By Darla Youngblood
Buy big – box gas. Gas at Costco and Sam’s Club can be 25 cents per gallon cheaper. This helps if you drive a lot of miles.
Slow down please. Most cars get the best gas mileage at 55 mph. Higher speeds are less efficient.
Learn your wiper blades. Blades can be different sizes even on the same car. Some auto stores will install them for free if you buy the blades there. Or you can watch a video online to install them yourself.
Before replacing blades , clean them with soapy water then followed by rubbing alcohol to avoid streaks and damage to your windshield.
Get a free battery check. Many auto stores will check your battery for free and install it for free if you buy the battery from them.
Use your door to fill your tires. Newer cars have a sticker inside the drivers door that details proper air pressure for your tires. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by as much as 3 percent.
Rotate tires. Rotate tires from front to back every 10,000 miles for less wear and tear.
Have two auto shops. Take your car to the dealership for warranty work. And to independent shops for oil change, brake jobs and other repairs that are cheaper.
Upgrade your brake parts. Ask for high performance parts that last longer.
De-junk your trunk. Every 100 pounds of extra weight in your car could reduce your gas mileage by up to two percent. Extra weight is also hard on brakes and suspension.