With the high cost of fuel it's no wonder that people are asking what they can do to get better gas mileage without having to invest in a new, smaller vehicle. I don't know about you but I will not get rid of my eight passenger van and jump into a vehicle that's s little bigger than a soup can just to be able to drive.

There are a few things that you can do to help you get better mileage without too much of a strain on your budget. Take care of your vehicle and it will take care of you.Always use clean oil, fresh spark plugs and a well tuned motor are just a few things that you can start with.

Here are some of the other useful tips that will help you out.

[1]Check you air filter more often. A dirty air filter will cause you to waste gas.

[2]Get used to running your air conditioning less often.

[3]Use the correct gasoline. Most cars run well on an octane rating of 87. Mostly it's just high-performance and turbocharged engines that need higher octane. If your engine is pinging on acceleration or up hills use a higher octane gasoline. Check the owner's manual for your vehicle's requirements.

[4] One of the biggest waste of gas come from under inflated tires. Not only does this wastes gas, it can also be the cause of many accidents.

[5] Try and drive at even speeds. Trying to rush from light to light is a bag habit that most people have.

[6] When you are on the highway use your cruise control whenever possible. A vehicle driving at at a constant speed will get better gas mileage.

[7] Definitely cut down on the amount of trips that you make to the store. Write down what you need and only go shopping whenever it is absolutely necessary.

[8] Elimnate unnecessary cargo in your vehicle.[ I personally removed the third seat in my van because it was not being used at all.]

There are also ways to convert your convert your engine into using alternative fuels that willwill not only save you a ton of money on your gas purchases, but you will also be getting a significant increase in your gas mileage also. This will also help cut down on the emissions coming out of your exhaust. Most of all people should get used to the fact that gas prices are not going down. This is just wishful thinking.