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Ten sneaky ways to save on fuel costs  
Updated Sun. Apr. 27 2008 7:33 AM ET  
 
Forbes.com  
 
Motorists looking to save on gas needn't drive around looking for gas station with low prices at the pump.  
 
The answer is right under the hood. That's because more frequent air filter changes can improve your vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 10 per cent, the Car Care Council says. The filter keeps dirty particles from damaging the inside of your engine and helps it run more efficiently. The council, a consumer advocacy group that promotes vehicle maintenance, recommends checking the filter each time you change the oil every 4,000 km.  
 
Other fuel-saving measures include keeping tires properly inflated, reducing your load and avoiding long idles.  
 
These adjustments have never been more important. Here are some of the average gas prices across Canada (per litre).  
 
Newfoundland: $1.3  
 
Halifax: $1.26  
Montreal: $1.35  
Toronto: $1.21  
Edmonton: $1.17  
Vancouver: $1.27  
"You can't control the price of gas, but you can control how much gas you burn by proper maintenance and how you drive," says Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "Performing simple and inexpensive maintenance can save as much as $1,200 a year."  
 
Top Tips  
 
We compiled 10 key fuel-saving tips and estimated fuel savings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Car Care Council and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  
 
But before motorists start calculating potential savings, all of the agencies we contacted cautioned that gas mileages are only estimates. The number of kilometres that you see per litre of gas will vary depending on such factors as the rate of speed driven and the amount of city driving versus highway driving. The latter requires fewer stops and starts.  
 
One immediate step a driver can take is observing the speed limit. Aggressive drivers can save money if they ease up on the gas and brakes, according to the Car Care Council. You can save gas by observing the speed limit and using cruise control during highway driving.  
 
Using the manufacturer's recommended levels of octane gas and grade of oil also makes a difference. Luxury and high-performance cars usually require premium gas, which has a higher level of octane to prevent engine knocking or rattling in some vehicles. But most vehicles do just fine on regular gas.  
 
The FTC says using premium gas in place of regular adds no additional benefits for cars that don't require it. And using a lower grade of oil than what is recommended save you money at the pumps, according to the EPA, which publishes fuel-saving tips at www.fueleconomy.gov, a consumer information Web site jointly maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the EPA.  
 
Watching your weight also fattens your wallet. Piling a lot of heavy items on the roof rack can create additional cargo space, particularly in small cars, but it will also decrease fuel economy by 5 per cent, according to the EPA.  
 
What's more, car owners should beware of businesses advertising gas-saving products that promise to improve fuel economy, some by as much as 20 per cent. These include fuel additives that claim to improve fuel economy and ignition devices that attach to an existing ignition system or replace part of the original system. The FTC and EPA warn that such claims are false.  
 
Bottom line: If a new car isn't in your immediate future, don't sweat. By making a few lifestyle changes, you can get some relief at the gas pump.