How to Get Better Gas Mileage

Hi I'm Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, for howdini.com. With gas prices sky high, we're all trying to save a little bit at the pump. I can help you save up to $100 a month and make your car more enviromentally-friendly as well.

Did you realize that gasoline evaporates? Last year 147 million gallons of gas evaporated because of loose, missing, or broken gas caps. So you want to keep the gas in the tank, and you want to hear this sound [tighten cap until it clicks].

Now, when it comes to your tires, this is a great way to save money at the pump and the life of your tire. First thing is, whether you're driving a Hummer or a Mini Cooper, these tires only have four spots to touch the ground called a contact pitch. It's about the size of your fist. So, the first thing you want to do is get the right tire pressure. You get that off the door placard inside the driver's door, inside your gas door, or your owner's manual. 

Now, forget those old stick gages, those things do not work. What you do want is a digital tire pressure gage or a dial gage. These are the most accurate and most importantly you want to check your tire pressure in the morning when the tires are cold. By checking your tire pressure once a month, you can improve your fuel economy by one to two miles to a gallon. 

Another simple thing you can do is get all that junk out of your trunk. This will really cost you at the fuel pump. And forget the drive-thrus. Get off your buns and go inside and get your buns. But, the most important thing you can do is take care of the heart of your car which is the engine.

And when you get that owner's manual out, you'll find that it's going to tell you to do some simple things. First thing is, get your air filter replaced every six months. This is the lungs of your car; it breathes through this filter. If it can't breathe properly, it will use too much fuel. 

Another thing is, for every thousand miles that you drive, your spark plugs spark millions of times and if they're not maintained and checked regularly, they can also cost you.

And we all know how important it is to have your oil changed. But using a fuel synthetic oil is actually a smart choice. It'll lower your emissions and improve your fuel economy by 2 to 3 percent. Now that makes a lot of sense. And now you can save at the pump. I'm Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, for howdini.com.