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Let’s face it. Many women spend a lot of time in the car. We’re constantly driving to work, school, running errands and chauffeuring our family and friends. With gas prices at an all-time high, it’s important to make sure our vehicles are as fuel efficient as possible.

According to the United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, consumers can improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent and save as much as 10 cents per gallon by maintaining proper tire inflation. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks, SUVs and minivans have at least one significantly under inflated tire. Here are a few tips to keep your vehicle running as fuel efficiently as possible:

Air Up
To find out if your tires are properly inflated, find the recommended air pressure listed on the sticker on your vehicle’s driver’s side door jamb, fuel filler lid, glove box, trunk or in your owner’s manual. The “Max Press” number shown on the sidewall of your tire should only be used if it is the recommended pressure listed in one of the previous locations. Tires can lose one pound per square inch (psi) every month and for every 10 degree temperature drop, so it’s important to check your tire pressure at least once a month. Check your tire pressure with an accurate air gauge, when the tires are "cold" (the vehicle has been driven less than a mile or has been sitting for at least three hours), using the following instructions.

1.) Remove the tire valve cap.
2.) Place the end of the tire gauge over the valve.
3.) Press the tire gauge down straight and firmly until the scale extends.
4.) If needed, add air and recheck the tire pressure with an air gauge.
5.) Replace the valve cap.

Line Up
Have your wheel alignment checked annually and have your tires rotated every 5,000 miles or according to your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Anything you can do to help your tires roll smoothly will result in improved fuel mileage.

Gas Up
Check the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the correct octane for your engine. Less than 5 percent of vehicles on the road require the use of premium fuel, but more than 20 percent of the fuel sold in the United States is premium. Why pay extra money if you don’t have to?

Lighten Up
Gym bags, sports equipment and other items sitting in the trunk or back seat of your vehicle add weight. Extra weight makes your engine work harder and decreases gas mileage. Take the junk out of your trunk!

Check Up
Make sure you’re following the maintenance schedule in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Having an ASE Certified technician inspect your vehicle can ensure that it’s running as fuel efficiently as possible.

Slow Down
Vehicles use less fuel the slower they travel, so make sure you’re following posted speed limits. Next time you’re rushing to get from place to place, think of all the money you can save by taking a deep breath and slowing down.

For more information and do-it-yourself tips on how to make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape, check out the following resources:

• Car Care offers a variety of tips to make sure your car is in working order.
  
  
• Firestone Complete Auto Care hosts Car Care Academies around the country that educate consumers on basic vehicle maintenance and safety.
  
  
• FuelEconomy.gov provides information on how to keep you vehicle as fuel efficient as possible.
  
  
• Girl Scouts of the USA offers the On the Road program for girls ages 14-17. The program provides hands-on experiences and information about safe driving, vehicle maintenance and careers in the automotive industry. For more information, call 800.GSUSA.4.U (800.478.7248).

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