- Combine errands, and trips.
- Service your car it will keep it at peak performance
- Go lightly on the gas pedal
- Don't pump your brakes
- Don't idle for long periods of time
- Don't use drive up windows...park and drive in
- Empty the car and trunk of extra items
- Put items in the trunk instead of your roof
- Drive 55 mph instead of 65 (you save 15%!)
- Don't use your air conditioning
- Use your 5th gear whenever possible
- Keep your tires properly inflated
- Buy a Fuel Saver of some kind
- Use the lowest octane gas
- Don't rev your engine

Before you set off on your car trip, follow the checklist from the National Automotive Parts Association to reduce the risk of vacation breakdown.
- Check to see whether fluid levels under the hood are adequate: oil, coolant, brake, windshield-wiper, transmission, and battery fluids.
- Replace worn wiper blades.
- Make sure that all tires (including the spare) are properly inflated.
- Replace tires that show uneven tread wear and bulges. Most roadside emergencies result from blowouts.
- Have your tires rotated and balanced, if you have not done so for more than a year, and have the alignment checked.
- Check for visible cracks or bulges in engine belts and hoses, and replace any that look suspicious.
- Tap the horn a few times to make sure it is working and is loud enough.

Are you tired of going in for an oil change and then paying for the oil change, an air filter, a transmission flush, and new alignments that you were told you needed? Your car may not have needed any of the extra maintenance so be wary of what mechanics are telling you.
In many "quick lube" mechanic franchises, the mechanics are paid on commission and are pressured into selling a certain amount of "accessory" services every week. When you're deciding on where to take your vehicle, give a quick call before you go and find out how the employes are compensated. If you can't avoid mechanics on commission consult your vehicle's manual before you go. It should list the mileages for when you should get a new filter or have your transmission flushed. Keep records of when maintenance is performed so you know exactly when it should be done again, instead of letting some greedy mechanic tell you to pay for something that your car doesn't need!

Underinflation wastes fuel - your engine has to work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as evidenced by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the engine work harder, too. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires have to be disposed.