Gas Advice: How to get your money's worth

"The most common thing is the air filter."

I'm talking to Kevin Wilkins from Savannah Tire about advice that can really help you get better mileage. He says a clean filter can save about two miles a gallon. He recommends a new air filter about every 15,000 miles and says a filter costs anywhere from $12.00 to $20.00 depending on the make and model of your vehicle. "it's one of the cheapest things you can do," Wilkins tells me.

He says a dirty filter basically makes the engine work harder. Yet Consumer Reports says in most modern engines, there are sensors that adjust the fuel-air mixture so in new cars, changing the air filter might not make that much of a difference. Wilkins sticks to his opinion. "I can only go by my own experience and my customers and I think it does help."

He says regular maintenance is important and in his opinion, produces the most savings in mileage. And while some say that changing things up, such as using regular instead of premium can save you a few bucks, Wilkins is cautious about that. "Follow the recommendations in your owner's manual," he says.

As far as other things that you hear -such as it's best to buy gas in the morning because the fuel is colder of that different brands of gas are better, he says those are likely myths. "It doesn't really make any difference when you buy the gas or what kind. All gas is regulated by the government," he says.

He does say checking something as simple as your gas cap to make sure it's closed tightly, can save. "Gas vapors can evaporate," he tells me.

Wilkins uses some additives to keep his fuel system clean, but says that's more for maintenance than gas mileage. Something like a gas pill to increase mileage? Probably a myth.

Tire pressure? Definitely important, according to Wilkins. He says most vehicles have information posted inside the driver side door that indicates the amount of air needed in your tires. He says get yourself a tire gauge or have someone like him check your air pressure. "We do it for free," Wilkins says.

And finally a big thing around here, especially during the long, hot summer is using your air conditioner. He says it can take more gas but perhaps not as much as you might think. "Newer vehicles are more efficient, but using the air does cause the engine to work more," he says.

Wilkins says depending on driving conditions, especially highway driving, using the air conditioner may not use any more gas and may even use a bit less than say driving down the road with all the windows open, which can create drag.

He recommends following a regular maintenance schedule and referring to your manual frequently.

Get more advice here on our "Your Money's Worth" page.

Tune in Tuesday, July 15th, for tips on saving money in your home.