Ed the U-Stop Handyman's tips to improved fuel economy.

• Watch your tach! Tachometer,that is. You'd be surprised how much fuel you can save if you refrain from exceeding 2,000 rpm.
• Slow down, Lead Foot! "Jack rabbit" starts waste fuel. Slow down and coast when you can. Each time you touch the brake it takes away from the energy you've already built up.
  As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Also, observing the speed limit is safer!
• Avoid Excessive Idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. "Nuff said."
• Use Cruise Control. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, saves gas and reduces engine wear.
• Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tires inflated properly. Buy a tire-pressure gauge and check your tires monthly, adding air as necessary.
• Take a load off. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

*According to the U.S. Department of Energy