Ford offers tips on increasing fuel economy.

Ford Motor Company has some ideas on how to increase fuel economy by up to 25 percent. (Perhaps they could start with making trucks and SUV’s that do better than 15 mpg.)

Here is a list of their noteworthy suggestions:

Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually. Change lead foot to light foot.

Maintain a proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel.

Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressureâ€â€Âthis alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent.

Time studies show that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic, accelerating to and from a stop light doesn’t save much time, wastes fuel and wears out some of the car components like brakes and tires faster.

Don’t leave car idlingâ€â€Âtoday’s engines don’t need to be warmed up. Prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel.

Don’t drive at higher speeds with windows wide open. It increases the aerodynamic drag on the highway and lowers fuel economy.

Minimize use of air conditioning. Use the vent setting as much as possible.

Remove excess weight. Unnecessary weight (unneeded items in the trunk for example) makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.

Consider parking instead of using “drive-up” lanes.

Consider walking or bicycling for short distances.

Use a high-quality fuel with the lowest appropriate octane rating. Check the owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation. There is no benefit to using premium gas in a vehicle calibrated for regular