By Tanya De Jesus
tdejesus@kcautv.com
The second you turn on your car, the gas in your tank starts to go down.
With gas prices predicted to hit as high as $5 a gallon this summer, most of us will probably be doing anything we can to conserve fuel.
A common theme: Use the cruse control.
Elizabeth Stultz of Smithland, IA said, "Definitely, unless you're going up and down massive hills but otherwise if you're going straight it works really well."
Now whether this works or not tends to depend on the way you drive and your vehicle. In general, if you are traveling long stretches it does work.
Another popular theme? "I try very hard to make sure the vehicle is clean," said Stultz.
But does that really work?
Tires, Tires, Tires Manager Ryan McNaughton said, "A lot of times people get mud, debris caught on their wheels which actually throws the balance off, gives added weight to the vehicle and decrease your gas mileage."
Keeping your tires at the recommended pressure is also a good idea. That's because deflated tires will create more drag causing you to burn more fuel.
And when it comes to your AC, turning it on while driving low speeds will drop your fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.
"The drag that it puts or the extra power that it puts towards the motor. That actually will burn more fuel," said McNaughton.
Getting premium fuel and the time of day you get the fuel doesn't seem to matter.
Experts say replacing your fuel filter and keeping up with the general maintenance of your car will also help you get the best performance out of your vehicle.
