Gasoline is one of life’s necessary expenses that really irritates a frugal control freak like me. I can’t control the prices, I can’t predict a sale and I can’t just do without. So, what’s a money saving gal like me supposed to do?

Well, ask the experts, of course! The fabulous folks at Ask Patty & Motor Oil Matters have provided a few car care tips to help you improve fuel efficiency. We may not have control over how much we spend on gas, but we can have an impact on how long it lasts!

Pump high-quality gasoline

I struggle with this one a lot, because that $.20/gallon really adds up. However, Ask Patty tells us all gasolines are not the same, and no matter what grade of fuel a vehicle requires, it’s important to use a high-quality gasoline. Industry research confirms that a clean engine can result in better fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and overall optimal engine performance. Fortunately, keeping the engine clean of performance-robbing “gunk” helps it perform better. Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines contain a patented cleaning system that not only cleans, but protects critical engine parts against gunk to help improve engine performance as you drive. I wonder if a once a month premium fill would have any effect.

Properly inflate tires

Keeping tires in good shape & properly inflated is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and potential cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner’s manual. The U.S. Department of Energy says properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent. That makes a really big difference over the course of a year! Regularly inspecting tires will also prevent major problems down the road (literally!) since you’ll be able to spot problems & replace tires before they go flat—or worse, blowout on the highway!

Let the car breathe free

Check that the air filter isn’t clogged. According to the Department of Transportation, replacing a clogged air filter on cars with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines can improve acceleration time by around six to 11 percent. This kind of engine is prevalent on most gasoline cars manufactured from the early 1980s onward. Tests suggest that replacing a clogged air filter on an older car with a carbureted engine may improve fuel economy two to six percent under normal replacement conditions or up to 14 percent if the filter is so clogged that it significantly affects drivability.

Regular tune-ups pay off

Before taking a long trip, visit a trusted professional to make sure your car is properly tuned. Depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed, regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of four percent, according to the Department of Energy. We’re definitely taking Serenity (yes, I name my cars!) in for a check-up before we make the long haul for our beach vacation.

Motor oil matters

Having the oil changed regularly is one of the most important things you can do to extend the life of your vehicle’s engine. Changing oil removes contaminants and dirt that may have collected. Premium motor oil, such as Pennzoil or Quaker State, is designed to keep the engine clean and protected. This can maximize fuel efficiency and result in a longer running vehicle. I learned all that on Shell’s Motor Oil Matters website—you’ll find great answers, tips and a fun quiz to show off what you’ve learned.

Plus, they want to help one lucky reader use what you’ve learned with a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card! To enter for your chance to win, head over to Motor Oil Matters & take the M.O.M. Knows Best quiz, then leave a comment about your experience—tell us the most surprising thing you learned, if it answered a long-burning question or what you scored on the quiz. I scored 5 out of 7, which they tell me is not a passing grade—oops! (That’s why I consulted the experts to give you tips on car care. I clearly still have a lot to learn.)

You can also earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Motor Oil Matters and Inexpensively on Twitter
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card from @MotorOilMatters and @Inexpensively! {link}

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until May 3rd at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on May 4th and receive a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card (check for locations in your area), delivered by My Blog Spark. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

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I received a Jiffy Lube gift card from Motor Oil Matters and Shell Lubricants as compensation for this post, but any opinion is 100% mine.