By Special to the Town Crier

By paying attention to how and where you drive on a regular basis, and maintaining solid car care, drivers can reduce the amount of fuel used annually by more than 25 percent, according to Clint Bland, vice president, automotive, of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. He encouraged consumers to try these fuel-saving tips:

Use fuel-system cleaners/additives which can increase gas mileage up to 15 percent.

Replace dirty oil and air filters. Doing so can boost fuel economy up to 10 percent.

Keep tires properly inflated to improve fuel efficiency as much as 6 percent.

Change your oil regularly. Use synthetic oil to increase gas mileage up to 3 percent.

Use air conditioning sparingly, but keep windows closed during highway travel. Air conditioning reduces fuel economy by 10-20 percent, but open windows at high speeds cause significant drag.

Buy gasoline during the coolest time of day - early morning or late evening - while the gasoline is at its densest.

Maintain a consistent speed on the highway to improve gas mileage and plan out a direct route before taking long trips.

Drive the most energy-efficient car in the family most frequently, and consolidate trips and errands to limit driving time and miles driven.

Find a local store that provides one-stop shopping to limit drive time and mileage.

Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment such as bent wheels, axles, bad shocks or broken springs. These can create engine drag.

Bland reminds motorists that fuel savings may vary according to engine type and condition, but just about anyone who drives can save fuel and money by following these tips.