These days, it seems like the oil companies are just out to rob us. Gas prices have inflated to beyond ridiculous, along with everything else, while our economy grinds to a slow, painful stop. Most people are just busy trying to figure out how to stay afloat, and want to learn how they can improve gas mileage to save money.

There are several methods that help to improve gas mileage, some of them that are very effective, and others that really don't make too much of a difference. It can be a bit of a pain trying to sift through them all, so I have gone to the trouble of finding the most common methods people are using right now to improve gas mileage, so I could pass them on to you.

First, change your oil, and get tuneups on a regular basis. Most people realize that if your car is tuned up and running like a top, then the energy used will be less than if your car has mechanical problems. Some basic things like changing the air filter, deteriorated hoses, and oil changes using the properly weight oil with friction reducers will all make a difference and improve gas mileage.

Another trick that works well, is getting rid of extra weight your car is carrying. Do away with luggage racks, since they create resistance, and decrease your gas mileage. Keeping your tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can also help to decrease resistance, the MPG gain is fairly small, but every little bit will help!

You'll also improve gas mileage by slowing down. Try driving at more reasonable speeds. Keeping your speed at 55 mph on the highway will increase your gas mileage by as much as 25%. That means no speeding when the "man" isn't around! You can also pick up a 14% in gas mileage just by turning on your cruise control.

Also, resist the impulse to drive like a maniac, like constantly slamming on your brakes or quickly accelerating. All that does is burn up valuable fuel and waste your dollars. The same goes for excessive idling. If you have a long wait at a drive through, or at the bank, shut your car down. Cutting back on unnecessary idling has been shown to improve gas mileage by as much as 19%. That is a pretty darn big savings if you think about it, just for remembering to do something simple like shut your car down instead of idling.

So many simple methods to improve gas mileage, and not enough space to cover them all! Just implementing even one of these can help you save money.

Technorati Tags: auto, Automotive, energy, family, gas mileage, improve gas mileage, increase gas mileage

With gas prices hovering well over $3 per gallon, it's no surprise that drivers are looking for ways to realize better fuel economy and cut their costs at the gas pump. And while most gadgets on the market claiming to increase your vehicle's gas mileage are scams, there is an inexpensive, commonly found additive that will in fact increase your mileage per gallon.

Better yet, this additive has been around for decades, and it's available at your corner hardware store, auto parts store, and even most drug stores. The additive is acetone, it's perfectly safe, and just a few drops added to your gas tank will increase your vehicle's gas mileage by 3 to 4 miles per gallon.

What Is Acetone?

Acetone is a colorless liquid that is commonly found in many pharmaceuticals, paints, and lubricating oil. In essence, it's an additive that helps reduce surface tension (friction). Normally, acetone is available in 16 ounce cans and is usually sold for about $3.

How Does It Work?

Without getting too technical, a few drops of acetone added to a gas tank helps improve the fuel's ability to vaporize. What this means is fuel that vaporizes easier causes less friction throughout the engine, thereby using less energy and gas. Think of it like any other lubricant ... the smoother an engine operates, the less energy is needed to provide power. Further, a smoother engine with less friction will emit fewer harmful hydrocarbons into the air.

How Much Acetone Should I Use And How Much Money Will I Save?

Three of four drops of acetone per gas tank is plenty. Use an eye dropper to prevent using too much. We find that using a few drops every other tank is sufficient. On average, with all other conditions being equal, you'll find your gas mileage increased by about 15%. That means an average 14 gallon gas tank will actually give you about 15 1/2 gallons worth of mileage and performance. Given the cost of gas at $3 per gallon minimum, you'll be saving about $4.50 per tank. If you fill up once a week, that's a savings of almost $250 per year.

Other Benefits Of Acetone

Because acetone works, in effect, as a lubricant of sorts, you'll notice an increase in engine power and longevity of the engine. This is because acetone vaporizes most of the gasoline fluid and helps the engine operate with less stress. If you have a diesel vehicle, you'll find acetone particularly helpful. You'll notice much less black smoke emissions and exhaust soot.

Summary

Acetone, a commonly available additive, is one of the best additions you can add to your fuel tank to improve fuel economy. You'll typically realize a 15% increase in your gas mileage using just a few drops of acetone on alternating fill ups. Be sure to follow proper handling and storage instructions, just as you would with any other chemical. Finally, keep your vehicle maintained. Poor routine maintenance habits are the biggest cause of substandard fuel economy.

Technorati Tags: auto parts store, Automotive, autos, autos and trucks, better fuel economy, finance, gas saving tips, increase gas mileage, personal finance, travel, travel and leisure, vehicles

Recreational vehicles often come with just the basic facilities to serve your needs. If you want to purchase or rent a motorhome or camper van, you may wish to consider what optional extras could help you enjoy a more comfortable journey. Many first timers are often swayed by the external looks of a camper, that they forget about what facilities they actually require and end up paying a lot extra later on. Optional extras are often cheaper when taken at the time of a new van purchase.

When choosing a RV to rent or buy, its a good idea to consider the size of the camper or motorhome with regards to the size of your family. Young children take up a lot less space than a few teenagers. Size is just one of several factors to take into account as well as whether you wish to rent or purchase a relatively new or used vehicle.

Consider some of the available optional extras in the next few paragraphs and deciding whether these are an absolute must for you now, could save you money in the long term. New or used, buying or renting choosing the right mix of extras can make all the difference to a long road trip.

Camper vans are designed to maximize the available space within the vehicles footprint. Obviously, larger vans will mostly result in more space. Deciding how much space you require is a personal choice that you have to make. One thing to note is that you will generally have less space when the camper is set up for bedtime. It is often in the daytime that you will require the most space for ease of movement. Space costs, so try and find a balance that suits your budget.

After deciding on the space required during the day and night, there are a few other options you may wish to consider. In the kitchen and living areas you could have a microwave, an oven, gas rings, an air con unit or even a widescreen television complete with sound system. This is where you could really blow your budget and I guess comes down to how much of your time you intend to stay in the van. The upholstery and furnishings can all be upgraded or even customized to your exact specification. One thing that is becoming more popular is the use of solar panels to drive some of the campers electricals.

One option you may wish to include is a driver's leather seat. High quality leather is durable and comfortable particularly for long journeys. You may also wish to consider more storage space, there are optional extra compartments that come in a variety of sizes. Some of the larger extra compartments usually include water drains in case you have to store liquids. Smaller compartments may not have such features and are often found at floor level, but still offer some great storage space.

Campers with simple designs and minimalistic decorations not only make the van interior look more spacious, but can also be very stylish and elegant. Some extras you may wish to consider are flushing toilets and a functional shower. However, as always remember that for all such improvements it is best to keep as much space available for interior movement, so that your extras do not impede on your comfort levels.

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The horrendous rise in gas prices is causing quite a stir among car users, not only in the United States, but all over the world. Gas prices have risen from less than two dollars to a whopping three to four dollars a gallon. Its quite easy to see why car users are very particular about saving gas when you look at the exorbitant prices of gas these days. The good news however is that it's now possible to save on gas, if you know how to.

Extra weight on your car causes it to decrease both in miles and gas capacity. If your car is burdened by additional weights, it ends up exerting more energy than usual to move and consume more gas in the process. Divesting your car of any extra weights is a cost effective way of saving gas.

It is the concern of every car driver to save gas because doing so will ensure that extra costs on gas purchases are also saved. No one wants to spend more than is necessary on anything, especially gas purchases.

I wonder how life would have been without the Internet. Thanks to the Internet we can save money on virtually anything we purchase, including gas. Just spending some minutes to find the best places to buy gas at the best prices on the Internet can save you a lot of money. Don't hesitate to search online before going out to buy gas.

The Discover Open Road card is a gas credit card that enables you to save a total of five percent on gas purchases. Gas credit cards that encourage savings on gas are a much desired thing among car drivers. To ensure that you enjoy the most of your gas credit card, strive to meet up with your monthly payments.

Want to save gas? Loving and taking very good care of your car is the beginning of gas savings. If you take very good care of your car all the time and ensure it doesn't have problems, this will result in less consumption of gas and save you a lot of money you would have otherwise spent on extra gas.

Take your car for regular mechanic check-ups and you will definitely enjoy gas savings. Also, when you are driving, wind up your windows so that your car won't have to consume more gas trying to combat drag wind.

High octane gas delivers lesser miles because of the high energy consumption. Low octane gas delivers more miles because of the low energy consumption. You can save gas by using a low octane fuel for your car.

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Even when you are purchasing a used car online, you have to be careful so that you don't get ripped off. Do not purchase a used car that you have never laid your eyes on. Always try out a used car to see how you can relate with it before you purchase it.

You can get used cars from places like Japan or Europe. Used cars imported into the country are known to be far cheaper than those bought within, especially for popular car brands.

Car buyers are becoming smart; so used car dealers now have no choice but to sell nothing but the best of used cars. There were times when used car dealers used to rip off naive car buyers because they couldn't tell the difference between an excellent paint job and a piece of junk. You should be smart and observant when buying a used car to ensure that you get the best one for yourself.

Getting an inexpensive used car from Japan is quite easy as long as you have a dealer you can trust. Make sure that any dealer of used cars in Japan is a member of JUMVEA, a government approved trade body for foreign car expertise. A Japanese used car dealer who belongs to a recognized association often has to operate according to a set code of ethics and is therefore more trustworthy.

According to car specialists, a car depreciates by twenty percent the instant it is bought and driven out of the car park. Each year, cars depreciate by twenty percent hence the reason why most cars are sold at half their original price when they are being resold. As a car owner seeking to sell your car, you should know that you won't make much profit on it because of the nature of cars to lose their value fast.

It is a normal inclination on the part of human beings to target something that goes easy on their pockets. Going for cheap cars that are second hand in nature is a cost effective way of getting a car. You need to be aware that most used car dealers often put a little percentage of the original cost of the car on its current cost to make profit.

Always seek the opinion of a car expert before you purchase a used car. Used car experts help you to find the best used car deal for you. Without knowledge about used cars, you may be unable to find the best one for yourself.

You should cling to your money unless you are totally sure that the used car you are looking at is worth it. Used cars can be wrecks in disguise so you need to be careful about which car you select at the end of your search. Unless you are truly satisfied with the look of a car, don't even think about paying for it.

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