by John Robertson

A drive by your local service station is a quick reminder that fuel prices are rising again. In our current economy, there are many of us that need to find a way to save on the cost of fuel.

Driving articles abound on the internet. You will also find them in many magazines that focus on automobiles and driving. As you read through those driving articles, you will find many tips. Most of those tips are not new, and you may have heard them before. Just remember that using the tips found in driving articles, may increase your mileage as much as 30 percent. That means that a vehicle the is currently getting 22 miles per gallon could squeeze almost 30 miles out of that same gallon of gasoline.

The first tip you will find in many articles is to slow down. The articles speak of a sweet spot for each vehicle. You may need to experiment and keep records in order to find the combination that gives your vehicle the best mileage.

Another tip found in the driving articles will remind you to avoid jackrabbit starts and stops to increase your mileage. One article goes so far as to suggest never pressing the accelerator pedal more than one inch. Braking too quickly also will cause the vehicle to use more fuel.

Driving articles suggest that you use your cruise control in order to save fuel. Modern cruise controls are tied to your car's computer and help to save gasoline by keeping you from constantly accelerating and decelerating. They also help to avoid the tendency to develop a lead foot over time when driving long trips.

Idling a vehicle over 30 seconds is a big waster of fuel according to the driving articles. If you must wait in line at a drive in, turn the vehicle off and restart rather than wasting gasoline. If at all possible, park and go inside rather than having to start and stop the engine more than once. Be sure to park in the shade in order to avoid using fuel to cool the car with the air-conditioning system.

Some driving articles remind you to avoid toping off the fuel tank. Some of the fuel used in top off may be drained back into the tank of the service station. Other fuel can hamper the vapor recovery system of your vehicle. Refuel your vehicle at the one quarter mark to avoid fuel pump damage.

A final tip is to travel light. That heavy toolbox that you are carrying around lowers your fuel economy. In addition, the golf clubs and extra cartons of soda that you forgot to take into your home reduce economy. Anything that adds weight will lower fuel economy.

Not every person will use all of these tips every day, however each of us can do our part to save fuel. Remember that every gallon saved will help to keep the price of gasoline lower. It will also mean that the amount of gasoline you pay for will be less.

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