Recovery Could Mean Higher Gas Prices: Fuel Economy Tips

As painful as the recession has been for so many, there is one undeniable silver lining: lower gas prices. The economic slowdown certainly knocked the air out of those skyhigh prices from last year. Who can forget those $4 a gallon pump prices? As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, we now appear to be at the bottom of this economic cycle. The possibility of a coming recovery is of course great news overall, but will inevitably lead to higher pump prices. So let's remind ourselves of some great money saving tips when it comes to fuel economy.

Driving habits: Stop driving like a maniac! Jackrabbit starts, heavy braking, excessive speeding and other aggressive driving habits all add up to a substantial decrease in fuel economy.

Proper maintenance: Keep your vehicle properly tuned up, change your oil at recommended intervals, change oil and air filters regularly and keep your tires properly inflated. These are basic maintenance tasks you should be completing anyway and they will help with fuel economy.

It's a car, not a storage space: Sure we all keep some junk in our vehicles on occasion. The key is to minimize the weight factor unless you actually need those items. A trunk full of golf clubs, tools and many other items can decrease your mileage more than you think.

Idling: If your vehicle is new enough or reliable enough, just turn it off in situations where you expect to sit idling for excessive amounts of time. A short red light is probably no big deal, but that slow-moving mile-long freight train is just a complete waste of gas. Use your best judgement.

Gasoline grades: Most vehicles don't need those higher octane grades along with their higher prices. You can save a lot of money by just sticking with regular unleaded.

These were just a few of the most obvious tips, there are certainly many more. Just remember as the economy turns around and you notice those pump prices starting to rise, these tips will come in even more handy.

Safe driving and save your money!