In the 1960's, gas was around 30 cents per gallon and you could fill your tank for five bucks. Then the 1970's brought OPEC, gas lines and dollar-a-gallon prices. Increased fuel economy became an economic necessity and a national priority. The 1980's and 90s have brought a bit of price stability and things have relaxed a bit. If the year 2000 is any indicator, it looks as if we might be seeing higher prices in the near future.

Still, there is less fear that the world is going to run out of petroleum than there used to be 25 years ago. Does that mean everyone should forget about getting good mileage? Hardly. It still makes sense to not waste gas.

Good fuel economy is no secret; it's basically common sense. The secret is putting it to use. There are two major factors in good mileage: the car itself and the driver.

Anything that optimizes the car's efficiency improves mileage, so here are some tips on how to insure that your car can deliver top mileage.

• Keep your car in tune. A properly tuned car uses fuel efficiently. Driving your car with an engine that hasn't been tuned in the last 15,000 miles is like blowing money out the tailpipe.
• Make sure the transmission, brakes, and steering are in good working order. A slipping clutch or automatic transmission cannot put all of the engine's power to the road. That lost power means extra dollars spent at the pump. Unnecessary brake drag not only wears out your brakes prematurely, but also requires extra gas to overcome the constant braking force. Loose steering translates into road wander, which equates to more distance traveled; after all, the shortest distance between two points is the straightest line possible.
• Your tires and suspension are potentially the greatest thieves of good mileage. Invest in a good tire gauge and check your tires' pressure regularly. Today's radial tires don't show underinflation like the tires of 25 years ago did. Running a tire just five pounds below recommended pressure can cut your mileage about one mpg. To get the best mileage, it isn't necessary to inflate the tire to the suggested maximum pressure on the sidewall; in fact, the mileage improvement will be minimal, but you invite premature wear and increase ride harshness.
• Wheel alignment is critical. Alignment makes sure that the wheels are aimed straight down the road as you drive. Even a slight misalignment causes mileage-draining and tire-eating "scrub." And, if your car has independent rear suspension (as more cars, American and foreign, do these days), make sure the back tires are also properly aligned, to avoid "crabbing," a barely noticeable angled movement down the road.
  
• Cleanliness also influences mileage. A dirty car has more drag than a clean one, and that cuts fuel economy. And, while you're cleaning the car, clean it out, too. Storing your golf clubs or anything heavy in the trunk increases weight unnecessarily and extra weight cuts economy.
  
  

So much for maximizing your car's potential for good mileage; what can you as a driver do? A lot, as it turns out.

• The first rule to good mileage is: drive gently. Sudden, foot-to-the-floor starts just sends masses of raw gasoline out your tailpipe. This doesn't mean you should accelerate as slowly as possible, but simply accelerate moderately.
• Keeping to the speed limit also improves mileage. The power required to move a car increases quadratically: that is, to go twice as fast requires four times as much power. For example, if it takes 20 horsepower to go 25 miles per hour, it would take 80 hp to go 50, so watching your speed can save fuel.
• Perhaps the most important factor in getting good mileage is to be aware of what's happening ahead of you and act accordingly. If you see the traffic light ahead turn red, ease up on the throttle and start coasting toward it, maybe applying the brakes lightly. There's no point in racing right up to it and then jamming the brakes; that just wastes fuel. If you work it right, the light may change to green before you have to come to a complete stop and your forward momentum will reduce the amount of power you need to get back up to speed, further saving fuel. If you are caught in a tieup that requires you to sit for more than two minutes, such as waiting for a train to pass, turn off your engine; it takes less fuel to restart than you burn up sitting there with the engine idling.