Believe it or not, just over 50% of the cost of gas comes from oil. The rest of the cost comes from shipping, refining and taxes.

Properly inflating tires is more of a safety issue than a fuel issue although a very small percentage of gas can be saved. Gasoline additives have not been proven to save gas. Putting a spoiler on your car is more for looks rather than for saving fuel. Starting and stopping gradually can save significant gas mileage. This money-saving habit can be picked up very easily by pretending there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal.

Driving on wet roads usually makes drivers go slower which actually could save gas. Driving in the city does use more gas than driving at highway speeds. Also, using the air-conditioner takes more gas. However, driving 75 mph or higher is by far the largest waste of gas. It is best to keep your speed at 60 mph or lower.

Major brands of gas are no different than cheaper brands of gas as all gasoline is created equally and quite often come from the same refineries. Your car heater is actually quite efficient as it uses the hot water from your cooling system to heat your car. The water pump has to work a little harder to pump the water through the heater but only costs pennies of extra fuel. Following a tractor-trailer does not save any gas and only increases the chance of an accident as the truck driver cannot see you when you are directly behind them. Extra weight in your car cause the engine to work harder and over several weeks or months will add up to extra fuel costs.

Believe it or not, a large SUV or truck could easily cost over $125 to fill up and may only get you 500 miles per fill up. This is something to think about when considering your next vehicle purchase.

Many large fleets of cars, buses and trucks use propane fuel to save energy. Recently, some fleet owners started using hydrogen to power their vehicle's. Fuel cell powered vehicles are just starting to be developed and could very well revolutionize how cars are powered. A wood chip powered vehicle would not be practical.

Stopping the use of the car air conditioner will save gas, however, opening the windows causes drag, which could use as much gas as the air-conditioner would. Traveling longer distances to buy less expensive gas usually does not work well as the extra travel takes more gas in itself and could easily negate any savings. Removing snow tires in the warm months may save a small amount of gas, but there will be more savings from the extended life of the tires due to less use. Buying a smaller car will save tremendous fuel and money over time and are also less expensive to purchase.

Driving the speed limit will save gas because a car's engine runs most efficiently at the posted speeds on most highways. A warm engine runs more efficiently than a cold engine because the oil has had a chance to circulate and lubricate all the parts reducing friction. A well-maintained car uses less gas because all the parts are in working order and all fluids are at the proper levels. The engine doesn't have to work as hard which saves fuel. Less expensive gas has the exact same fuel economy as expensive brand-name gas as they are all made the same way and often in the same refinery.

With the recent higher prices in energy, people have already started to adapt by buying smaller cars and driving less as gas goes up in price. Some cities have increased their public transportation infrastructure, however, our love affair with the car has limited the expansion of public transportation. Although over a decade away, hydrogen powered cars combined with fuel cells will become the most common form of powering our vehicles.

Although it is easy to believe that the recent rise in energy prices is different from the others in the in the past, it is actually no different at all. Because of this, prices will again drop and will most likely stay low for years. The only factor that will keep prices higher is inflation which is caused by many other forces besides oil. When someone is in the middle of something it always appears bigger than it really is and when someone is outside of something it always appears smaller than at really is. This effect is the main driving force of our high energy prices today.

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