No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, your driving habits and the way you maintain your vehicle can make a difference in the kind of gas mileage you get. And since today’s gas prices make it important for most of us to get the best gas mileage we possibly can, here are some fuel economy tips recommended by the EPA and other sources.

FINE TUNE YOUR DRIVING HABITS

DRIVE SMOOTHLY (pretend your mother is in the car with you)
Aggressive driving wastes gas. At highway speeds, aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33%. In town, it can lower it as much as 5%. The trick to efficient in-town driving is to drive smoothly, maintain momentum, and avoid quick starts and stops. Slow down in advance of red lights (they might turn green before you get there): The fewer times you have to accelerate from a complete stop the better your gas mileage will be. On the highway, use your cruise control to help maintain a steady speed.

DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT
Traveling 10-15 miles per hour above the speed limit can reduce your fuel economy by up to 20%. The optimal fuel economy of vehicles varies, but gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

AVOID UNNECESSARY IDLING
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. If you know you won’t be moving for at least 30 seconds, turn your vehicle off. The more you idle, the fewer miles you’ll get to a tank of gas.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR VEHICLE

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY
You can improve your gas mileage by about 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Besides, your tires will be safer and last longer.

LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Are you still carrying around sand bags from winter? Do you have golf clubs in the trunk that you never use? The extra weight you carry forces your engine to work harder, and reduces your gas mileage. Especially if you drive a small vehicle.

CHECK & REPLACE AIR FILTERS REGULARLY
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your vehicle’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. A clean air filter is also better for your engine, because it keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.

KEEP YOUR ENGINED TUNED UP
A poorly tuned engine burns more fuel. A vehicle that’s noticeably out of tune can reduce your gas mileage by an average of 4%. If it has a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, it’s quite a bit higher than that.

USE THE RECOMMENDED GRADE OF MOTOR OIL
Using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer can improve your gas mileage by 1-2%.