The price of gasoline and other fuels have skyrocketed in the past year to record heights. Motorists all over America are definitely feeling the pinch. SUVs, Trucks and other gas-guzzlers are simply not practical anymore. The rise of hybrid cars and the plunging sales of low gas mileage vehicles emphasize the current mindset to save on gas. There are some ways motorists can save a significant amount of money from gas consomption. Here are some useful tips from Valvoline.com’s Car Care Articles:

* Keep tires properly inflated. Low tire pressure reduces gas mileage and causes increased tread wear. You can lose up to 6% of fuel efficiency for every pound per square inch (psi) below the manufacturer’s minimum recommendation.

* Turn off your engine if you are stopping for more than 30 seconds. Restarting your car takes less gasoline than idling.

* Remove unused luggage, bicycle or ski racks and other extra weight you may have in your car. Every 200 pounds of unnecessary weight reduces mileage by one mile per gallon. (Yet another reason to go on that diet!)

* Have your tires properly balanced and keep the vehicle “in alignment” to get the best gas mileage.

* Plan your trip before you leave. Getting lost or having to backtrack wastes fuel and frays tempers.

* Service your vehicle regularly. Keeping a vehicle well maintained keeps it operating efficiently and reduces fuel usage. Replace air filters and fuel filters regularly. A new air filter alone can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.

* Turn off the air conditioner whenever you can. Running you’re A/C causes extra work for the engine, which lowers fuel efficiency by 5-10%.