Nowadays, it seems like oil the company executives are out to empty our wallets and fill theirs. Gas prices have gone out of site, along with food, clothing and necessities, while our economy is seemingly crumbling. Many folks are trying to keep their heads above water, and need to learn some simple ways to improve gas mileage.

There are several methods that help to improve gas mileage, some of them that are very effective, and others that really don’t make too much of a difference. It can be a bit of a pain trying to sift through them all, so I have gone to the trouble of finding the most common methods people are using right now to improve gas mileage, so I could pass them on to you.

First, change your oil, and get tuneups on a regular basis. Most people realize that if your car is tuned up and running like a top, then the energy used will be less than if your car has mechanical problems. Some basic things like changing the air filter, deteriorated hoses, and oil changes using the properly weight oil with friction reducers will all make a difference and improve gas mileage.

Another method that works very well, is getting rid of any unnecessary weight your car may be carrying, and getting rid of extras like luggage racks that can create resistance, and decrease your MPG. Keeping your tires at maximum inflation can also help to decrease resistance, although it is said that the MPG gain is fairly small. Still, every little bit can help!

You’ll also improve gas mileage by slowing down. Try driving at more reasonable speeds. Keeping your speed at 55 mph on the highway will increase your gas mileage by as much as 25%. That means no speeding when the “man” isn’t around! You can also pick up a 14% in gas mileage just by turning on your cruise control.

Also, resist the impulse to drive like a maniac, like constantly slamming on your brakes or quickly accelerating. All that does is burn up valuable fuel and waste your dollars. The same goes for excessive idling. If you have a long wait at a drive through, or at the bank, shut your car down. Cutting back on unnecessary idling has been shown to improve gas mileage by as much as 19%. That is a pretty darn big savings if you think about it, just for remembering to do something simple like shut your car down instead of idling.

There are many simple ways to improve gas mileage, and not enough time to cover them all at once! But remember, if you implement even one of these methods you will save money.