Is There Any Way to Get Better Mileage? Some consumers try to ease the pain of high gas prices by telling themselves a gallon of gasoline is cheaper than a gallon of some other products, including certain bottled waters. There is even an email that claims gas is still a relative bargain compared to Evian water at more than $20 a gallon.

But comparing the cost of gas to other products is pointless. It doesn?t do anything to change the reality that all motorists understand: Gas is expensive. Rather than waste time with silly comparisons, consider what you can do to maximize the gas you buy. The Alliance to Save Energy, an organization dedicated to energy efficiency, claims vehicle maintenance and driving strategies will result in better mileage.

• Keeping tires properly inflated will improve your gas mileage by more than three percent.
• Keeping your car properly tuned will improve gas mileage by about four percent.
• Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve your gas mileage by another one to two percent.
• Check and replace air filters regularly to improve mileage by as much as 10 percent.
• Improve mileage by up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor.
• Relax! Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas - and reduce mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the US Dept. of Energy.

Slow down. Each mile per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 10 cents per gallon, according to DOE.

Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy one percent to two percent.

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