GM Tells You How to Save on Gas

The gas prices at the pump seem to have gotten a life of their own these days, growing like the proverbial Prince Charming by the minute, at times. Faced with unrest in the oil-rich countries and the greed caused by the prospect of economic recovery, the dollars no longer seem to get along with the gallons.

In an effort to make the high prices easier to swallow, American manufacturer GM decided today to give something back to the American taxpayer. No, not money, but a long list of tips and tricks that might save you a few gallons and some bucks in the process.

In a happy, cheerful style, we must admit, GM is trying to teach American drivers that, most of the times, regardless of the car they drive, the fuel efficiency of the engine mirrors the way in which they drive and tend to their cars.

So, without further ado, here's what GM says you should do to save some money, with some help from the Environmental Protection Agency:

• tune the engine (nothing big, just clean the oxygen sensor or air filter) - that might get you a 4 percent improvement in fuel consumption.
• inflate the tires - inflated tires improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent
• don't carry unnecessary loads - an extra 100 pounds reduces fuel economy up to 2 percent
• travel at speeds under 60 mph - 5 mph over 60 mph is like adding an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas
• don't idle - 15 minutes of idling can burn through a quarter of a gallon of fuel
• drive smoothly – violent acceleration/deceleration can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in city driving
• use the overdrive
• stop using the A/C - air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent
• use the right oil - the recommended grade of oil improves fuel economy by 1 percent to 2 percent
• avoid congested areas