Five ways to make your drive more eco-friendly.
* Remove excess weight from the trunk.
Carting around heavy items can reduce a car's mileage.
* Use cruise control. This helps you maintain a constant speed and keeps you from accelerating and braking too rapidly, both of which waste gas.
* Don't drive faster than 60 miles per hour. Above this speed, gas mileage decreases, costing you the equivalent of 20 cents more a gallon.
* Check your tire pressure. When tires aren't fully inflated, more greenhouse gases are released. Also, tires will last longer when kept at the proper pressure.
* Get the right motor oil. Sticking with the vehicle manufacturer's recommended grade of oil can improve gas mileage by up to 2 percent.
Article found in REAL SIMPLE magazine. February 2008 issue.
