With gas prices on the rise these days many of us are doing our best to save gas and lower our ever increasing fuel bills. Rather than just running out to the car dealership and buying the newest hybrid, most of us have to make due with the car that we have and try to get the most out of each dollar that goes into the fuel tank.

Below you’ll find a list of some commonly mentioned tips on the internet for saving gas:

1- Keep Your Call Well Tuned
A well-oiled machine is a better running machine. An obvious and great way to keep your fuel bill lower is to make sure that you maintain your car and keep it working properly. Change your oil regularly and keep the engine running smoothly. If your car is in good shape it tend to burn gas more efficiently also.

2- Keep Tires Properly Inflated
By keeping your tires properly inflated you can possibly improve your gas mileage by at least 3%. But what is the right level for your tires? Your best bet is probably to follow the advice of the tire manufacturer. Another reason to keep your tires properly inflated is safety. According to TrustMyMechanic.com, even having your tires under inflated by 6 psi could lead to tire failure, and having it over inflated by 6 psi gives the tire a greater chance of being damaged by potholes and other road hazards.

3- Plan Your Trip Ahead of Time
Driving around for no reason is a great way to increase your fuel bill, because you’re using gas that you wouldn’t need to use if you would simply plan where you are going, and then stick to that plan. Another great way to save on gas is don’t let the car just sit and run for long periods of time, whether its to heat the cabin in the winter or cool it in the summer.

4- Buy Gas on Weekdays
This one varies a bit per area, but lots of times gas is more expensive on the weekends. So plan to buy your gas on a weekday rather than a weekend and you should be able to save a couple of cents per gallon.

5- Lighten Your Load
Unless you plan on driving on some really slick roads sometime soon and need extra weight for stability, get rid of any excess weight in your car. Look in your trunk and see if you are hauling around any heavy items that don’t need to be there and put them somewhere else besides the trunk.

6- Use a Fuel Additive
There are several on the market, such as DurAlt, that have been proven for years to increase your gas mileage. Do some research and find a trusted additive that has been proven over time to work.

Start to use some of these general tips and you should be able to increase your fuel mileage and efficiency by enough to make a difference in your bill. It will mean making a few lifestyle changes but in the end you should start to see a difference in your overall fuel cost.