Maintain Your Car.

Improve your fuel economy by doing a few small checkups on your car, such as changing the oil regularly and having the engine tuned. Maintain the proper tire pressure in your tires.

When it’s time for new ones, switch out old wheels for some low-rolling resistance tires, which are designed to improve the fuel efficiency of a car by minimizing the heat energy expended as tires roll down the road. Also, spring for a better air filter. According to the Federal Trade Commission, replacing a clogged air filter can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent.

Buy a GPS System.

Whether you’re doing errands around town or taking an extended road trip, GPS software can easily map the best route, and some can even help you dodge snarls and other hang-ups.

GPS mapping software with a points-of-interest database can help you find gas stations, hotels, stores, parks and more, so you can find all the comforts of home while on the road. Look for GPS software such as Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator that has a fuel-consumption management feature designed to help travelers get the most out of their tank of gas and calculate gas expenses for trips before leaving home.

Avoid Aggressive Driving.

Excessive braking, speeding and sudden speed changes all waste gas. Whoever coined the phrase “put the pedal to the metal” probably didn’t realize that driving like a maniac will cost you big money. While on the freeway, keep your cruise control on and avoid following other cars too closely, which may lead to unnecessary braking.

Be Smart at the Pump.

It always pays to shop around for the cheapest gas in your neighborhood. In addition, check your car’s owner’s manual for the lowest recommended octane gas for your specific car model and fill up on that. Not only is lower-octane gas cheaper, but most modern cars are engineered to run most efficiently on lower-octane fuel.

For additional information about Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/streets.