Tips to Maximizing Fuel Economy in today's climate of high gas

By: William Bolton

High costs at the pump have you troubled? Find yourself at the
pump yet again dishing out another $50 - $100? Well, you're not
alone. The rising price of gas is on most of our minds and
pocketbooks these days leaving us wondering if and when there
will be a reprieve.

Until gas prices do normalize, there are some things that you
can do to stretch that next tank of gas. Here are 10 tips that
should save you a few extra bucks at the pump:

1. Instead of running multiple errands, consolidate your trips
into one thus eliminating significant and unneccessary travel.

2. In congested, urban areas, avoid rush hour traffic. Grid lock
and its start and stop travel is one of the quickest ways to
drain that gas tank.

3. Resist the temptation to drive alone. Car pool with your
co-workers. Carpooling with three of your colleagues means you
only drive every fourth week saving you a bundle in fuel costs
over the course of a year.

4. In cold weather climates, have an engine block heater
installed. This will reduce the amount of fuel needed to warm
the car on those cold winter mornings.

5. Resist turning on the AC at the first sign of warm weather.
Air conditioning burns up alot of fuel. If you're driving in the
city, a better alternative is to roll down the windows and open
all vents. Highway driving is a different story though. The drag
from open windows can also result in your burning more fuel. If
you have to, roll up the windows and place the AC on the lowest
setting.

6. Remove roof racks and overhead carriers when not in use. The
drag created by these will result in less fuel economy.

7. Remove any unnecessary weight from your vehicle that will
cause the engine to work harder and use more fuel.

8. Ensure your vehicle is tuned up on a regular basis. A
properly tuned vehicle operates more efficiently resulting in
the consumption of less fuel.

9. Alter your driving style. Do you accelerate quickly from a
starting position? Gradually accelerating until you've reached
your optimum speed will result in a significant gas savings over
the long haul.

10. Routinely have your brakes and tire pressure checked. Poorly
working brakes can result in your vehicle working harder and
using more fuel. The same for your tires, under or over inflated
tires will result in the consumption of more fuel.

Following even just a few of these tips should save you some
money.

About the author:
William Bolton is an expert in the field of automobiles
specializing in car care and auto leasing. He owns an automotive
website called Leasedwheels.com that specializes in the exiting
and takeover of auto leases. If you're stuck in a lease you need
out of or wish to take over an existing lease on a short-term
basis with no money down, check out http://www.leasedwheels.com