Top 12 tips for better gas mileage

The top twelve tips for better gas mileage that will help you save fuel:

1. Trade in that guzzler. Have an older car ? The auto manufactures have made huge improvements in gas mileage, and the savings you get may allow you to spend a bit more on car payments and still put money back in your pocket.
2. Go the speed limit. Every 5mph over 60 costs you an extra $.30 per gallon.
3. Remove excess weight. If you have 100 pounds of junk in your backseat or trunk, you are losing 2 mpg. You'll save gas with these ideas.
4. Use your cruise control. The steady speed allows your engine to be more efficient, saving 7% or more on longer trips.
5. Overdrive.If you have it, ensure that your overdrive is on...many cars have a button to turn it off for towing. But, driving around with it off will cause a significant drop in mpg.
6. Don't drive aggressively. Edmunds, a major publisher in the car industry, found that driving moderately saves 31-37% in gas mileage.
7. Excessive idling. Shut off your car if you are going to be stopped for more than one minute.
8. Keep your engine in tune. A car that's running badly will get gas milage that's up to 30 percent lower than a well running car of the same make and model.
9. Replace your air filter. See this tip for the surprising amount of money it can save.
10. Replace your gas cap. A gas cap that doesn't seal properly allows the gasoline to evaporate, and also confuses modern fuel injection systems.
11. Park in the shade. That will reduce the load on your A/C, in turn saving a bit of gas.
12. Use quality motor oil.You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using high quality motor oil. Look for the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This type of oil contains friction-reducing additives.