There are a variety of tricks and traps when it comes to fuel consumption and conservation.  Traps, such as gadgets and additives, that simply do not perform as advertised or do not recover enough savings to justify the cost.  The best advice is to thoroughly research any performance enhancing product before spending your money or your time.

Mileage Calculation: First we have to understand that all vehicle and drivers are different and fuel mileages will vary based on a variety of conditions.  How you calculate your fuel mileage and subsequent savings is important to your success and savings.  The only true method of calculation is to keep a log of your fuel purchased and compare it against the mileage you have traveled.  Devices like  trip meters or consumption gauges on your dash panel are simply estimates and not 100% accurate as far as mileage.

How to Save: The tips that follow are just some of the most common ways to save, but they will have a significant impact on increasing your mileage.  Depending on how many of these tips apply to you and how many miles you drive, the savings can be THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

1.    Routine Minor Maintenance:  Keeping your vehicle well maintained is crucial to performance and economy.  Simple maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations has an impact on the efficient operation of your engine.  Friction and deposits in your engine can cost more than 5% of your fuel usage.
2.    Periodic Major Maintenance:  Tune ups, coolant flushes, transmission flushes, injection and throttle body cleaning, and brake servicing are just of few examples of major maintenances that pay off in increased efficiency.  The schedule for these services varies by make and model, as well as driving style and conditions.  Consult you dealership service professionals for the schedule that will provide you with the maximum savings.  Properly tuning your vehicle can account for 4% to 10 % increases in mileage.
3.    Change Your Air Filter:  one half of the combustion equation in your car is gasoline and the other half is air.  A clogged air filter can cost up to 10% of your engines efficiency.
4.    Tire Pressure:  This is a tricky subject!  Factors such as excessive tire wear, fuel economy, comfort and handling are affected by tire pressure.  Adjusting your tire pressure for fuel economy may have adverse effects in other areas if not done carefully.  Vehicles are labeled with the manufacturers optimum tire pressure based on original equipment.  This tire pressure allows for the best in comfort, handling and tire wear, however it does not necessarily provide the best fuel economy.  At the least, keep your tires at the recommended inflation level, but overinflating you tires a couple pounds can increase your mileage significantly.  The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has stated the by keeping your tires at the proper level and slightly increasing the pressure, you can boost your fuel efficiency by as much as 25%.
5.    Speed and Efficiency:  The accepted published statistic is that for every 5 MPH over 60 that you drive it decreases fuel efficiency by 7%.  This means that by driving 65 instead of 70 the average vehicle would use at least $200less fuel in a year.
6.    Calm Driving Habits:  We are not talking about “Road Rage”, instead we are talking about starting and stopping habits.  Rapid acceleration and braking cost 5% or more when it comes to fuel efficiency.  It can also escalate your repair and maintenance costs for brakes, suspension and tires.  In reality you are not saving or making up time, you are just spending more to get there.  One “hyper-miler” tip is to try to time your arrival at traffic lights and avoid coming to complete stops.
7.    Turn Off the A/C:  This does not apply to all vehicles.  Many newer vehicle are designed to compensate for the A/C load and are not effected, however many older vehicle are dramatically affected by as much as 20%.  Consult your Dealership Service Professional to find out which applies to your vehicle.
8.    Turn Off That Check Engine Light:  If this applies to you, the savings could be huge!  Something as simple as a faulty oxygen sensor can cost 40% in performance so get this checked out.
9.    Lose Weight:  We are talking about your car here!  Every 100 pounds of weight costs up to 2% in efficiency.  Do you need to haul everything that is in your car?
10.    Do You Use the Roof Rack?:  Although some roof racks are extremely aerodynamically designed, they are still a drag on the vehicle.  Wind resistance from roof racks can cut performance by 2% or more.
11.    Use the Cruise:  Using your cruise control and maintaining a constant speed will greatly improve your gas mileage on those medium and high speed drives.  Even if it only a few miles at a time, the consistency in speed pays off.  The exception to this practice is when driving in extremely hilly areas.
12.    Avoid long Idle Periods:  This one is just common sense.  The longer the car runs without moving, the more fuel is used.

Fuel Mileage Calculation:

Make sure tank is full!
A.    Ending Miles = ?
B.    Starting Miles = ?
C.    Miles Traveled = A-B
D.    Fuel Used = ?
E.    Mileage = C divided by D

 The only true method of calculation is to keep a log of your fuel purchased and compare it against the mileage you have traveled.  Devices like  trip meters or consumption gauges on your dash panel are simply estimates and not 100% accurate as far as mileage.