The biggest factor in getting good mileage is the way you use the gas pedal. Slow easy increases in small increments will allow the engine to accelerate the car without wasting gas. The additional gas supplied to the engine when tromping on the pedal is burned without significantly increasing your final speed. One way to change your driving style is to imagine a raw egg under your gas pedal. Another is to actually place a soft rubber ball with a pin hole in it under your gas pedal to let out the air slowly.

The necessary air cleaners supplied by the manufacturer consists of a folded paper filter. When dirt and grease clog the surface, the amount of air per minute is greatly reduced, increasing the gas to air ratio and decreasing your mileage. Several companies make a washable foam air cleaner for your car. The dirt and grease is distributed equally throughout the depth of the foam. This distribution does not appreciably affect the filtering qualities or passage of air through the filter and it should last the life of your car.

When it is time to replace your tires, choose the next larger size that will fit your rims. This will effectively act as an overdrive for your transmission. You should be aware, however, that your speedometer will indicate a ten per cent lower speed than actual. Up to ten per cent change in size will improve your mileage by the same amount, especially if you take long trips or do a lot of highway driving. Make sure the tires have the maximum amount of air pressure. Low tire pressure increases rolling resistance, causes uneven wear and is hard on the side walls.

Open windows at speed can affect your mileage. Snow on the hood and roof also can slow you down. Ninety percent of your engine horsepower is expended overcoming wind resistance, especially when traveling over fifty miles per hour.

Dirty injector nozzles in your engine can ruin your gasoline consumption. The pattern and fineness of the spray determines how well the air/gas mixture ignites. When dirty injectors reduce the available torque to the wheels, the natural tendency is to press harder on the pedal, using more gas than is necessary. It take very little dirt or scale build up on your injectors to make a huge difference. A good injector cleaner should be used once every three months to keep them clean. Try using your cruise control on low traffic trips. It will save you gas.

Retired portrait photographer. Love my Honda Civic HX