| Because of Hurricane Katrina, fuel prices continue to rise with no end in sight. According to a survey of service stations by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas prices are up as much as 38 percent or more from a year ago. Thankfully, you don't have to give up your driving habits or buy a new car to get some relief. There are a number of quick, inexpensive and easy steps you can take to improve you car's fuel economy.
Upgrade your motor oil. High performance motor oils can make meaningful improvements to your car's fuel economy.
Keep the tires of your vehicle properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to 6 percent.
Regularly replace your air filter. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent.
Simply follow the maintenance recommendations in your owner's manual. An out-of-tune engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent.
These simple steps can have a dramatic impact. Most US drivers, travel 12,000 miles per year and if you paid $2.65 per gallon, annual fuel costs would be $1445.45 (12,000/22 miles per gallon) x $2.65). | 