| Maintain your car. Check your tires to make sure | | | | make sure you're not dragging around any more |
| they have plenty of tread. Slipping tires are | | | | weight than absolutely necessary by removing |
| dangerous and they waste gas. Ask your car | | | | unneeded items from your trunk. |
| dealer or mechanic if you can use a lighter weight | | | | |
| oil during the winter to reduce friction and save | | | | Remove your roof rack. If you use a roof rack |
| gas. Consider using a low-friction or synthetic oil to | | | | for skis, snowboards, or other items, remove the |
| save gas. If it's been awhile since you changed | | | | rack when you're not using it to reduce wind |
| your air filter, check your owners manual to find | | | | resistance. If you must leave the rack on, at least |
| the recommended changing interval. A new air | | | | remove the equipment from the rack to minimize |
| filter can greatly improve your gas mileage. | | | | the mileage drop. Consider using an aerodynamic |
| Consider an after-market low restriction air filter | | | | box-style container on your roof rack for your |
| system. Not only can these improve your gas | | | | winter sports equipment. If you transport sports |
| mileage, but they often come with permanent | | | | gear or other items in your trunk or inside your |
| filter media that can be washed or cleaned and | | | | vehicle, remove them as soon as you're done |
| reused. The higher cost of the after-market filter | | | | using them to save weight. |
| can be offset by not having to buy new air filters. | | | | |
| | | | Avoid the drive-through. It's convenient to use |
| Check your tire pressure. As the temperature | | | | drive-through lanes for coffee, food, or banking, |
| drops, so does your tire pressure. Low tire | | | | but all that sitting in line wastes gas. Park your car |
| pressure is one of the most common causes of | | | | and brave the cold to walk inside the eatery or |
| poor gas mileage and it can also wear your tires | | | | bank and you'll save gas. |
| quicker and make your car handle badly. Check | | | | |
| your tires regularly with a tire pressure gauge and | | | | Bonus: Holiday gift suggestions to help save gas. |
| make sure they're at the manufacturer's | | | | |
| recommended settings. To find the recommended | | | | For those on a budget, an accurate dial-type tire |
| settings look in your owners manual or open your | | | | pressure gauge should cost you less than $15. |
| driver's door and look for a sticker on the rear of | | | | Even the entry-level digital gauges are less than |
| the door near the latch mechanism. Some cars | | | | $20. Of course if you want a professional-quality |
| have different recommended pressures for the | | | | gauge with superior accuracy or a digital gauge |
| front and rear tires. Don't overinflate your tires | | | | that tells you your tire pressure audibly, you can |
| because that can make them wear out quicker | | | | spend considerably more. |
| and make your car handle poorly. | | | | If you're shopping on a higher budget, consider a |
| | | | GPS navigator. These electronic marvels listen to |
| Don't run your car's engine to warm it up. This is | | | | radio signals from orbiting Global Positioning |
| a common way people waste gas in the winter. | | | | System satellites and calculate your location with |
| See your owners manual for recommended | | | | amazing accuracy. They can display maps, give |
| warm-up time for your car. It's usually less than a | | | | you step-by-step directions to your destination, |
| minute and often less than 15 seconds. Running | | | | and even tell you where to find the nearest |
| your car's engine longer wastes gas. If you live in | | | | restaurant, gas station, or hotel when you're on |
| a very cold climate, install an electric block heater | | | | the road. You'll never have to worry about being |
| to pre-heat your car's engine. Consider bundling up | | | | lost and you'll save gas by having a computerized |
| in warmer clothes if comfort is an issue. If you're | | | | navigator to direct you to your destination. The |
| out shopping, park in a sunny spot and let nature | | | | cost? An entry-level GPS navigator is under $90 |
| help keep your car warm for your return. | | | | and they range from there to over $1000 for a |
| | | | top-of-the-line model. |
| Clear all ice and snow off your car before you | | | | Scott Babb is the webmaster of where you'll find |
| start driving. In addition to being a lot of extra | | | | many more tips, tools, and resources to help you |
| weight to haul around, ice and snow can increase | | | | get better gas mileage, save money, and be |
| wind resistance which also hurts gas mileage. Also | | | | kinder to the environment. |