When the cost of gas was reaching the sky, many people started pinching their pennies and utilizing certain techniques in order to get the most value out of every last drop of gas. These people are commonly referred to as “hyper-milers”. One popular technique involves acceleration slowly and avoiding sudden stops. They maximize drag by removing things from their car that they really don't need to be carrying on a daily basis. Less weight is better. Coasting is another way to increase mileage as is anticipating traffic flow. While hypermiling is a sort of penny pinching method to increase and stretch your fuel dollar, here are some ways to maintain your car while maintaining your car budget.

You can either pay your mechanic now for some maintenance work or pay him even more later on in order to fix something. So let's start there. Do you have a mechanic? Is there someone you can rely on to provide you with honest and accurate estimates of work needed?

Once you have someone in mind, plan a maintenance schedule and most importantly, stick with it. First go to your car and open the glove compartment and take out the owners manual and read what the scheduled maintenance intervals are for your particular vehicle. Stick to the routine. It’s rather easy to get a copy of your car’s manual online if you can’t find it.

Monitor the level of your oil on a regular basis. This is one of the most crucial things you’ll do when it comes to taking proper care of your ride. Newer cars have engine oil change intervals of every 5,000 - -7,000 mile. You should be checking the level between these changes. How often depends on your commute and driving habits. I have a short commute and drive slowly in stop and go city traffic, so I check my oil every other time I get a fill up. If you are doing a lot of long commutes and freeway driving you should probably check it more often. Newer cars consume less oil than older cars so if your vehicle is a bit old, you might have some more work cut out for you.

The second thing to do is to ensure that your coolant level is accurate. You are under the hood checking the oil so take the few extra minutes and check the coolant level. Never do this with a hot engine. Opening the radiator when the engine is hot can be disastrous. Make sure you also check the coolant reservoir if your car has one.

When it comes to the battery, make sure that its wires and belts aren’t worn out or frayed. If you do find anything that just doesn't look right, bring that to your mechanic attentions right away. This preventative maintenance is all about making sure a small item doesn’t turn into a financial drain later on.

Thirdly, carefully inspect your tire pressure and make sure that it is in good shape and not worn out. The correct PSI (pound per square inch) pressure is stamped on the tire or should be found easily on the side of the car. While you are looking at the tires, make sure you also check their wear. Again if you notice anything that doesn't look or seem right, have a mechanic check it out.

Sometimes vehicles leak fluid so look under your car and make sure there isn’t anything dripping out. This is best done on a flat clean driveway or parking lot. Note that you may see some pooling if you have been running your air conditioner. It is normal for condensation to drop to the floor.

Remember if you are unfamiliar with how to check either your oil, coolant, tire pressure or anything else, why not ask your mechanic to show you how? Perhaps ask a friend who is good with cars. Taking care of these small things will help you prevent major breakdowns and super expensive repair costs in the future.