Simple steps can make your fuel go a long way

Crew chief Jeff Meendering sits on the pit box every weekend during the Sprint Cup season and at least once a weekend he asks the driver of the No. 43 Dodge, Bobby Labonte, to save fuel.

Not in the environmentally conscious, fiscally necessary way that normal, everyday highway drivers do, of course, but the philosophy is exactly the same.

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"When we ask a driver to save fuel, we're trying to get every drop out of the tank and into the engine," Meendering said. "We're racing, so it's a little different than the things you do on the highway to save fuel."

Meendering, 32 and a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a former driver himself who used to compete at the same Concord, N.C., short track that Labonte once did. He said saving fuel on the racetrack is essentially the driver making the most of what he has in the tank.

"They back up the corners a little bit, get off the gas a little sooner, roll the car through the center of the corner before getting back on the gas," Meendering explained.

When driving on the highway, Meendering recommended that everyday drivers do much the same.

"Don't get on the gas hard at stoplights, and get off the gas earlier while approaching them," he said. "If you run right up to the light, you're burning gas that isn't doing you any good."

Other tips for helping your car save fuel:

• Check tire pressure: If your car's tires are not inflated to the correct pressure, it can severely impact fuel economy. If the tires are too soft, it takes more power to overcome their drag. If the pressure's too high, it can impact safety. Read your owner's manual for correct tire pressure settings.

• Clean it out, part 1: Make sure your air filter is clean. A clean filter improves fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

• Clean it out, part 2: A clean fuel system can increase efficiency, maximize performance and extend engine life.

• Slow it down: According to statistics, you'll pay an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas for every five miles per hour you drive over 60 mph. Ease on and off the gas if you want to make it last.

Whether you're taking a corner at 200 mph or just taking a trip around the corner to the grocery store, following these fuel savings tips can really save you money at the pump.