With the gas prices constantly going up over the past few years in United States and all around the world I believe we could all use some tips on how to optimize fuel efficiency. Your driving habits can seriously influence your gas mileage regardless of the car’s default fuel consumption. Gas inefficiency is not only exhausting for your budget, but it also harms the planet to a large extent.

These tips for car servicing will show you how to prevent extra costs and additional dangerous gas emissions.

1. If you own a manual transmission car, use the highest gear when driving at top speeds. Driving at high speeds in low gears can result with 45% rise in the fuel consumption more than it’s needed. This also exhausts your engine and makes it work with greater force, meaning your auto will demand service sooner.

2. Make sure your tires are always inflated to the accurate pressure. Your fuel mileage can be lengthened by up to 5% by keeping your tires properly inflated. Look at your driver’s side door or find the proper pressure in the owner’s handbook. Using a gauge is the most convenient way to check your air pressure, so think about investing in this inexpensive piece of equipment.

3. Don’t drive aggressively. With constant accelerating and sudden braking your engine consumes more fuel than when driving smoothly and steadily driving. Aggressive driving leads to more wear on your engine, which will result with expensive car repairs in the long term and it actually might reduce your vehicle’s longevity.

4. Stop idling. Idling is probably one of the worst driving habit many of us have formed. First of all it’s very fuel inefficient and two minutes of idling equate one mile of driving. Moreover idling damages your engine because it does not operate at its optimal temperature and only partial combustion occurs. This creates build up which may damage your engine. It’s also one of the most not eco – friendly driving practices. It releases harmful pollutants like CO2, a greenhouse gas that has been linked to ozone ruptures and global warming.

5. Use the air conditioning cleverly. There has been an ongoing debate regarding the AC’s fuel consumption and how it influences you gas mileage. Test results conducted by the SAE explain how having your windows open when driving on lower speeds is the most efficient way to lower the temperature in your car during the summer months. Still when driving on the highway, rolling your windows down produces an exponentially growing drag with the speed’s increasing. It’s best to turn your air conditioning on and have your windows up when surpassing 45 mph. Operating at lower speeds, means that your engine is producing less power, so it would have to use more energy to power the AC system. When driving at faster speeds, your engine is already producing enough power for the additional equipment which means no fuel is being wasted in the process.

6. Avoid short distance driving. Turning on your car for a short distance journey is significantly more gas inefficient than longer distance driving. For instance, turning on your car engine corresponds to idling your engine for one minute. Plan your time and walk short distances. Plus walking is a great physical activity and it will benefit your long-term health.