrack and drive across town several times plus you put less wear and tear on your car.

Don’t be afraid to leave your car parked. Walk if you can or maybe take your bike. Use public transportation or carpool and it won’t be long before you start to save money on gas that you can use for other things.

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This is a guest post from a friend…

Gas prices sure are ridiculous these days. How are we even supposed to keep up with the constant fluctuation? Gas companies are basically bleeding us dry for one simple reason; they can.

Whether we all like it or not, we must purchase gas to get back and forth to work daily, not to mention all the other errands we can’t avoid.

While there’s no way to force the local gas station to charge less, we can do other things to save money. We basically want to increase gas mileage. However, many people do not know how to do this.

Back when I learned how to drive, my father always preached to me about how to get more miles to the gallon. I have to admit, some of these things were rather simple.

For starters, you should always make sure that your tires are at the correct pressure. If they’re low, you are wasting gas. The vehicle basically has to struggle more, hence burning more gas. You can also purchase various exhaust systems that will easily increase gas mileage.

One of the simpler things that should increase gas mileage is the ever-popular engine treatment. You can purchase these at any gas station or Wal-Mart. You basically pour it in with your gas and it can increase gas mileage; but you only do it every certain amount of miles as specified on the bottle.

Basic maintenance to your vehicle will also increase fuel efficiency; therefore you should always keep on top of it.

I have to laugh at my mother because she hardly leaves her house. She claims that there’s just nothing to go out for. Since she’s retired, she only leaves her home once a week to get groceries.

Her car, which is a 97, only has 47,000 miles on it. That baffles me. While the gas prices don’t really affect individuals like her, most of us are not so fortunate.

My favorite method to increase gas mileage that many don’t consider is slowing down. If you drive slower, you will burn less fuel.

In addition, all of you out there who refrain from using your car air conditioner in the summer time in order to get better mileage; well, I hope you don’t roll down your windows because if you do drive with the windows down you are burning the same amount of gas simply due to the drag.

You see, your car is fighting the wind and burning more gas, so you might as well turn on the air. These are some simple ways to increase gas mileage; it’s all about caring for your vehicle and making a few lifestyle changes.

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With the economy in the shape it is in and the ever higher gas prices saving money on gas is becoming more and more important as it seems like gas prices are never going to go down to the levels they were just a few years ago.

Here are a few tips to save money on your gas bill:

Keep your car in good running condition. Do you have any fluids leaking out from under the hood? If so, have your car checked out as soon as you can.

Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure. This not only adds about 15% to the life of your tires but it also gives you a better ride while cutting down on gas use.

Check your air filter because a clogged or dirty filter can cut fuel efficiency by 10%. Also make sure your fuel injectors aren’t clogged and your spark plugs are clean.

It has been said that it is best to not top of your tank and to buy gasoline in the morning when the gas will be coolest. The idea is that the pumps measure gas by volume and when gas is cool it is denser. I don’t know if this makes much difference or not but hey, it’s worth a try.

The way you drive makes a gigantic impact on your gas mileage. Cars today don’t need to be warmed up and idling a car for more than a minute wastes more gas than it takes to start it so turn the engine off when you can and stay out of the drive thru lanes.

Slow starts and stops put less wear and tear on your car, especially the brakes when stopping and punching it when the light turns green might make you feel cool but if you are want to save on your gas bill you are just throwing money away because of the extra fuel needed.

Keep a watch ahead of you and try and coast into a red light instead of driving fast and then having to jam on the brakes.

As far as saving money on gas goes using the air conditioning under 40 MPH is less efficient than if you are going faster. If you are on the highway it is better to keep the windows up to reduce air drag and use the AC but at slower speeds open windows are OK.

Many times I don’t use my air for my 5 minute drive home. It just doesn’t seem worth it. If you have to run the air open your windows for a minute to let most of the hot air escape so you don’t have to waste energy cooling it.

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I drive a Toyota Camry hybrid that I bought new about 3 years ago and I love it. At first I wasn’t sure if I really wanted a hybrid because I thought that it was more of a wimp car but I soon found out that the car has more power than I can use plus it greats mileage. I am getting a little over 40 MPG right now because it is summer and my fuel efficiency improves when it is warmer out.

For some reason the electric mode kicks in quicker when the engine is warmed up and in the winter this takes a bit longer.

Anyway, I thought I would share my personal tips to save on gas that I use in my never-ending quest to save money at the pump.

First, I check my tires frequently to make sure I have the recommended air pressure in them. This does 3 things:

• It gives me a better ride
• It makes my tires last longer
• It saves on gas consumption

Being the cheapskate that I am I go to a local gas station that still has free air because I think having to pay for air is just not right.

In return for the free air I buy gas there often but not every time since I am looking for the cheapest gas prices.

When I am driving I always coast to a stop even if there are cars behind me. Now, I don’t creep along at 5 MPH because that isn’t right but if I am going 20 – 25 MPH in a 30 MPH zone then I don’t have a problem with it.

I use gently brake to save on brake wear and when I start up I don’t floor it because that is one of the biggest fuel efficiency killers there is.

If I see that the light is red I start slowing down, I don’t speed up or continue driving faster to get to the light just so I can stop.

Every day I see people go past me on a four lane road, often speeding, just to have to stop in a block at a light. I am usually about 2 or 3 seconds behind them and I always look over to see what the dummy next to me looks like.

These are always the people that are whining about gas prices and saying they want to save money on gasoline but in fact they waste it and don’t seem to care that they do.

How many people do you see think they have to punch the accelerator when the light turns green? When did the roads become a drag strip where the first off the line wins?

One of my biggest peeves and something I might have done once when I was younger is the fast food drive thrus.

As far as I’m concerned these should be outlawed because of the wasted gas they cause. How hard is it to park and walk into a place to get something to eat? Most of the time there is such a long line that it is probably quicker to go in and order but most people are lazy and for their laziness they get to enjoy bad gas mileage while gunking up their vehicles idling so much.

If I am on a hill why do I need to use my accelerator? I learned about gravity in grade school and it has become my friend when looking for ways to save gas. In other words, coast when you can.

Ever see a car running with nobody in it? I often wish someone would come along and drive off just to see the reaction of the person that was only going to be in the store for a minute. Seriously, turn the car off and save fuel.

How about someone sitting in the passenger seat while the car runs so they can be nice and cool? Come on, turn off the car and open a window, it won’t kill you and you will save money on gas. It ALL adds up.

It’s funny but with all of the ways to save money on gasoline it seems like the people that have the junkiest cars and look broke put forth the least effort to try and conserve gas. Maybe that’s why they are broke?

I don’t use any gas additives to improve mileage because I feel they don’t do that much and they are usually pretty expensive.

I do keep my trunk pretty empty, no sense in lugging stuff around because every pound uses more gas which means less money in my pocket.

Anyway, I hope that you will use some of my tips to save on gas, particularly the drive thru one. I don’t know, for some reason that one really bugs me.

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As a driver I often feel like I am a prisoner of high gas prices and to make matters worse there is nothing I can do to control the price of gasoline other than trying to find ways of saving fuel.

I guess this is good though because the less fuel I use the more money I save so in a roundabout way I do to some extant control the price of the gas I use.

One of the fuel savers I use is to plan my trip before I even get in the car. I always look for the most efficient route so that I am not doubling back wasting both time and gasoline.

Another gas saver I use is to drive the speed limit. The faster you drive the more gas you use and the more gas you use the more money you spend. If you think about it, unless you are driving hundreds of miles you really only save a few minutes but you use a lot more gas and set yourself up to get a speeding ticket.

Yes, life moves fast for us and we all have lots of responsibilities that need our attention and it seems like we are always rushing around which I think puts us I the frame of mind to hurry while driving.

The fast of the matter is that most modern vehicles get their best gas mileage when they are going around 55 or 60 MPH so anything over that will use gas at a faster rate and as your speed increases so does the gas consumption rate.

So, someone that is constantly driving 75 on the highways will use a lot more gas that someone driving 65 and it doesn’t take a math wiz to see that driving fast can really start to add up as you fill up more frequently.

In fact, a driver going 55 will use about 4 gallons of gas for every 5 that the speedster uses so if you are into saving fuel and money slow it down.

Just the other day I was on the interstate and driving in a 45 MPH construction zone. Every car was passing me by with most going over 70! Not only were they speeding but where I live construction zone fines are quite high. I did see one vehicle pulled over so I am guessing wherever they were speeding to ended up making them late and costing them a pretty penny.

Yes, it is hard to go slow when everybody else is passing you by but think of it this way, those people will probably still be working while you are retired thanks to your conscientious effort to save gas as part of an overall savings plan.

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As gas prices continue to spiral upward with no end in sight it is more important than ever that we think about how to save gasoline not only because it will save us money directly when we fill up our vehicles but will also help to keep costs down on pretty much everything we buy today.

If you stop for a moment and think about it almost everything you purchase in a store was transported there by truck, air or rail with trucks being the primary way of shipping goods around the country today.

As gas prices increase so do transportation costs which means that the final price we pay for something will also be higher as these costs get passed onto the consumer.

Property taxes might also have gone up where you live to help offset the rising fuel prices as city vehicles like police cars and fire engines become more costly to operate.

So not only is it a good idea to know how to save gasoline to keep your gas costs down but it also helps out your local community and the country as a whole.

With that being said let’s get to some gas saving tips you can put into practice today to start saving gas:

Except for a few luxury car models modern cars today are engineered to run on low octane gas so there is no need to buy premium fuels. In fact, you will not see any noticeable performance improvement if you use premium. The only difference you will notice, however, is a lighter wallet after each fill-up.

Keep an eye open for low gas prices in your immediate area. Some gas stations just a few miles apart could have a difference of 5 to 10 cents. Don’t drive far to save a penny though because it doesn’t make any sense to but 10 gallons of gas to save a dime if you have to drive 20 miles to do it.

One time I was traveling with friends and they pulled off the interstate to fill up their van. These people really didn’t have much money and were often faced with some hard times. I’m talking sell your blood plasma-type times.

Anyway, I noticed the gas station across the street from the one we were at had prices that were considerably lower. We’re talking 8 or 10 cents a gallon less so I pointed that out to my friend and to my surprise he said, “That’s OK” as he proceeded to fill up the van with the higher priced gas. Dumb, dumb, dumb!

Plan your travel before you get behind the wheel and follow your plan to minimize travel distances.

Keep your car free of unnecessary junk. The more your car weighs the more gas it uses.

Drive slower because the faster you drive the more gas your car uses. There is a major difference in gas mileage between 60 MPH and 80 MPH and when you are driving just a few miles you are only going to save a few seconds off your trip anyway. That is unless you get a speeding ticket.

Drive at s steady pace. Quick starts and stops not only waste gasoline but they are also hard on your car’s brakes and engine.

Keep your car tune-up and check your tire pressure often. You will get a smoother ride and your tires will last longer.

F you are looking for a new car check out the more fuel efficient models. I bought a Toyota Camry hybrid a few years ago and I love it. Forget about the gas guzzlers.

A simple rule of thumb for running the air conditioning is that if you are driving under 45 – 50 MPH keep it off and roll down your windows. Anything higher like freeway driving and it is more efficient to roll up the windows and run the air because of the air resistance caused by open windows.

So there you have it, some handy tips on how to save gasoline without really having to do much extra. The only question now is, will you use them?

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Hare is a nice article I found with a lot of gas saving ideas to help you make your fuel budget go a little farther:

 

Some Easy Tips To Save Money On Gas, Without Driving Yourself Crazy!

The price of gasoline currently is so ridiculous; it’s a topic of discussion in every household and workplace. Most of us don’t have the luxury of an electric or hybrid cars so we are stuck with our old gas guzzler. But, the cost of driving anywhere has become such a hot topic with our budgets and the state of the economy, that we’re all looking for ways to save money on gasoline. Here are ten great tips that will help you tame this ferocious budget guzzler.

Drive less. While it sounds so obvious, it still saves plenty of money and is not as silly as it seems once you think about it. “How can I possibly drive less? I’ve got to get to work!” Simple, talk to some of your buddies at work and see if you get a car pool started.

The slight inconvenience of having to wait to be picked up can drastically cut your fuel costs. Public transportation like the bus or train is another super option. While slightly less convenient, it’s much better than an empty wallet at the end of the week. When you do have to drive, organize your stops such that there’s no backtracking. Do any errand you can on the way home from work.

I don’t know about you, but I’m that woman who knows absolutely nothing about the mechanics of a car. Although I was told over and over that proper tire inflation produced better mileage, I never actually did it – until just recently. I was amazed to find that I get, on average, a couple of miles extra out of a gallon of gas. It really does make a difference!

Clean oil, changed every 3000 miles or so also gives you improved mileage. Here again, it’s easy and cheap enough to do, but how many of us actually keep up on this routine task? Each of these tips are legitimate and significant methods to save money on gas. The more of these tips you put into use, the more money you’ll save.

Getting tune-ups when they’re needed gets into more sensitive budget territory. If you can’t afford to get a full blown tune-up at your mechanic, here’s a little trick that serves as a way to save money on gas, while still leaving you enough cash to fill the tank.

By changing only the spark plugs, you’ve in effect had a mini tune-up. You see, when the plugs get fouled, your car is working much harder to go the same distance. Anything that lightens the load on your engine and increases its efficiency is a way to save big money on gas.

Driving at 55 mph, instead of 65 mph, will increase your gas mileage anywhere from 1-3 mpg, depending on the make and model of vehicle! Besides being safer, it’s one of the best ways to save money on gas consumption.

If you turn on the AC in summer at the first hint of hot weather, think again. A car’s air conditioner absolutely sucks gas, so before you turn it on, think about how hot it actually is. You just may have a comfort zone adjustment when you think of the dollars that AC unit uses.

Make a habit of removing unnecessary items from your vehicle. That heavy set of weights you left in the car last summer are eating up your mileage and you don’t even realize it! My particular nemesis is books. If I have a doctor’s appointment, I bring a book. Pretty soon, I’ve accumulated 50 pounds of books and magazines, eating up gas every mile I drive. I’ve stopped that wasteful habit now plus my car is much cleaner!

If you’re in the practice of leaving the engine idling while you run back inside to get your glasses, stop it. If the engine will be idling for more than two minutes, you’re better off turning it off. When you’re seriously looking for ways to save money on fuel, you’ve got to consider every possible waste of this expensive commodity.

When you’re driving on the interstate take your foot off the gas when you’re going downhill. Coasting in this way is safe, because the compression of the engine won’t allow you to careen down the hill. If your speed falls below 55 mph, you should apply the gas.

Our last tip on ways to save some money on gas is to shop your gas stations. There are websites dedicated to compiling, by zip code, the cheapest gas price in your area on any given day. Happy driving to you and I hope these gas saving ideas will help you cut your fuel costs!