I don't know about where you live, but here in Deep East Texas, USA, gas is unreasonable.

We put 4.5 gallons in two different gas cans yesterday and it was $25...that makes mowing the grass expensive.

There is nothing we can do to make the lawnmower get better fuel mileage except keep the air filter clean, and a good spark plug in the engine...and, keep the oil changed so it doesn't get too thick. :-(

Now, with your car, or pickup, you can do a few things to help get better fuel mileage...no matter if it gasoline or diesel.

1. Make sure you have a good gas cap...you'd be surprised to know how many vehicles don't even have a cap on the fuel tank...

I've seen several with the old faithful red shop towels pushed down in them. That doesn't help with fuel vaporization, much less keep rain out.

2. How are your tires?

A few years ago you could see people driving with tires as slick as the palm of your hand.

In Texas the law has just about eliminated that, but there is no law that says I have to have a certain amount of air in the tires.

Well, common sense tells you that if a vehicle is being run with under inflated tires, it's gonna cause a drag, meaning it will be harder for the engine to keep up the speed limit... without using a lot more fuel.

So, keep the recommended amount of air in the tires...
it will save fuel, and tires...
under inflated tires will wear on the sides...
over inflated tires will wear in the center...
once a tire starts wearing there is only one place on the vehicle that you can put it to keep it from wearing...
yeah, in the trunk or on the spare tire rack.

3. Keep your vehicle tuned up... new spark plugs for gasoline engines, and proper operating injectors for diesels.

Keep a clean air filter installed...
if it can't breath properly, it will choke...
when it chokes, it hollers for more fuel.
Make sure you change the fuel filter regularly...
a dirty fuel filter can cause a lot of problems.

If the filter gets water in it, the engine will misfire, causing you to push harder on the accelerator, causing more fuel to be brought into the combustion chamber...
and usually going out the tailpipe, unused...not good!

4. Now, for some driving tips that will help save fuel... eliminate the short trips to Wally-World (Wal-Mart) shopping centers... make a list of things you need, then only make one trip a week and get everything.

Don't carry your golf bag in the trunk just because you don't want to take it out and put it back in every time you play...

also, if you have any other unnecessary items in there, remove it also...

a hundred pounds of unnecessary baggage can cut the fuel efficiency by 1 to 2%...not good.

5. Last but not least is the way you drive...

taking off as if you were on the drag strip is a good way to use up unnecessary fuel...

passing everything on the highway is too...
the people you pass will pass you when you stop to fill the tank. :-)

Drive the speed limit...
you can get a lot more miles per gallon if you hold the accelerator at the speed limit... even better than the cruise control!

Now, cruise controls do help, but when you start up a hill, the cruise will almost push the accelerator pedal to the floor just to maintain the set speed...

it's been noted that anything past 60 mph cost you about a dime per gallon per each mph you drive...i.e., 70 miles per hour would cost you about one dollar more per gallon...

at the prices nowadays, it's probably more.

Drive safely and have a good trip, and enjoy yourself.