1. The evening or morning is the time to buy your gasoline.

Gas becomes denser when the temperature is colder. Gas pumps measure the volume of the gas that you pump and do not measure the density. You are getting more gas per gallon when the gas is denser. A congressional committee has estimated that US consumers will pay 2.1 billion dollars more for gas this summer because of this density difference.

This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning temperatures, or in the colder evening hours, that you'll be getting better gas price economy. Filling up your gas tank later in the evening may also help you to avoid the rush of day hours and you will not waste gas idling while waiting for a pump to open up.

2. Avoid driving when your gas tank is close to empty

Driving your car until the gas tank is almost empty can cost you fuel economy and could damage your engine. Dirt that has accumulated in the fuel tank over time can be pulled into the engine. This will cause the engine to operate less efficiently and will reduce the miles per gallon your engine runs at.

In addition to the lowered MPG if you are at empty you may have to fill your tank at the first station you come across and you may be forced to pay a high price rather than wait till you find a station with a lower price.

If at all possible maintain your gas level above the quarter tank mark. Plan to purchase fuel when your tank is between half and a quarter tank.

3. Save gas with a flick of the wrist!

When you have finished filling up your gas tank try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees. This will drain a bit more gas into your tank; in some cases up to an entire half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you'll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you would have otherwise left for the next motorist.

If you buy gasoline once per week and you can get that extra half cup out of the nozzle each time, you would be 52 half cups per year ahead. That would be 1.625 gallons.

If you are a two car family that fills up each car once a week you would reap the benefit of over 3 gallons of "free" gas a year. Three free gallons of gas just by flicking your wrist.

These are just a few of many things you can do to maximize your fuel economy and gas purchases. Just thinking about gas and the things you can do will help you make a habit out of saving gas.