Unbelievable. Outrageous. Insane.

That’s what we’re all uttering to express disgust with skyrocketing gas prices. Nobody, including the folks in Washington, D.C., seems to have any practical answers.

While it’s undoubtedly a fact of life that the days of cheap gas are gone forever, there are a number of ways savvy drivers can fight back by reducing the drain on their wallets. Your savings can mount up substantially over time if you follow these simple guidelines:

• Trade less MPH for more MPG. When you speed up from 55 MPH to 65, your vehicle’s fuel economy can drop by five miles per gallon or more. Speed up to 75 and it drops by another 5 MPG or so. Are you really in such a big hurry? Or have you just become accustomed to planting a heavy foot on the accelerator?
• Be an old smoothie. Jackrabbit starts, erratic acceleration, unnecessary braking … they all contribute to lower gas mileage. Try to maintain a smooth, constant speed whenever possible.
• Click and save. Visit Web sites that monitor gas prices. (One such site is www.gastankone.com.) You’re apt to discover substantial price differences between gas stations in your area.
• Keep regular habits. It makes no sense to pay for high-octane gas if your vehicle doesn’t require it; the only benefit is to the oil company’s bottom line. You may find that your vehicle runs just fine on regular even if the manufacturer recommends premium. (Be sure to check your owner’s manual first, though.)
• Live with inflation. If your tires are supposed to be inflated to, say 32 PSI but they’ve gradually leaked down to 22, you can lose about 1-1/2 MPG. That may not sound like much, but it adds up as the miles go by.
• Choose the path of least resistance. Running your air conditioner during the summer can cut your fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. However, it does make sense to operate the AC when you’re on the highway because open windows create an aerodynamic drag. On the other hand, when you’re on secondary roads, it’s more economical to turn off the air and open those windows.
• Lose excess weight. It’s tempting to use your vehicle – especially if it’s a pickup truck or an SUV – to transport or store heavy items, but reduced MPG is the price you pay for lugging around a lot of extra weight. Ask yourself if you really need to be hauling around all that stuff.
• Stay tuned. Remember to get tune-ups at regular intervals as recommended by the manufacturer. You’ll benefit from not only peak engine performance but also better gas mileage.

So don’t just throw up your hands and mutter choice expletives every time you have to visit the pump. Fight back – and save.

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