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By: Michael F. Adelman on Thu May 1, 2008

Gas prices in the United States are still amongst the cheapest fuel prices in the world (try filling up in Sierra Leone, where the cheapest gas prices are around $18.42 a gallon!), but $3.45 a gallon and climbing is a bitter pill to swallow, and many motorists are thinking long and hard about ways to conserve gas and save on gas costs. Keeping gas prices artificially low means that when the gas prices climb to a realistic level, we panic when we should be thankful we managed to get gas for so cheap, and so long.

Savvy drivers have been known to spend hours monitoring the fluctuations in gas prices amongst gas stations (by visiting websites, talking to neighbors, listening to the radio), hoping to save a penny here and there on a gallon or two. But there are other ways to save on gas prices and save money than penny pinching at the fuel pump, especially when those saved cents at the pump will only end up netting you a dollar or two after two months.

Avoid Stop & Start Driving
Rapid acceleration after stoplights and heavy braking before has been shown to waste up to 37% more fuel than regular driving, as well as a 500% increase in toxic emissions! Anticipate the traffic and driving conditions you’re going to be encountering for the course of your drive, and drive accordingly. No use in speeding up only to end up in a traffic jam!

Slow Down
You might feel more tortoise than hare if you’re keeping to the speed limit on the highway, with all of the other motorists zipping past you, but like the tortoise in Aesop’s fable, you’ll get the last laugh when you realize that the speeders are using on average 12% more fuel than you, per hour.

Use Cruise Control
According to recent tests by automotive consumer guide Edmunds, cruise control can save an average of 7% on fuel consumption. It’s not recommended that you use cruise control in any hilly terrain, dropping your speed going uphill and coasting to build up on the other side will prove more effective.

Stop Idling
In colder climates, we might be more inclined to idle our car to warm it up during the winter, but that’s a no-no, according to most authorities. Not only can it waste a lot of gas, but it’s also hard on your engine. If you’re going to be parked somewhere for longer than 30 seconds, turn your engine off.

Turn Off The AC
This one’s a bit tricky – if you have a newer car, the energy expended by using your AC is minimal; whereas those with older cars should use flow-through ventilation when highway driving, or just crack a window in the city.

Inflate Your Tires
Any tire on your car that’s under-inflated by only two PSI can increase your fuel consumption by 1%, while properly inflated tires can save up to two weeks worth of gas annually! Make sure to test your tire pressure weekly, especially in the case of a temperature drop, when air pressure can change. Keeping your tires properly inflated will also prevent any handling problems, and ensure that anti-lock braking systems (ABS), traction control systems (TCS) and other stability control systems function correctly.

Don’t Buy Gas Improvement Gadgets
If these products really worked and saved that much in fuel consumption, then most major automakers would have already implemented the device, or an equivalent. These products are a waste of money and play on the strange combination of paranoia and hopefulness that people

Lighten Your Load
Eleiminate extra weight in your trunk and the rest of your car. 100 pounds more weight than necessary will reduce your fuel economy by 1-2%.

General Tips
It’s just good sense economically to keep your car functioning to its best ability. Tune your engine regularly, change your oil, replace air filters as required (a clogged filter can increase fuel consumption by 10%!), and you’ll not only reduce the likelihood of break-downs and costly repairs you’ll also decrease your fuel consumption, and save more than enough money to justify the upkeep.