Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Entertainment

There's no doubt that gas prices are slowly inching upwards with no end in sight.  Here are some tips on how to make those hard earned dollar go further.

For starters, driving habits have to change.  No one is being accused of being a bad motorist, but if these tips are followed, improvement in the fuel economy will boost 37 percent.

*First, keep up with the car's maintenance. Change the oil every 3,000 or 5,000 miles, according to the owner's manuel.

*Make sure the air filter is changed regularly. Gas is especially wasted when the air filter is dirty because it doesn't allow proper air flow.

*Keep the tires properly inflated.  If a tire in over or under inflated the engine has to work harder to compensate and hence uses more gas.

*Clean out anything that is heavy and unnecessary from the car. Weight decreases mileage.

*In the winter, knock off icicles from the car's body. They can  weigh as much as 100 pounds.

*If driving down hill take your foot off the gas pedal.

*While driving down streets, make sure to go the speed limit. Not only will this avoid getting ticketed, but the street lights are programmed in a way that green lights will most likely get caught when driving at a constant speed. Plus, when driving over 40 mph, the engine begins working harder, thus wasting more gas.

*When a light turns green, do not accelerate so hard that the car jerks.

*Before hitting the streets to run errands, plan the stops so that all errands are completed in one trip.

*When possible, car pool. Not only will everyone be in good company, car pooling reduces traffic and gas expenses and helps the environment.  Double whammy.

*On expressways, use cruise control.  This will help keep speed constant and save gas because the engine won't have to work so hard with changing speeds. 

*Keep all windows up because open windows cause air drag which decreases 10 percent of the mileage.

*While at the pump, it is best to go either early in the morning or late in the evening. These times of the day are when gasoline is at its densest, which is caused by cooler weather.

*Lastly, do not give in to road rage because this causes a person to accelerate aggressively, obviously wasting precious gallons of gas.  Of course, worrying about gas prices won't matter if the car's totaled in a road rage incident.

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