With gas prices growing to over $4 a gallon, it’s time to get real about your fuel economy. Whether you’re trying to give Mother Nature a hand by going green or minimize the huge hole in your budget, a few sage upgrades are your ticket to fuel savings. To start with, it’s time to say goodbye to your stock air intake system. Like sticking a puny straw in a double-thick shake, your factory system constricts the amount of oxygen flowing to your engine. That means you have to push the pedal to the metal every time you’re going uphill or need some speed. Performance air intakes and air filters open up the flow to your engine to give it all the power-producing air it craves. That means you don’t need to floor it to get the extra oomph to power past all the slowpokes on the road. Plus, custom air intakes and air filters are custom engineered to optimize the engine efficiency in your specific year, make and model vehicle. So, your motor runs lean and green while staying mean.

The next phase is reprogramming your onboard electronics for optimal miles per gallon. A Performance chip utilizes cutting-edge computer technology to rewrite your ECU for big gains in fuel economy. Plugging seamlessly into your ride’s OBDII port, fuel efficiency programmers are written by the world’s best to wrangle every scrap of gas efficiency out of your engine. On top of that, many performance chips feature an onboard monitor so you can keep track of your gas mileage. Best yet, gas saving chips are available for a wide variety of vehicles from 1-ton trucks to already-economical Corollas. That means that at the same time you’re scoring one for Team Green, you get to watch the dollar bills flying back into your wallet.

With your air intake system and ECU synchronized to fuel-sipping levels, it’s time to take care of all you hard working truck drivers out there. Whether you bought your rig for heavy hauling at the jobsite or for its rugged off-road ability, getting better MPG is a huge plus. And, the next step for your rig’s journey to gas saving bliss is hooking up its payload with a tonneau cover. One of the biggest killers of fuel economy is the drag on your backside. When you’re rolling with a wide open bed air compresses against your rear hatch, slashing your aerodynamic edge. Tonneau covers sit flush in your bed so air slips by as you’re driving instead of getting trapped. So your gear stays secure while the air flies aerodynamically by.

Now that you’ve readied your ride for a fuel-friendly future, it’s time for a few upgrades so its appearance and braking system can keep pace. To maintain your auto’s interior appearance to factory-fresh levels, you need to set the seats up with a set of car seat covers. From neoprene to leather and Hawaiian print to factory-match colors, car seat covers compliment your style while maintaining your looks. On the outside, a car cover is the best way to keep your paint pristine for years to come. For added exterior protection for the off-roaders among us, adding a set of fender flares is absolutely essential. Finally, no upgrade regimen is complete without upgrading your braking system. A set of top-quality EBC brakes adds unmatched stopping power to your fuel-efficient and stylish package. Never before has Mother Nature and your ride’s style been so perfectly aligned.