AutoSanity.com

You’ve been behaving yourself on the road - no aggressive driving, obeying speed limits and planning each trip with care. Your car is in tip-top condition, tires inflated, excessive weight removed and all fluids changed at proper intervals. And, your gas mileage has increased noticeably and you’re pleased with the results - so far. The burning question now - is this all you can do to stretch your fuel dollar? Most conventional sources will tell you that all the “low hanging fruit” has been picked, and now you must reach higher (or get a ladder) to keep the harvest in full swing.  Here are some more things you can do now to stretch your fuel dollars even more.

• Pay for your gas with a cash-back credit card. This could be worth an additional 1% - 5% savings per year. If you drive 15,000 miles per year and your car gets 20 miles per gallon, you could putting   more than $140 back into your pocket! Of course, paying off your credit card balance every month is a MUST for this strategy. Why not let the credit card companies help you out for a change? Here are some cash back cards to consider.

• Use a high-flow air filter. In real life, about 95% of all the “gas mileage gadgets” out there do not help to increase miles per gallon. In fact, many do just the opposite - they rob your engine of horsepower and actually decrease your gas mileage. But there are several legitimate products that can help your car get better mileage. One of them is a highly efficient air filter. Since today’s engines (gasoline and diesel) are essentially air pumps, the easier it is for your engine to “breathe,” the more efficient it will be.  The paper filter that’s in your car now is fairly adept at letting clean air through, but you can do better. K&N sells a washable, high-flow filter that has been scientifically proved to increase horsepower and increase gas mileage. They cost a little more than the paper variety, but are reusable and will last far longer. Click here to find one for your car.