As gas prices continue to climb and environmental awareness spreads, many car buyers have made fuel efficiency the biggest deciding factor when buying an automobile.

One Stop Motors, a leading used car dealer, offers five simple tips can help anyone get better gas mileage, saving the environment and money at the same time.

Save Money on Gas

1. Eliminating Bad Driving Habits
Improving gas mileage starts with drivers altering their behavior behind the wheel. It takes energy to accelerate a vehicle from a stop, and the faster someone accelerates, the more gas is consumed.

It makes sense: smashing down the gas pedal the engine revs much higher than normal and burns more fuel. To save gas, accelerate slowly and maintain a constant speed. Try imagining that there is something very fragile under the gas pedal.

2. Change the Air Filter
All cars need gasoline and oxygen to run. An air filter keeps dust and road debris from entering your engine, but a dirty air filter reduces gas mileage. The easiest way to fix this is to install a new air filter. Not only will a new air filter improve gas mileage, but it will also increase throttle response and horsepower.

3. Check Tire Pressure
Tires are one of the most important parts of a vehicle, and yet the most often neglected. Not only is low tire pressure a safety hazard, it’s also bad for gas mileage. Before adding air, use a pressure gauge to insure the tire pressure is low. The recommended tire pressure for a vehicle will be stamped on the tire itself near the tire brand name.

4. Shift Into Neutral
When stuck at a red light, vehicles get zero miles per gallon. Another way to save fuel for vehicles with an automatic transmission is shifting into neutral during long traffic lights. A car that is stopped while in drive is straining against the braking system. Shifting into neutral disconnects the engine from the transmission, which eliminates drag on the engine. This has the added benefit of reducing wear on brakes as well.

5. Reduce Weight
Many vehicles are crammed full of sports equipment, tools or clothes. No matter how fuel-efficient a vehicle is, it will get better gas mileage once free of clutter. More energy is needed to move something heavy as opposed to something light. Go through the trunk and take out everything but emergency essentials. Other gas-robbing culprits include bicycle racks, camper shells and truck tool boxes.

Follow these tips from leading used car dealer, One Stop Motors, and see the gas savings add up.

For more tips on maintaining, buying and selling cars, trucks, SUVs and much more, stay connected to One Stop Motors through its website: http://www.onestopmotors.com