| Maintain your car. Check your tires to make sure | | | | haul around, ice and snow can increase wind |
| they have plenty of tread. Slipping tires are | | | | resistance which also hurts gas mileage. Also make |
| dangerous and they waste gas. Ask your car dealer | | | | sure you're not dragging around any more weight |
| or mechanic if you can use a lighter weight oil during | | | | than absolutely necessary by removing unneeded |
| the winter to reduce friction and save gas. Consider | | | | items from your trunk. |
| using a low-friction or synthetic oil to save gas. If it's | | | | Remove your roof rack. If you use a roof rack for |
| been awhile since you changed your air filter, check | | | | skis, snowboards, or other items, remove the rack |
| your owners manual to find the recommended | | | | when you're not using it to reduce wind resistance. If |
| changing interval. A new air filter can greatly improve | | | | you must leave the rack on, at least remove the |
| your gas mileage. Consider an after-market low | | | | equipment from the rack to minimize the mileage |
| restriction air filter system. Not only can these | | | | drop. Consider using an aerodynamic box-style |
| improve your gas mileage, but they often come with | | | | container on your roof rack for your winter sports |
| permanent filter media that can be washed or | | | | equipment. If you transport sports gear or other |
| cleaned and reused. The higher cost of the | | | | items in your trunk or inside your vehicle, remove |
| after-market filter can be offset by not having to | | | | them as soon as you're done using them to save |
| buy new air filters. | | | | weight. |
| Check your tire pressure. As the temperature drops, | | | | Avoid the drive-through. It's convenient to use |
| so does your tire pressure. Low tire pressure is one | | | | drive-through lanes for coffee, food, or banking, but |
| of the most common causes of poor gas mileage | | | | all that sitting in line wastes gas. Park your car and |
| and it can also wear your tires quicker and make | | | | brave the cold to walk inside the eatery or bank and |
| your car handle badly. Check your tires regularly with | | | | you'll save gas. |
| a tire pressure gauge and make sure they're at the | | | | Bonus: Holiday gift suggestions to help save gas. |
| manufacturer's recommended settings. To find the | | | | - For those on a budget, an accurate dial-type tire |
| recommended settings look in your owners manual or | | | | pressure gauge should cost you less than $15. Even |
| open your driver's door and look for a sticker on the | | | | the entry-level digital gauges are less than $20. Of |
| rear of the door near the latch mechanism. Some | | | | course if you want a professional-quality gauge with |
| cars have different recommended pressures for the | | | | superior accuracy or a digital gauge that tells you |
| front and rear tires. Don't overinflate your tires | | | | your tire pressure audibly, you can spend |
| because that can make them wear out quicker and | | | | considerably more. |
| make your car handle poorly. | | | | - If you're shopping on a higher budget, consider a |
| Don't run your car's engine to warm it up. This is a | | | | GPS navigator. These electronic marvels listen to |
| common way people waste gas in the winter. See | | | | radio signals from orbiting Global Positioning System |
| your owners manual for recommended warm-up time | | | | satellites and calculate your location with amazing |
| for your car. It's usually less than a minute and often | | | | accuracy. They can display maps, give you |
| less than 15 seconds. Running your car's engine longer | | | | step-by-step directions to your destination, and even |
| wastes gas. If you live in a very cold climate, install | | | | tell you where to find the nearest restaurant, gas |
| an electric block heater to pre-heat your car's engine. | | | | station, or hotel when you're on the road. You'll never |
| Consider bundling up in warmer clothes if comfort is | | | | have to worry about being lost and you'll save gas |
| an issue. If you're out shopping, park in a sunny spot | | | | by having a computerized navigator to direct you to |
| and let nature help keep your car warm for your | | | | your destination. The cost? An entry-level GPS |
| return. | | | | navigator is under $90 and they range from there to |
| Clear all ice and snow off your car before you start | | | | over $1000 for a top-of-the-line model. |
| driving. In addition to being a lot of extra weight to | | | | |