fuel saving tips for drivers

These simple facts can help you save fuel and get more miles out of each tank of gas:

* Have your car tuned regularly. An engine tune-up can improve car fuel economy by an average of 1 mile per gallon.

* Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires can decrease fuel economy by up to 1 mile per gallon.

* Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gasoline your car uses. Driving at 65 miles per hour rather than 55 miles per hour reduces fuel economy by about 2 miles per gallon.

* Avoid jackrabbit starts. Abrupt starts require about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts.

* Pace your driving. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns and stops can decrease fuel economy by up to 2 miles per gallon. Stay alert and drive steadily, not erratically. Keep a reasonable, safe distance from the car ahead of you and anticipate traffic conditions.

* Use your air conditioner only when needed. The use of air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2 miles per gallon under certain speeds and operating conditions.

* Avoid lengthy engine idling. Turn your engine off when you are delayed for more than a couple of minutes.

* Plan your trips in advance. Combine short trips into one to do all your errands. Avoid traveling during rush hour if possible, to reduce fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods. Consider joining a car pool.

For more information and additional materials, please visit API.org.