How to stop guzzling gas

By Scott Reeves

updated 5:42 p.m. ET April 3, 2006

NEW YORK - Little things can add up to big savings when driving your car — especially on the cusp of the spring travel season and with gas prices again heading for the roof.

Practical steps such as keeping tires properly inflated, combining trips, driving at off-peak hours to avoid stop-and-go traffic and following the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual will help ease the pain at the pump.

"When you add these little factors together, it can make a big difference in your gas mileage," says Roy Cox, manager of technical training and research for AAA's National Office in Heathrow, Fla., and author of "Improving Fuel Economy: Money In Your Pocket." "Buy gasoline on price and convenience. The differences in additives between one brand and another are minimal."

Crude oil futures have climbed above $65 per barrel amid strong demand created by the upcoming driving season and continued concern about supplies from Iran and Nigeria. This means higher prices at the pump and provides additional incentive to drive economically — unless you feel it's your duty to enrich ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and others.

Conservation has three basic parts: driving habits, vehicle maintenance and vehicle selection. For many, the toughest thing about saving gas is breaking old habits.

Obeying the speed limit is the most basic step in boosting your mileage. The U.S. Department of Energy says that every five miles per hour that you drive in excess of 60 is about the same as adding ten cents to each gallon of gas. Lead-footed drivers might also consider the matter of the cop with the radar gun.

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Using cruise control is a good way to maintain a constant speed on the open highway. In most cases, this will save you gas.

Use a high gear or overdrive when driving at highway speeds. The high gear will reduce engine speed, saving gas and cutting engine wear.

Aggressive driving such as jackrabbit starts followed by screeching stops can cut your highway and city mileage. Such teenage-style driving also puts unnecessary wear and tear on your tires and car.

"Every time you tap the brake, you're giving up fuel economy," Cox says.

In city driving, the flip side is chugging around in second gear. Starting in second gear strains the engine, eats gas and puts extra wear on your clutch. Revving the engine at high speeds rather than shifting into third of fourth gear also wastes gas.

Here's an obvious point that many overlook: When idling, you're getting zero miles per gallon. Shut the engine off if you expect to be waiting for even a short period. The ignition system is built to start the car, so don't fret about wearing it out. And contrary to what your car-nut friend says, it's not more efficient to simply let the engine run for several minutes.

Check the owner's manual and be sure to buy the right grade of gasoline for your vehicle. If your baby is designed to run on 87-octane regular, filling the tank with midgrade 89-octane or supreme 91- or 92-octane fuel is tossing money out the window. The more expensive gasoline won't make your car run any better.

Cox says the differences in additives are minimal and most perform the same functions: preventing carbon buildup, lubricating the valves and piston rings and cleaning the fuel injectors.

In many cases, the basic fuel stock is the same; the only differences between brands come from mixing in additives at the terminal before the delivery truck leaves the gate. Remember: Gasoline is a commodity product, and one brand is as good as another. So buy on price and convenience.

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