Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency.

There's nothing sexy about fuel efficiency, but following these 11 tips from Alliance to Save Energy will save you money -- which you can spend on something fun like driving to the lake more often this summer.

  • Get a tune-up if you need one. Fixing a car that’s out of tune can improve its gas mileage by an average of four percent, which can add up to savings of about $75 per year.
  • Keep tires properly inflated to improve mileage by up to three percent. Find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb, in the glove box, or in your owner’s manual.
  • Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil or risk lowering your gas mileage by one to two percent. 
  • Get junk out of the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle’s trunk could reduce your mileage by up to two percent.
  • Rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds, which could cost about $900 per year. Aggressive driving around town could lower gas mileage by five percent.
  • Avoid speeding. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. Each 5 mph over 60 is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas.
  • Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. 
  • Use cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, save gasoline and money.
  • Engage the overdrive gear. With overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down, saving gas and reducing engine wear.
  • Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
  • When possible, drive during off-peak hours to avoid stop-and-go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions. You'll reduce both gas costs and stress.