Save Gas by Slowing Down, Shopping

In a very unscientific poll, I've discovered that while many drivers are groaning about the high price of gasoline these days, many don't have a clue that there are some things they can do to cut their fuel bill.

Although the average retail price of gas has been dropping, it still makes me weak in the knees when I have to pay at the pump. On a nationwide average, gas prices are still 44.1 cents a gallon more than they were a year ago.

And goodness knows, those of us who will be driving to our vacation destination could use all the savings we can get.

I think we all know that if we drive less, we spend less on gas. But what else can we all do besides parking the car to increase our fuel savings? The experts at Money Management International, a nonprofit credit-counseling agency, offered these suggestions:

• Before you hit the road, plan your vacation route so that you drive past gas stations with the lowest prices. Visit www.gaspricewatch.comto compare prices. You can search for deals by Zip code or by street, city and state. You can even sort prices by the grade of gasoline.

• Check your car's manual. If your car does not require premium-grade gas, get regular unleaded.

• Don't let brand loyalty cheat you out of savings. Gas is gas. I know that the little gas station may look fishy and you may wonder if the gas is good, but all companies have to comply with the same federal regulations. They use the same refineries. The stations without a well-known brand may be able to offer lower prices because they don't have the same expenses as the larger brand-name stations.

Here are a few gas-savings tips from the Alliance to Save Energy, which recently teamed up with the U.S. Department of Energy for a year-long "Powerful Savings" program (www.ase.org/powerfulsavings) to help consumers reduce their energy bills and cut energy use:

• Stop speeding. The faster you drive, the more gas you use, the more money you spend. Each 5 mph over 60 is equivalent to paying an extra 10 cents per gallon for gas.

• Replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, according to the Department of Energy. And while you're having the air filter replaced, change your oil and fuel filters. I'll admit I'm pretty bad about remembering to do this myself. If it weren't for my husband, my oil would have the consistency of mud.