Recent price increases seem to have provided motorists with even more incentive to conserve gasoline.

Here’s advice from the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence on how to do just that:

Monitor your tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Let the tires cool down before checking the air pressure. Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned.

Avoid excessive engine idling. Shut off the vehicle while waiting for passengers.

Observe speed limits. Speeding decreases your miles per gallon.

Drive gently. Sudden accelerations guzzle gas. Anticipate traffic patterns ahead and adjust speed gradually. Use cruise control when possible.

Remove excess weight. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Store only essentials in the trunk. Less weight means better mileage.

Use windows and air conditioning wisely. If possible, avoid using your air conditioner in heavy, stop-and-go traffic such as traffic jams or holiday weekend backups.

Keep your engine operating at its peak efficiency. A well-maintained engine will help you maximize the gas mileage for your specific make and model. A misfiring spark plug can greatly reduce gas mileage. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner’s manual.

Replace filters and fluids as recommended and correct engine performance problems. Given today’s high-tech engines, have such work done by a technician certified in engine performance.

- NAPSA