Gas these days is far too expensive to go through quickly. Anyone that has experienced the severe financial hit of the rising gas prices should be looking at every method possible to improve gas mileage and achieve more out of every visit to the pump. For those that are looking to save on gas, or simply to cut down on pollution, there are several methods an individual or family can employ in order to improve gas mileage:

1. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not use the air conditioner – the air conditioner puts a lot of strain on your engine. The greater your engine strain, the more gas it needs in order to run efficiently.
2. It is commonly believed that travelling at high speeds is a good way to improve the gas mileage in your car. This is because highway MPG ratings tend to be higher than neighborhood MPG ratings. However, greater speed means greater stress on your engine. Lowering your speed from 75 MPH to 55 MPH can increase gas mileage by as much as 25%.
3. Keeping your car correctly tuned is very important to getting more miles out of your gas. Again, the harder an engine has to work, the more gas it needs in order to function properly.
4. When travelling up a hill, try not to speed up more than absolutely necessary. Hills are death to car engines, as the engine is not only working to drive your car, it is working to fight gravity.
5. Replace Spark Plugs and Fuel Injectors at the first sign of wear, as these two pieces of equipment can severely impact your car’s fuel burning behavior.
6. Remove any excess baggage from your car – Do you keep junk in your trunk that weighs the car down? The more weight a car has, the more its engine has to work
7. Tighten your gas cap – Gas vaporizes. If your gas cap is not tight and air is allowed to circulate, your gas will simply evaporate over time.
8. When coming to a complete stop or speeding up, try to do each gradually rather than step hard on either the acceleration or break. Breaking, especially, is an often overlooked part of saving money on gas. When an individual breaks suddenly, a great deal of pressure is put on the engine. But slowing to a complete stop uses almost no gas. If a red light is ahead, start slowing immediately no matter what the distance. Even if it turns green, it is very easy to speed up without putting too much stress on your engine.
9. Make sure your tires are inflated – A deflated tire can cut your gas mileage by 25 percent or more. Deflated tires are some of the number 1 causes of poor gas mileage.
10. Use an engine aid like an HHO system that uses water to use as fuel. These types of systems are great for the environment and some as much as double the amount of gas mileage your car receives.
11. Check your filters. Much like the spark plugs and fuel injectors, allowing a filter to get too old can decrease gas mileage and cause your car several other problems as well.

By employing any of these methods to improve the gas mileage of your car, you can significantly reduce your gas costs each month and save thousands in the long run.