If you drive your car everyday, you might be wondering: “Why are gas prices so high?” You are not alone because that has been the concern of many car owners for many years.

Blame the high crude oil prices and the level of gasoline demand relative to supply for the incessant increase in retail gasoline prices. The prices of crude oil surge when there is greater demand than supply for it. Greater demand for gasoline across the globe puts much pressure on the available supplies. The competition among local retail gas companies and the seasonal demand for gasoline and other petroleum products cause the fluctuation or the rapid rise of gas prices. The increase in gas prices speed up when the supply of crude oil is disrupted or when there are issues with delivery pipelines and oil refineries. (more…)

As a car owner, you know too well that filling up your car’s fuel tank is a necessary evil. After all, fuel is the lifeblood of your car. If your car guzzles more fuel than it should, then you’ve got to learn how to improve your gas mileage before nothing is left in your pocket.

Regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, you can do something to maximize your fuel consumption as well as to save on gas and money. The following is a list of ways on how to improve your gas mileage.

Photo by: futureatlas.com, Creative Commons

1. Maintain your vehicle regularly.

This is the golden rule for every car owner. One of the benefits of keeping your car well-maintained is an improved fuel economy, meaning your car is able to travel more miles using a certain amount of gas. Aside from that, regular maintenance ensures that your car performs well at all times. Vehicle maintenance entails the use of right grade of motor oil and the right octane gas as recommended in your owner’s manual.

Also, proper maintenance involves checking the different parts of your car that directly affect fuel economy. Inspect your car for a clogged fuel filter, oxideized spark plugs, electrical leaks on the ignition wires, proper inflation on your tires, and faulty cold air intake. These problems can definitely hurt your vehicle’s fuel mileage. Replace the defective auto components right away—this is how to improve your gas mileage dramatically.

Washing and waxing your car regularly leads to about 7% improvement in fuel efficiency. Why? Keeping your car clean improves its aerodynamics, and more aerodynamics means better fuel economy.

2. Don’t push the speed limit when driving.

Okay, driving aggressively is a virtue—only on the racetrack. If you’re just cruising on the city streets, then there’s no point in speeding too much at the expense of your car’s fuel economy. Every 5 mph (miles per hour) in excess of 65 mph you drive translates to a 7% cut in fuel economy. How to improve your gas mileage? Drive smoothly and steadily within the speed limit and avoid braking hard. Doing so not only boosts your fuel mileage, but also lessens the chance of damaging your brakes.

3. Refrain from idling excessively.

Even if your car is not running, it still consumes fuel if it’s idle. If you need to leave your car for a while, then it would be better if you turn the engine off and start your car again when you come back.

4. Plan your errands.

A great way to boost your fuel mileage is to plan and combine your errands ahead of time. That way, you travel less miles. A number of short trips here and there waste more fuel than a single, longer trip that drives the same distance.

5. Drive in the highest gear possible.

If you’re driving at a steady speed on the highway, you can improve your gas mileage by using the highest gear possible since it consumes less fuel than lower gears.

These five tips are just some of the ways on how to improve gas mileage, but they can make a big difference on your car’s fuel economy.

Fuel Economy Tip

From 1974 up until 1983, the Jeep brand, which then was still owned by AMC or the American Motors Corporation, manufactured the Jeep Cherokee SJ series. The Cherokee SJ was a SUV that was full-sized. It shared similarities with the Jeep Wagoneer, which was originally designed in 1963 by Brooks Stevens. When it first came out, the Cherokee was introduced to the market as the Jeep’s station wagon’s sporty two-door offering. It was three years later, in 1977, when a four-door model was added to the Cherokee SJ lineup.

The Cherokee was manufactured in eight trims – base model, S (Sport), Chief, Golden Eagle, Limited, Classic, Sport, Pioneer, and Laredo. Two engines were available for the SUV, the AMC I6 or V8 powerplants. Distinctive aesthetics for the Cherokee included leaf springs that were semi-elliptical in the rear and front. It was mainly produced in Toledo, Ohio. It was the first vehicle to be given the “Achievement Award” by Four Wheeler Magazine. The award was later renamed as the “Four Wheeler of the Year” award.

Estimated Price Range for Used Jeep Cherokee: $800-$5,000
Estimated MPG for Jeep Cherokee: 16 City/21 Hwy
Available Trims: Base, SE, Sport
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Jeep Cherokee Swimming!

The Jeep CJ (Civilian Jeep) is a version of the Military Jeep, which became famous during the World War II. It was introduced and adapted for public use. The first prototype of Jeep CJ, called the CJ-2, was introduced to market by Willys in 1944. The Jeep CJ stayed in production until 1986 with seven variants plus three corporate parents.

In 1987, the Jeep Wrangler replaced the last CJ, which are CJ-7 and CJ-8. The CJ-7 was introduced in 1976 and stayed in production for 11 years. There were about 379,299 units produced during that period. The CJ-7 has a longer wheelbase compared to older types such as CJ-5. But it doesn’t have curved doors, which is a noticeable feature of CJ-5. Moreover, the CJ-7 featured the optional system called Quadra-Trac, or automatic all-wheel drive and automatic transmission. Additional optional features include molded hardtop and steel doors. In 1982, General Motors produced a diesel powered version for export. The CJ-7 is still a favorite in the sport of mud racing and rock crawling.

Estimated Price Range for Used Jeep CJ: $1,350-$15,000
Estimated MPG for Jeep CJ: 15 City/17 Hwy
Available Trims: Base, 5 , 7
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Jeep CJ Offroading

A relative newcomer in Chrysler Motor’s Jeep line, the Jeep Commander (XK) was first introduced to the public in the New York Auto Show of 2005. This mid-sized SUV was made available to the public in 2006. While the Commander and another Jeep product, the Grand Cherokee may have a lot of similarities; the Commander can seat seven passengers and is styled in a more boxy design, with its sides squared off and its windshield upright.

Three moon roofs, aptly named the “Command View” also adorn the Jeep Commander. Three engines are available in the Commander’s introduction, a 3.7 L PowerTech V6 (which is still available), a 5.7 L Hemi V8 (still available), and a 4.7 L PowerTech V8 (which was available from 2006 until the 2009 model year). There is also an optional entertainment package that potential Commander owners can avail of, which includes a rear parking camera, a DVD player, and a TV.

Estimated Price Range for Used Jeep Commander: $600-$10,000
Estimated MPG for Jeep Commander: 14 City/19 Hwy
Available Trims: Base, Sport, Limited
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Jeep Commander Review