Not ready for a hybrid? Maximize your gas mileage with the car you already have.

1. Avoid rush hour. When stopped in traffic you're getting no miles to the gallon. Adjust your commute time to avoid the stop-start traffic of rush hour, which wastes fuel and your precious time. And by arriving at the office earlier or leaving later, you might actually get more work done. According to the Texas Transportation Institute report, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $78 billion.
2. Plan your gas station stops. AAA's TripTik trip planner service allows you to map out your driving route, and includes gas stations along the way. When you click on the GAS icon, the price at each pump appears. While the price difference might seem small, the savings can add up, especially when you're traveling long distances.
3. Lose the weight. Extra pounds in the car contribute to drag. If your trunk is full of bulky sporting equipment and old possessions you've been meaning to donate, get rid of the goods and improve your fuel efficiency.
4. Drive sensibly. You should avoid aggressive driving for safety reasons; An added incentive is that hard acceleration and braking takes a toll on your fuel efficiency. FuelEconomy.gov reports that aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by up to 33 percent at highway speeds and up to 5 percent around town.
5. Don't idle. Turn your engine off if you have to wait in your car. Like being stopped in traffic, idling gets you no miles to the gallon. Vehicle emissions are also the biggest contributor to outdoor air pollution.
6. Keep tires inflated. According to fueleconomy.gov, you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Check your vehicle manual for your car's optimal tire pressure.
7. Maintain your engine. When your car's engine is kept in shape or fixed, its fuel efficiency gets a boost too.
8. Use the right fuel. Use only the grade of gas that your car needs, which is indicated in the manufacturer's guide to your vehicle. If the guide doesn't say Use Premium Grade Fuel, then don't-stick with regular fuel. Premium fuel pollutes more and costs more, and you won't see any benefits if your car is designed to run on regular.
9. Use quality motor oil. Check your manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil for your vehicle, which will lubricate your motor and maximize fuel efficiency. The API service rating on the bottle will tell you the quality level of the oil and the type of engine for which it's intended.
10. Slow down. Not only is driving at the speed limit safer, it saves you gas money too. While each vehicle is different, you can generally count on your fuel efficiency dropping by two percent for every mile per hour over 60.

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