Filling Up Your Tank at the Right Time

For summer, it is best to wait until you have a quarter tank, but don't push this any further. Doing this can extend your gas because you are hauling a lighter fuel load. It also gives you the opportunity to buy more gas if you run across a bargain.

Do the same thing in cold weather, and you run an increased risk of condensation in the fuel tank. Running a car with less than a quarter tank can shorten the life of the electric fuel pump and running on empty will often destroy the pump.

The Cool Team and How to Use Them Together

Positioning a fan directly in front of your AC unit will spread cooler air throughout the room faster.

Angle the fan towards a common area where you spend a lot of time, the couch in the living room or at your desk.

Your AC Loves Closed Doors

Right this moment, you are probably running your AC in this July heat. Look around, if you have doors open to other rooms, get up and close them. When you shrink the size of the area that needs to be cooled, your air conditioner will run less.

If you have a central cooling unit, close off the vents to those rooms.

Stick with Standard Air

Most people don't know that standard compressed air is already around 78 percent nitrogen, and the differences between a tire filled with standard air and one filled with nitrogen are really not that noticeable. You won't see $20 in savings on gas when your car repair shop charges you $20 for a nitrogen refill.

Don't let "free nitrogen refills" lure you into a purchase of a new set of tires.

1 Minute Warm Up

Even on the coldest of mornings, you should never need more than one minute to idle your car to let the oil warm up. Starting your morning commute slowly after a 1 minute idle state is the best way to warm up your car. It will save you gas in the long run.

If you need to drive your car fast as soon as you are done idling, let your car idle for one more minute. Generally the length of idle time needed depends on how fast you will be driving the car.

A Smaller Car Doesn't Always Save

For the most part, a smaller vehicle will save a significant amount of money through lower gas usage.

If you plan on having your trunk full most of the time, or tying down cargo on the roof of the car on a daily basis, you may want to opt for a larger vehicle.

A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.

Defensive Driving Saves Gas

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.

Defensive driving will save your vehicle gas and keep you safe. Check out a defensive driving class at your local DMV.