Constantly rising gas prices are everyone's least favorite part of driving. Frugal motorists are always on the hunt for new methods to boost fuel efficiency and save cash, scraping the barrel of folksy wisdom and fancy scientifically engineered products alike. But for every tip on how to save gas you encounter, there are a dozen misconceptions, bogus bits of information and enterprising snake oil salespeople waiting to prey on overeager drivers. Below are some of the more common traps you'll want to be sure and avoid.<\/p>\n
Manual doesn't trump automatic<\/strong>
\nIt's a common myth that manual transmissions tend to get better gas mileage than their automatic cousins. MSN Autos reported that historically speaking this was true, as the greater control drivers have over shifting gears in a manual could prevent superfluous fuel consumption due to over-revving the engine. However, in recent years, automatic transmissions have become more and more advanced, and are now better able to control the engine in the gear shifting process than many drivers are. As automatic gear shifting became more efficient, so too did the fuel consumption of automatic cars, and stick drivers' old advantage at the pump has quickly evaporated.<\/p>\n