Part 4

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• Use high quality engine oil. This is one of many important ways to improve gas mileage because it allows your engine to run more efficiently. The smoother your engine runs, the better mileage you will get. Good engine oil is good for your engine, and can prolong the life of your vehicle. To select a high quality engine oil, be sure to look for products that are approved by the API (American Petroleum Institute) and say “energy conserving” on the API label. 
• Consider a fuel additive or fuel reformulator. This is added to the gasoline in your tank and helps your vehicle use more of each gallon of gas your put into the tank. This can significantly improve fuel mileage at a relatively low cost, particularly when compared to fuel prices.
• When you are filling up your gas tank, resist the temptation to ‘top off’ the tank. Rather than help improve fuel mileage directly, this simply saves you from wasting gas. Gasoline is like any other liquid, and thus subject to changes in temperature. If the temperature rises, the gasoline may expand and overflow, thus wasting the gas instead of allowing it to fuel your vehicle.
• Avoid excess idling. You will save significant amounts of fuel over time if you don’t let it idle while waiting in line through a drive-thru or while waiting to pick someone up. Excessive idling can add to your fuel costs by as much as 50%.
• Drive less by consolidating destinations. One excellent way to improve gas mileage is to combine your tasks into a smaller number of trips. For instance, less trips to the grocery store by planning ahead is one of the easiest ways to increase gas mileage.
• Park your car in a garage when possible. By keeping your vehicle away from extreme temperatures, you reduce the amount of fuel needed to balance out the temperature when it comes time to drive. A garage keeps it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, saving more fuel for driving rather than temperature control. 
• When it comes time to replace your tires, consider buying low rolling resistance tires. These are designed specifically to waste less energy in the way the rubber meets the pavement. They allow you to go further with less resistance, ultimately improving the use of gasoline and increasing your gas mileage. Read the National Transportation Safety Board 178-page report regarding TIRES and
  Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy before buying new tires. 
• When you are driving an automatic transmission, use your overdrive gears (1 and 2 on the shifting bar) whenever possible and practical to do so. Going up a hill, shift down into a lower gear for more torque, but shift to a higher gear for normal elevations. These gears slow down the speed of the car’s engine, thus burning less fuel and running more gently on the engine itself. 
• Practice careful motorway driving. It will improve safety and reduce the amount of fuel needed. When you see a car brake up ahead, simply take your foot off the accelerator. By the time you get close to the car in front the chances are that they will have speeded up.Yes, it’s just common sense. And conserving fuel is not only good for you… it’s good for all of us.!