Did you know that in 2007, the average price of gas in the US was $2.97 a gallon? And that, as of July 2008, it has gone up to $4.11?

Rising gas prices are becoming a more painful reality for drivers around the world—especially Americans. Each American driver is estimated to drive over 15,000 miles a year at an average of 20mpg. Based on the July 2008 price, that represents over $60,000 worth in gas consumption every year.

Increasingly expensive gas is an ugly truth, but it’s a truth that must be dealt with nonetheless. Surprisingly though, achieving gas savings is a simple matter of setting and following certain routines, and not only looking around for the cheapest gas prices (which by the way, may require you to spend even more on gas!).

What follows are seven ways to save gas and improve your fuel mileage.

Maximize Each Trip

It’s simple common sense: by making each trip do more for you, you maximize every drop of fuel.

Drive Smoothly

Avoiding sudden starts and stops keeps fuel consumption optimal. Braking gradually means less of the energy generated fuel is lost, while accelerating steadily uses less fuel to move your vehicle forward at practically the same pace.

An example of driving smoothly would be to simply coast between traffic stops, rather than desperately scrambling to beat the red light. You probably won’t make it any way, so why needlessly waste fuel?

Plan Trips

Have some errands to do? Try visiting all-in-one destinations, which have everything you need. If can do the groceries, get a haircut, or even gas up in one location, you’re saved from having to use up fuel going around.

Alternatively, if you really need to go places, plan trips that progress from one point to another, so that you won’t find yourself going back-and-forth in town.

Carpool

Practically all autos can carry more than one person. So why not take advantage of that and carpool? You can always set up a group, with a designated driver and car for every workday, and agree to meet at a certain place every morning and evening.

Of course, such an arrangement will definitely involve everyone footing the fuel bill, which will definitely represent lots of savings. And, isn’t it great getting some sleep on your way to the office?

Fill ’Er Up

Understandably, you may be hesitant to top it off whenever you gas up. After all, what used to cost $75 for a vehicle with a 25-gallon tank now sets you back over $100, right?

But think of it this way: the less you have to divert towards a gas station, the more fuel you’ll save. In other words, you’ll spend more of your fuel going to where you need to go, rather than ironically on getting more gas.

Practice Good Vehicle Maintenance

Your vehicle is designed to run at certain settings. These specifications ensure a longer operational lifespan and more importantly, optimum fuel consumption.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

Make sure to regularly check your tire pressure. Take note, over-inflating is as bad for fuel efficiency as under-inflation, so do consult the owner’s manual for the exact figure.

Track Your Auto’s Mileage

Get a notebook, pen, and calculator; place them in your glove compartment. Now, every time you gas up, do a rough fuel mileage computation. Religiously tracking your auto’s mileage between fill ups will make any patterns clear.

This makes noticing any significant change in your fuel mileage that much easier, allowing you to promptly deal with any issues on your vehicle and keep fuel consumption optimum.

Follow the Tune-Up Schedule

There’s another reason to keep your auto’s tune-up appointments, different from the usual “extend the operational life of your vehicle”. By making sure everything’s in working order, you keep your auto running as designed by the manufacturer. This, as mentioned before, leads to optimal fuel mileage.

Maximizing every trip and practicing good auto maintenance not only saves you gas. The seven tips presented above also make your vehicle last longer. Aside from getting the most out of your gas, you also take full advantage of the money you’ve spent on your auto as well.

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