Eight easy ways to get better fuel economy from your

Eight easy ways to get better fuel economy from your car

Times are getting tougher, economically speaking and most Americans are getting into a serious thrifty mindset. With the cost of living going up and job security a real concern to most of us, it's time to batten down the budget hatches and save money in any way we can. In the old days, when you could fill up a gas guzzler for $20, it was no big deal. Shelling out $50 for the same amount of gas today is a bite. Gas is a major expense in most households, making better fuel economy a good place to scrutinize in your budget. Here are eight easy ways to guarantee better fuel economy, no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

Proper maintenance of your vehicle is essential to getting better fuel economy. Neglecting maintenance means your car is not operating at maximum efficiency. When your car has to work harder to do its job, your fuel economy suffers. Let's look at these various maintenance tasks.

Vehicles need water, antifreeze, oil and brake fluid levels to be checked periodically. Check your water levels in your battery as well. Make this a weekly check, especially in warm weather. Keeping these fluids topped off is a substantial step towards better fuel economy. Not only do you save on gas, but it's far less likely to find yourself stranded on the road. If you've ever been stuck on the side of a highway with an overheated engine, you know what I'm talking about.

Tuneups should be done every three months or 6000 miles. This means new plugs, points, distributor cap, oil and air filters. Tuneups can be costly, so if you're handy with tools, you can save much of the expense by doing the work yourself. Get one of the '... for Dummies' books for your vehicle. (Although I'm one of the most mechanically disinclined people on the planet, I managed to muddle through successfully.)

Changing your oil must be done every 3000 miles, in between tuneups. When you check your oil levels each week, check not just the level, but the condition of the oil. It should be semi-transparent, not black. Depending on your driving conditions, you may need to change the oil more often. Clean oil means better fuel economy and longer life for your engine.

Proper tire inflation can improve fuel economy to the tune of 2-3mpg! Make this a part of your weekly vehicle check. Get a tire pressure gauge (they're inexpensive) as gas stations are notorious for inaccurate readings on theirs.

Cheap gas is sometimes watered down by unscrupulous vendors, so the cheapest gas may not be your best bet. Reset your odometer when you get gas and note how many miles you get before you need to refill. If you're following these guidelines to better fuel economy, yet don't seem to be getting the mileage you should, try another station.

Keep your car cleaned out. Don't use it as a storage area for heavy, unnecessary items, such as winter chains in summer, or an over-the-top collection of tools.

Drive the minimum highway speed limit. You'll get better mileage at 55 than 65. In town, take the most direct routes from point A to point Z when running errands. Using public transportation and car pooling as practical, which indirectly saves you gas.

If you put these eight points into practice, you will get better fuel economy!