Tips from the LA Times
Here are some easy ways to stretch more mileage from your vehicle from auto information companies TrueCar.com and AutoMD.com:
Drive smoother:
Be gentle with your gas pedal and your brakes. There's no reason to speed up to a red light just to slam on the brakes. Aggressive driving will lower your gas mileage.
Slow down:
Most vehicles get the best fuel efficiency between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Driving more than 60 mph can cut fuel efficiency 7% to 23%.
Reduce idling:
Turn off your engine if you're waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.
Use lower grade fuel:
Regular unleaded fuel won't hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required. Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.
Remove excess weight:
An extra 100 pounds sitting in the trunk or back seat can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2%.
Turn on the ventilator and turn off the air conditioning:
The most efficient way to cool your car is with the air that comes in through your flow-through ventilator. Air conditioning or open windows (because of the drag) make your vehicle less fuel-efficient. Driving fast with the windows open can burn more fuel than the air conditioner.
Replace or tighten the gas cap:
Fuel evaporates through gas caps with broken or weak seals, potentially reducing your efficiency by 2%.
Keep the tires inflated:
Tires that are not properly inflated have a higher rolling resistance, which reduces efficiency. Keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
Change the oil:
Energy-conserving or synthetic motor oil can reduce engine friction, improving efficiency by as much as 2%.
Replace the spark plugs:
Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/03/tips-to-get-better-gas-mileage.html
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