School time is here again! With that said, there are overjoyed parents, the constant barrage of, "Mom take me here" or "Dad take me there", and a plethora of students returning to college. Some families have all of the aforementioned. Since gas prices are rising, the desire to please everyone leaves many to wonder if there's any relief. How can I save on gas and still be able to work and enjoy the day-to-day expectations of family? Here are some tips...

· At all times, keep your vehicle tuned up and have all repairs done in a timely fashion. There's nothing worse than having your vehicle leak precious gas that could be used for driving. The road already has enough items on it, no need for gas to be dispersed on it as well. A poorly tuned vehicle can use upwards of 25% more gas than a finely tuned vehicle. Change to a synthetic motor oil if your car doesn't already have it. This will help in reducing engine friction and can improve your gas mileage. After every oil change, pour fuel injector cleaner into the gas tank to keep the injector nozzles clean and spraying properly. This creates a better combustion while at the same time delivers maximum power for your automobile. Make sure to clean the air filters and check for the proper tire pressure for each tire. Ensuring that you have regular tune-ups will help with your fuel economy. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer's recommended maintenance intervals.

· Refrain from purchasing a higher-octane fuel than what your automobile requires. High-octane fuel cost more. If your car does not require it, then use regular plus gasoline.

· Make sure your automobile tires are inflated properly to the correct pressure. This makes a huge difference for saving money on fuel. Up to 6% of gas mileage can become lost for every pound your tire is under-inflated. By checking your tire pressure consistently, whether you're going on a trip or just driving around town, you gain so more mileage. Be sure to check your manufacturer's suggestion for the correct tire pressure since many vehicles have different weight distribution. Consider investing in steel-belted radial tires. This purchase will pay for itself over time because it can increase gasoline mileage by up to 10%.

· During the winter season, remove snow tires from the vehicle. Keeping them on when they’re not needed requires more fuel to be consumed. Remove accumulated snow and ice from your automobile during this season. Having these things caked up on your vehicle not only causes wind resistance to increase, but it will add unwanted pounds to the automobile.

· Do not lug around unnecessary items in the trunk of your vehicle. For every 250 extra pounds you carry, an extra mile in gasoline fuel is used to cover the distance you are traveling.

· Consider buying gas at a wholesale club such as Sam's Club or Costco. This way you can save on your fuel consumption by 10 cents a gallon or more. You can also apply for a gas credit card. Most gas credit cards offer a 1% - 5% discount when you use their brand of gasoline. Remember to treat these gas cards as you would a regular credit card. Pay in cash if there's an extra charge to use a credit card. You can save even more money pumping gas yourself with self-service pumps.

· Buy gas during the coolest time of day. Early morning or late evening is best. These are the optimum times where gasoline is at its most dense. This helps to reduce gas evaporation while pumping. When you are at the pump, you are charged the volume of measurement, not the density of fuel concentration.

· Here's a surprising fact! Over-filling your automobile can hurt your gasoline mileage. Over-filling your vehicle allows gas to splash out or even evaporate. After filling up at the gas station, remember to make sure the gas cap is on tight. Not doing so permits significant amounts of fuel to vaporize into thin air. You can purchase a locking gas cap to help prevent this. Check the instructions to make sure it meets or exceeds your vehicle manufacturer's specifications.

· When warming up your car, don't leave your car idle for too long. If you plan on standing in one spot for a considerable amount of time, having your vehicle's engine run will waste more gas than restarting the engine. Warming up the engine on a cold morning should not be a long task. It should be around 2-5 minutes, depending on where you reside.

· The most sensible yet the most ignored tip - slow down! At higher speeds, vehicles become less efficient with fuel conservation. Driving around 55 mph versus 65 mph will save you around 2 miles a gallon, thus making it worthwhile to slow down. Sudden accelerations also hurt your fuel consumption. It is better to accelerate at a steady pace from a dead stop. When approaching hills, increase in speed gently before reaching the hill. If you accelerate while on the hill, the engine only works harder than need be.

· The next sensible thing is to drive less. Carpooling with co-workers helps reduce the monotony that comes with traveling because of the conversations between the vehicle's occupants help keep the driver awake and alert. It also helps save everyone money with the gas monies being divided. Try to plan your route in a circle when running errands. Traveling across town back and forth means more trips to the gas station.

· Develop your driving skills, accelerating gently instead of mashing on the gas pedal helps tremendously. Try to maintain a steady speed when traveling from point A to point B. Stopping at stoplights can be minimized if you drive in a steady pace within the speed limits. If done correctly, this will keep the green lights in your favor. Avoid slamming on your brakes, as this also helps.

· The average automobile can use about 10% to 20% of fuel. Keeping your windows closed while driving on highways will help save you as much as 10% on your gas mileage. If you're stuck in traffic, open the windows to let air in to filter. During this time you can turn the air conditioner on. If the weather tends to be hot in your area, consider having someone install window tint, as this will reduce the temperature inside the automobile upwards to 20 degrees. This will reduce the need for cranking the air conditioner. Remember to check with your state laws for the limit of darkness the tint may have.

· When traveling on vacations by automobile, rent fuel-efficient cars. There's no need to set speeding records, so a vehicle with a bigger engine is unnecessary. Use the Internet to research reasonably priced places to purchase gas before embarking on your trip.

As today's fuel prices increase and the months roll by, it's becoming increasingly important that you make the right steps to conserve on gas consumption. These simple and inexpensive tips will not only keep money in your pockets, but it will save your vehicle from unneeded wear and tear. Don't become alarmed by the escalating prices gas stations command. Fight back by using these techniques to save money at the gas pump.