As the price of gasoline remains high, many consumers are finding themselves driving less or thinking about purchasing a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Before taking such measures, there are several easy ways to squeeze a few extra miles per gallon out of your existing vehicle without unnecessary inconvenience or excessive cost. They fall under three main categories: engine maintenance, tire care and driving habits.

Engine Maintenance
Engine maintenance is crucial for fuel economy. As the miles add up, engine air and fuel filters get clogged, spark plugs deteriorate and can misfire, and wheel alignments may fall outside of manufacturer specifications. Each of these problem areas add an additional load to the engine-making the powerplant work harder and requiring more fuel to be burned while driving. It's always a good idea to change vehicle filters and spark plugs at regular intervals as suggested by the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual.

Always use high quality motor oil that meets or exceeds the manufacturer's specifications (the information is found in the owner's manual) and change the oil as recommended by the manufacturer. Oils are labeled with a "viscosity" number based on how thick or thin the liquid oil is. Low numbers mean the oil is thinner. Oil with low viscosity generally flows well in cold temperatures. Higher viscosity numbers are used for thicker oil. This type is typically reserved for older vehicles or for use during the heat of summer. Eliminating some of the confusion, certain oils are specifically labeled "Energy Conserving" on the bottle as they have met specific efficiency requirements set by the API (American Petroleum Institute).Tires are the workhorse of today's modern vehicles. They are tasked with carrying the entire weight of the vehicle, with passengers and luggage, and transferring all of the engine's power to the ground under acceleration. Add their crucial braking and cornering responsibilities-and the ruggedness required to handle potholes and unimproved driving surfaces-and it is easy to see why they wear out every few years and are prone to alignment issues.