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With gas prices approaching all time highs, there are several things you can do to make sure you get the best fuel economy out of your vehicle. These four simple things can save you money and make the burden at the gas pump a little less painful.

Engine Tune-up

An improperly tuned engine that misfires, stutters, or has a mixture that is too lean or too rich can waste gasoline. If your vehicle has failed to pass a smog test, or just barely passed, this could be a good indication that a tune-up is needed. If there is a more serious problem, such that the check engine light is on, make sure you get this sorted out as soon as possible. Fixing something like a faulty oxygen sensor or an emissions system can improve your gas mileage by as much as 35%.

Replace Air Filter

An engine needs air to breath. If there is an obstruction to the airflow into the engine, it has to work harder and burn more fuel to meet the demand of your foot pressing on the gas pedal. A dirty air filter can have a big negative impact on engine performance as well as on your fuel economy. Fortunately, they are very easy to replace and you can buy them at any Wal-Mart or auto parts store. Usually they should be replaced when the oil is changed, but they may need to be replaced sooner if you drive in dusty or sandy environments. A clean air filter can make a huge difference on you fuel economy.

Tire Pressure

All four tires on your vehicle should be inflated to the recommended pressures for your vehicle. You can find this information in the vehicle manual or even on the internet. A tire that is under-inflated will create more drag which means your engine has to work harder to meet the demand of your foot pressing on the pedal. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. In cold weather climates, the air pressure in a tire can drop by as much as 3 psi per month.

Motor Oil

Make sure you use the recommended oil grade for you vehicle. You want the oil to provide protection to your engine, but using too heavy an oil can create more friction which means your engine has to work harder. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent.

A strange phenomenon seems to be occurring all around the world, in which large chunks of ice are falling from the clear blue sky. Certainly not a frequent event, but perplexing nonetheless. Unlike ball-lightning, the Lockness Monster and Big Foot, this phenomenon has been well documented with pictures and insurance reports time and time again. Adding to the shroud of mystery is that this appears to be happening all around the world.

Megacryometeor is a term used to describe a large block of ice that seemingly falls from the atmosphere under clear sky conditions. Just how large is large? Most have weighed between 25 to 35 pounds but one found in Brazil weighed an incredible 440 pounds! That’s big enough to leave a 10-foot hole in the ground, smash the roof of a Ford Mustang, and make whooshing noises audible enough to be heard by people hundreds of feet away.

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