8 tips to save gas

Economists predict gasoline prices will reach an average $4 a gallon this summer, motivating Americans to conserve their fuel use and curb their driving habits.

Miguel Garcia-Rubio, associate dean of the College of Engineering reminds you about 8 well-known tips to use less gas.

1. Plan ahead and combine as many errands into one trip as possible.
"For example, instead of going to the store and back home, to the library and back home, to the gym and back home, try doing the three of them in one longer trip," he suggests. "It will save about half the gas."

2. Inflate your tires to the proper setting.
"Compared to under inflated tires, proper tire inflation can reduce fuel consumption by up to 7%," Garcia-Rubio explains.

3. Don't speed, and avoid quick acceleration.
"The faster you go the higher the wind resistance is on your car," he says. "Speeding and quick accelerations reduce efficiency up to 35%. Keep the car windows closed when driving at speeds faster than 40 miles per hour."

4. Avoid excessive idling.
"Idling wastes a lot of fuel," Garcia-Rubio says. "If you need to warm up your vehicle, drive it slowly until it reaches proper operating temperature."

5. Change air and fuel filters periodically.
"Dirty filters reduce fuel economy by up to 10%," he says.

6. Buy your gas during the coolest part of the day.
"Gas gets denser as it becomes cooler, and not all gas station pumps provide temperature correction when dispensing fuel. There could be a Volume Correction Factor of up to 3% in gas pumped in the early morning over that at 1 or 2 p.m.," he explains.

7. Tune up your engine.
"A well-tuned engine works closer to its design specifications and can really improve fuel efficiency," Garcia-Rubio says.

8. Use the right engine oil.
"Using the recommended motor oil for your vehicle will save you 2% to 3% in fuel consumption," he says.